Tipping Point Quick Hits (6.2.22)

China's growing footprint, Iran's nuclear weapons, and Africa's famine

China is building military bases in Africa

China built its first overseas naval base in 2017 in Djibouti, a small nation in east Africa on the Indian Ocean. There, 2,000 Chinese troops are stationed just a few miles from Camp Lemonnier—a United States Navy base. When this origianlly happened, the move set off alarm bells within the U.S. military, and rumors abound that China is preparing to open yet another African military base.

Some speculation suggests the new one may be in Equatorial Guinea, giving China a permanent military presence in the Atlantic Ocean. The rumors have been growing in recent months. U.S. officials are worried:

In a European Council for Foreign Relations report, Michael Tanchum speculates that the alleged Chinese base will be the first of several on Africa’s Atlantic coast, a move that will “shift global power dynamics, eroding US dominance, and relegating Europe to the sidelines of international affairs.”

The base is seen to be part of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative,” which is said to be the country’s largest modern undertaking in recent history. Proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, the $1 trillion infrastructure project is intended to boost China’s trade opportunities all over the world:

…the initiative would develop and construct a vast network of railroads and shipping lanes between China and 65 countries in Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The result would be enhanced trade routes and investment links between China and participating nations.

But while China seeks to expand its global reach, the pandemic is causing enormous problems within its borders. The rest of the world has re-opened and is learning to live with COVID, but China has maintained a strict zero-COVID policy, with mandatory mass testing and strict lockdowns. Though Shanghai just lifted its lockdown this week, at one point in May, 27 Chinese cities were under full or partial lockdown, impacting 185 million residents.