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China’s Growing Interests in Africa: Strategic Ports and Energy Resources

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China’s interests in the African continent are growing stronger every day. Chinese state-owned companies have built, financed, and now control a quarter of African ports.

Of the 231 ports in 31 African countries, China has invested in 78. The majority of them are in western Africa. As Paul Nantulia, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, points out, the main reason for this is China’s global trade ambitions, in the achievement of which the region’s strategic location plays a major role.

China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) was the contractor and engineering company for the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Nigeria. The company acquired a 54% stake in the port, which it operates under a 16-year lease, and receives financing from the China Development Bank.

According to China’s current five-year plan, Africa is a key part of its trade strategy. Currently, investment flows to the continent are driven by two projects: the Belt and Road Initiative and Beijing’s “exit policy” – the government’s drive to help local firms enter international markets, including Africa.

According to the five-year strategic plan document, three of the six trade corridors pass through the African continent, namely East Africa, the Egypt-Suez region, and Tunisia.

In addition, China has been interested in African liquefied natural gas in recent years and has been investing heavily in it. Until now, China has been more interested in African oil, but now the main target of Chinese businesses is African liquefied natural gas, to, on the one hand, meet increased demand and, on the other hand, reduce dependence on Australian gas.

Mozambique is one of the target countries. After the discovery of 5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas in the Rovuma Basin off the country’s northern coast, it has become an important point for global natural gas supply. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) owns 20% of the $ 30 billion Rovuma liquefied natural gas project.

China is also involved in one of the projects in Mozambique, “Coral Floating Liquefied Natural Gas”, the first liquefied natural gas which was sold in 2022.

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Chinese Economic Plans After the US Tariffs

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After the blow to the economy after the American sanctions, China announced a „special action plan“ to boost consumption.

Notably, other factors, including COVID-19 and the property sector economic downturn, also contribute to the decreased demand for production. Deflation—the constant reduction in prices—plays an additional role. This creates a problem because it pushes consumers to spend less and wait for prices to drop lower.

According to the General Office of the Central Committee, the plan includes a rise in consumption and domestic demand, as well as enhancing consumption abilities by boosting income and pension, bettering health insurance, and reducing burdens. Apart from this, the project includes expanding the tourism sector and aims to turn cold regions into winter tourism destinations. This will be aided by unilateral visa-free programs for certain countries and facilitating entry into the country. According to Chinese officials, despite the plan not having „anything too new“, it has written up specific actions that the local governments should follow.

Fulfilling the announced plan is important in another way, too: it will reduce Chinese dependency on exports and investments and turn the economy into a consumption-driven one.

It is also interesting that the consumption of Russian goods has increased in China – some shops sell sweets or toys made in Russia and present themselves as spreading not only the consumption of Russian goods but also Russian culture. Said shops have turned up in the country after 2022, which could be caused by the warming relations between the two countries after Russia invaded Ukraine.

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Chinese nationals could be blocked from US student visas

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The Republicans in the House of Representatives are set to introduce a bill that will restrict Chinese nationals from obtaining American student or research visas.

The initiative is preceded by warnings from a Republican representative, Riley Moore, about the Chinese Communist Party exploiting the visa program. However, Moore is not the only Republican who believes that China uses universities and other academic institutions for espionage. According to Riley Moore, the FBI charged five Chinese nationals with student visas last year after they were caught photographing joint US-Taiwan live-fire military exercises.

Moreover, several American universities have stopped their partnerships with Chinese universities over National Security Concerns.

According to the procedure, the bill should first be adopted by the House of Representatives and later by the Senate, although it has no known co-sponsors at the time. It is expected that this role will be fulfilled by the Texas, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania representatives – Brandon Gill, Andy Ogles, and Scott Perry.

It is also important that the initiative comes after the reports of US President Donald Trump’s administration considering travel bans for the nationals of certain countries, but there are no indications of China being on the list at this time.

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China, Russia, and Iran will hold nuclear talks

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On March 14th, China, Iran, and Russia will hold a meeting about Iran’s nuclear program in Beijing, which will be attended by the deputy Foreign ministers.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry press speaker, the representatives will exchange views on Iran’s nuclear activities and regional security.

The meeting will take place after the UN Security Council gathers in New York to discuss the same matter. Notably, the trilateral talks are preceded by US President Donald Trump’s letter to Tehran, in which he called on Iran to return to the negotiation about its nuclear activity. Apart from this, there were reports about Russia agreeing to aid the United States in communications with Iran, which was followed by a meeting between the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and the Iranian ambassador.

It is noteworthy that Iran’s nuclear program became the center of attention after the IAEA warned of a “dramatic acceleration” of Uranium enrichment by the country.

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China Imposes Retaliatory Tariffs on Canada

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In response to the tariffs on Chinese electric cars and steel implemented in October, Beijing has announced new tariffs on Canada. These tariffs will affect over $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products starting on March 20.

Beijing’s decision to impose retaliatory measures followed an anti-dumping investigation, which found that Canada’s restrictive measures against certain Chinese products had disrupted normal trade and harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese businesses.

On the other hand, Canada stated that the tariffs on Chinese goods were implemented after the United States and the European Union took similar actions against Chinese electric cars and other products. Western governments argue that China’s subsidies provide its industry with an unfair advantage, which is why these measures are deemed necessary.

Analysts indicate that China delayed response to Ottawa’s October tariffs likely reflects both capacity constraints and a strategic approach. The Ministry of Commerce is currently under pressure while managing ongoing trade disputes with the United States and the European Union, which has pushed Canada lower on its priority list. Consequently, it has taken months for China to address Canada’s tariffs.

China remains Canada’s second-largest trading partner, following the United States. According to Chinese customs data, Canada exported $47 billion worth of goods to China in 2024, underscoring the importance of this bilateral trade relationship.

Author: Liza Barbakadze

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China’s declining arms imports reflect growth in military self-reliance

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According to a Swedish think tank, China’s arms imports have dropped by almost two-thirds in the last five years, as the country increasingly shifted from purchasing foreign weapons to relying on domestically developed technology. A report released today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed a 64 percent decrease in arms deliveries to China between 2020 and 2024, compared to the previous five-year period.

This reduction in imports was primarily attributed to the expansion of China’s domestic weapons production, with homegrown systems now replacing the equipment that was previously sourced largely from Russia. The report suggests that this shift is expected to continue in the coming years.

Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher at SIPRI, explained that it took China three decades to progressively replace imported high-tech weapons with domestically developed technologies. “In the last five years, the biggest things that they still imported from Russia were basically two things, helicopters and engines – they are actually extremely difficult to produce if you don’t have a background in it – and that is where China has broken through,” he said.

“China [now] makes its own engines for combat aircraft, transport aircraft and ships. The same [goes] with helicopters, where China has developed its own helicopters, completely Chinese, and is phasing out imports of those from Russia and also from European designs.”

Notably, China has announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget for this year, continuing its efforts to expand and modernize its military to strengthen territorial claims and challenge U.S. military dominance in Asia.

With the second-largest military budget globally, behind only the U.S., China already possesses the world’s largest navy. The newly announced budget, totaling approximately $245 billion, was revealed at the National People’s Congress, the country’s annual legislative gathering. However, the Pentagon and analysts suggest that China’s actual defense spending could be at least 40% higher, as certain expenditures are categorized under other budgets.

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China, Russia, and Iran are conducting joint naval exercises

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China, along with Russia and Iran, is conducting joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean. “Security Belt 2025” is taking place near the Iranian port of Chabahar and aims to deepen “military trust and pragmatic cooperation”.

Representatives from Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Sri Lanka are attending the exercises as observers.

The program includes simulated attacks on maritime targets, search, and rescue, as well as arrest missions. According to the Chinese Defense Ministry, the country will send a destroyer and a supply ship, which is a demonstration of increased military capabilities from Beijing. Apart from this, all three countries will present their own warships for the exercises.

Notably, the Iranian army conducted similar operations in February as well, with the goal of “increasing defense capabilities to counter any kind of threat”. As for China, the country organized exercises in the Tasman Sea, near Australia last month.

The exercises in the “Security Belt” for China are of special interest since said country is trying to demonstrate its maritime capabilities, especially the aquatic fighting force.

The inclusion of these three countries, from the side of China, is a sign that it is trying to counter the U.S. influence globally, especially at a time when the United States is voicing warnings about the possible attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities by Israel.

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European Parliament Lifts Restrictions on Lawmakers’ Meetings with Chinese Officials

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Amid shifting U.S. foreign policy on the Ukraine war, the European Parliament has lifted restrictions on lawmakers meeting Chinese officials, signaling a potential thaw in EU-China relations.

The restrictions were originally introduced in April 2023 in response to a diplomatic standoff that began in 2021, when the EU and China imposed mutual sanctions over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. 

The guidelines, which applied to both China and Iran, stipulated that parliamentary counterparts would not be invited to visit the European Parliament and that no official missions to these countries would take place while sanctions remained in effect. Additionally, they required that bilateral meetings with officials be restricted to officeholders and reported to the parliament’s services. 

However, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola recently proposed removing these measures, a decision later confirmed by an EU Parliament spokesperson. Restrictions on Russian and Belarusian officials remain in place.

Notably, China’s special envoy for European affairs, Lu Shaye, criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to European allies, calling it “appalling.” He also argued that any peace deal for Ukraine should not be dictated solely by the U.S. and Russia.

“When you look at how the Trump administration has implemented a brazen and domineering policy towards Europe, treating its allies in this way, honestly, from a European perspective, it’s quite appalling,” Lu said Wednesday.

“I believe European friends should reflect on this and compare the Trump administration’s policies with those of the Chinese government. In doing so, they will see that China’s diplomatic approach emphasizes peace, friendship, goodwill, and win-win cooperation.” 

Lu made these remarks in Beijing during the annual session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), where senior diplomats gathered for discussions. He acknowledged U.S.-Russia negotiations on the Ukraine crisis but stressed that a resolution should involve all relevant parties, including European nations.

“Various proposed solutions should be subject to equal discussion, rather than being dictated by a select few,” he said.

Meanwhile, China is ramping up its diplomatic and economic outreach, particularly in the Global South. The Chinese Ministry of Finance has proposed an 8.4 percent increase in its foreign policy budget for 2025, raising it to 64.5 billion yuan (US$8.87 billion). This marks a larger increase than last year’s 6.6 percent rise. The military budget, however, will grow by 7.2 percent, the same rate as in 2023 and 2024.

Premier Li Qiang emphasized these efforts in his annual work report at the “two sessions,” China’s largest political and legislative gathering. He highlighted Beijing’s strengthened global partnerships and participation in major international summits, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and G20 meetings. He also pointed to the steady expansion of trade and investment under the Belt and Road Initiative.

“We consolidated and expanded partnerships across the globe, stayed committed to true multilateralism, and played a positive and constructive role in addressing global challenges and resolving regional and international hotspot issues,” Li said.

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Trade War Fuels Sino-American Tension

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On March 4th, the additional tariffs imposed on Chinese imports by the U.S. President, Donald Trump, took effect, which triggered a strict response from the official Beijing.

According to the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., “If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.” Apart from this, the Chinese Foreign Ministry representative commented on the issue and once again highlighted China’s readiness to “fight till the end” in case the U.S. wants to harm the country’s interests. The spokesperson urged the United States to return to dialogue and cooperation.

The American Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, answered the statements coming from China in an interview with Fox News. He underlined the rise of countries with different ideologies in the world and stated that if the goal is to deter war with China or any other state, the country needs to be strong: “We need the defense spending, the capabilities, the weapons, and the posture in the Indo-Pacific, which is something we’re very much focused on.”

One of the spokespeople of the National People’s Congress talked about said topic with journalists as well, according to him, China’s relationship with the U.S. is bound to see disagreements, but Beijing will not accept pressure or threats.

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Trump Announces New Trade Measures Against China

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The standoff between Washington and Beijing continues. On March 4, President-elect Donald Trump outlined his plans for China during his address to a joint session of Congress. Trump said he intends to take new retaliatory trade measures against China, which could include new tariffs or attempts at economic isolation.

Trump’s March 4 address to Congress was his longest since returning to the White House, lasting 1 hour and 40 minutes. He noted that China has long benefited from weak US policies and that his administration will soon take retaliatory measures such as “retaliatory tariffs” to address this problem and confront China’s trade practices.

“On April 2, the retaliatory tariffs will go into effect, and whatever tariffs they impose on us, we will also impose new tariffs on them,” Trump said. He also noted that the tariffs imposed by China on American goods were, on average, twice as high as those imposed on products imported from China by Washington.

The president also criticized the “Chips and Science Act” passed in 2022. This law adopted in the states aims to increase domestic production of semiconductors and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign suppliers, especially China. The law provided significant funding for US-based chip manufacturers to increase production capacity and ensure the country’s technological and economic security. According to Trump, the funding provided by this act is being spent inefficiently. Instead, imposing tariffs on the manufacturers will increase domestic production.

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