China's expanding African relations : : implications for U.S. national security / / Lloyd Thrall.

• VerfasserIn: Thrall, Lloyd,
• Place / Publishing House: Santa Monica, California : : RAND,, 2015.; ©2015
• Year of Publication: 2015
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (133 p.)
• Notes: "Prepared for the United States Army"--Cover.

Across economic, political, and security domains, the growth of China's presence in Africa has been swift and staggering, which has fed both simplistic caricatures of China's role on the continent and fears of renewed geopolitical competition. A closer look reveals a more balanced picture. This report examines how China's growing engagement affects the United States' role in Africa and offers policy recommendations for U.S. military leaders.

Table of Contents

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Preface; Contents; Figures and Table; Summary; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Chapter One: Introduction and Historical Antecedents; Introduction; Historical Antecedents; Chapter Two: China's African Interests and Strategic Perceptions; Economic Interests: Natural Resources and Market Access; Political Interests: Influence, Stability, and Favorable Precedents; Security Interests: Answering Emerging and Awkward Challenges; Chapter Three: Chinese Presence and Behavior in Africa; Sino-African Economic Relations; Chinese Economic Actors in Africa; Sino-African Trade

China's Natural Resource Imports Sino-African Capital Flows; Foreign Direct Investment; Chinese Loans, Credits, and Foreign Aid; Special Economic Zones; Chinese Arms Exports to Africa; Sino-African Political Relations; China's Diplomatic Engagement and Political Relations; Soft-Power Initiatives, Media Outreach, and African Perceptions; Chinese Security Behavior in Africa; United Nations Peacekeeping Operations; Bilateral Military Relations and Military Diplomacy; The PLA Navy's Historic Deployment to the Gulf of Aden; Protecting Chinese Citizens and Assets

Potential Near- and Medium-Term Changes in Sino-African Relations Economic Relations; Political Factors; Security Issues; Chapter Four: Sino-American Interest Correlation in Africa and Conclusions; Conflict and Commonality Between U.S. and Chinese Interests in Africa; Common Interests; Competing Interests; Conflicting Interests; Conclusions and Recommendations; View China's African Relations in Their Proper Context; Avoid Elevating Low-Level Competition to Bilateral Strategic Tension; Recognize That China's Approach to Africa is Likely to Be Resistant to Major Change

Recognize the Limits of Chinese Influence Reinvigorate U.S. Diplomatic and Economic Engagement with Africa; Distinguish Between PLA Crisis Reaction and Condition-Shaping Capabilities; Insulate Sino-American Relations in Africa from Broader Geopolitical Tensions; Seek Opportunities for Cooperation with China in Africa; References