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SELECTED GEOPOLITICAL ASPECTS OF ESTABLISHMENT OF CHINESE MILITARY BASE IN DJIBOUTI
Abstract
Approximately from the beginning of the 21st Century China has changed its approach towards UN peacekeeping missions, and has become more active, especially in Africa. This process has been accompanied by sharp rise of Sino-African trade. These two parallel processes created the need or better to say a suitable environment for establishment of the first permanent Chinese military base on African soil. The need for this base has been further increased by Chinese experience from operation of evacuation of Chinese citizens from Libya in 2011 and from Yemen in 2015. Officially this base will serve as a logistics center for support of Chinese troops participating in UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, and for support of Chinese navy in its fight against piracy in Gulf of Aden. From the beginning of existence of the UN no country has ever officially justified establishment of its military base by its participation in UN missions. China is the first country to do so. Chinese approach is new, unique, different from Western one, but also very cautious. One of the key factors for choosing Djibouti as the most suitable option was the fact that three other countries already have their military bases there. Beijing wants to avoid the situation in which this Chinese move would be seen by Third World countries as a beginning of Chinese neo-colonial policy. Except of logistic support to Chinese troops participating in UN missions in Africa, and to Chinese navy operating in Gulf of Aden, major purpose of this base is gathering of intelligence, and if needed to protect Chinese citizens in Africa, especially in the broaden region of Horn of Africa roughly corresponding to the territory of The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
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