China builds up naval capabilities, makes progress on base in Africa
Politics & Current Affairs
Top politics and current affairs news for February 27, 2017. Part of the daily The China Project news roundup "Chinese private military contractors."
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U.S. wary of its new neighbor in Djibouti: A Chinese naval base / NYT (paywall)
About a year ago, China publicized construction of what it called a “navy supply facility” (海军补给基地 hǎijūn bǔjǐ jīdì) in the small nation of Djibouti at the northeastern horn of Africa. It was the first official announcement of an overseas military facility by China, though the country stopped short of calling it a “military base” (军事基地 jūnshìjīdì). Beijing insists that the primary role of its navy in Djibouti will be to support existing anti-piracy and humanitarian missions — China is the largest supplier of personnel for United Nations peacekeeping among security council members — but many in the West worry about the expanding Chinese military presence, especially in light of reports that the Chinese navy “is likely to secure significant new funding” in the national budget to be approved next month.
- China’s top diplomat holds talks at White House, meets Trump / Reuters
- Former China Resources chairman Song Lin pleads guilty to corruption / SCMP
- Good old Taiwan, the new element in tricky India-China ties / Quartz
- At least 10 dead in East China hotel fire / China Daily
- Black market for live chickens thrives in China despite bird flu bans / SCMP
- Opinion: How China can stop a pandemic / Bloomberg
- Bonnie Glaser on FONOPS and U.S.-China relations under Trump / CIMSEC
