Shifting Security Challenges in the China–Africa Relationship

The document examines China's deepening security role in Africa, shifting from traditional military concerns to non-traditional threats. It analyzes how China protects its citizens from crime and terrorism, its response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and its dual role in the illegal wildlife and timber trades. The authors argue that these transnational challenges are compelling China to increase its engagement with multilateral organizations and move beyond its traditional policy of non-interference.

• China is increasingly utilizing multilateral organizations to address non-traditional security threats, including human trafficking, food and water security, terrorism, infectious diseases, and energy security.
• To protect Chinese citizens in Africa, Beijing employs a multi-layered approach involving local embassy advice, social media alerts, and partnerships with security firms, such as the 2014 partnership between Shandong Huawei and South Africa's HW Raid.
• China has shifted toward more direct security interventions in Africa, evidenced by the 2013 deployment of troops to a UN/ECOWAS mission in northern Mali to counter al-Qaeda-affiliated Toureg rebels, marking the first time China put 'boots on the ground' on the continent.
• During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, China provided over $140 million in aid to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, focusing on medical staff, infrastructure, and supplies to maintain its reputation as an 'all-weather friend'.
• China plays a contradictory role in environmental security: while the government signs conservation agreements and assists in arrests—such as the 2014 extradition of an ivory smuggler from Kenya—Chinese syndicates continue to drive illegal trade in abalone, rhino horn, and ivory.
• The timber trade between China and Africa is characterized by an imbalance where Africa primarily exports raw logs, a situation reinforced by China's policy of not taxing imported logs, which limits Africa's potential for value-added exports.

APA

Anthony, R., Esterhuyse, H., & Burgess, M. (2015). Shifting Security Challenges in the China–Africa Relationship. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-23.pdf

Chicago

Anthony, Ross, Harrie Esterhuyse, and Meryl Burgess. Shifting Security Challenges in the China–Africa Relationship. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2015. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-23.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Anthony |first1=Ross |last2=Esterhuyse |first2=Harrie |last3=Burgess |first3=Meryl |title=Shifting Security Challenges in the China–Africa Relationship |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=23 September 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-23.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{anthony2015shifting, author = {Anthony, Ross and Esterhuyse, Harrie and Burgess, Meryl}, title = {{Shifting Security Challenges in the China–Africa Relationship}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Policy-Insights-23.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }