ON BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE GREAT POWER: CONTEXTUALISING CHINA’S FORAY INTO HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE & SECURITY IN AFRICA

The document analyzes China's transition from a non-interference policy to a more active role in African peace and security, driven by the need to protect its economic interests and a desire to establish itself as a 'responsible great power'. It contrasts Chinese and Western interpretations of human rights and peacebuilding, noting China's preference for socio-economic rights and state-led stability. While China has increased its UN peacekeeping contributions and partnered with the African Union, the report notes a contradiction in its role as a major arms supplier to the continent.

• China is shifting its engagement in Africa from a focus on economic interests toward becoming a politically invested actor, aiming to play a stronger norm-setting role globally.
• China prioritizes 'second-generation' socio-economic rights—such as development, education, and health—over the civil and political rights typically emphasized by Western nations.
• The Chinese interpretation of human security differs from Western views by positioning the state as the primary guarantor of security rather than a potential threat to it.
• China's approach to state sovereignty and non-interference has become more flexible and pragmatic as it seeks to be perceived as a 'responsible great power', leading to increased participation in UN peacekeeping.
• There is a conceptual divide in peacebuilding: while Western perspectives focus on liberal democracy and good governance, China emphasizes development, 'good government', and strengthening state capacity.
• Despite its peace and security initiatives, China has been a significant arms supplier to Africa, accounting for 25% of the volume of major arms supplied to the continent between 2006 and 2010.
• China has institutionalized its security cooperation with Africa through the FOCAC process, specifically establishing the ChinaAfrica Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Security at the fourth FOCAC meeting in 2012.

APA

Dittgen, R., LaLbahaDuR, A., SiDiRopouLoS, E., & Wu, Y.-S. (2016). ON BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE GREAT POWER: CONTEXTUALISING CHINA’S FORAY INTO HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE & SECURITY IN AFRICA. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-37.pdf

Chicago

Dittgen, Romain, aDiti LaLbahaDuR, eLizabeth SiDiRopouLoS, and Yu-Shan Wu. ON BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE GREAT POWER: CONTEXTUALISING CHINA’S FORAY INTO HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE & SECURITY IN AFRICA. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2016. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-37.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dittgen |first1=Romain |last2=LaLbahaDuR |first2=aDiti |last3=SiDiRopouLoS |first3=eLizabeth |last4=Wu |first4=Yu-Shan |title=ON BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE GREAT POWER: CONTEXTUALISING CHINA’S FORAY INTO HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE & SECURITY IN AFRICA |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-37.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dittgen2016becoming, author = {Dittgen, Romain and LaLbahaDuR, aDiti and SiDiRopouLoS, eLizabeth and Wu, Yu-Shan}, title = {{ON BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE GREAT POWER: CONTEXTUALISING CHINA’S FORAY INTO HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE \& SECURITY IN AFRICA}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-37.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }