Classified American intelligence reports claim that China may now be looking to establish its first permanent military base in Africa. The report claims that China plans to build a base on the Atlantic Ocean in the tiny Central African country of Equatorial Guinea.
The report did not detail what China plans to build exactly on the African country, but it did state that such an expansion would be a threat to the U.S. and its allies.
The intelligence report said that having a base on Africa's Atlantic coast would allow China to have a place to rearm and refit its warships and expand its presence in the region. This would give it a strategic base of operations just across the United States East Coast.
During a Senate hearing in April, Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of the U.S. Africa Command, had warned that China must not be allowed to have a naval facility on the Atlantic coast of Africa. He said that allowing China to do so would pose a "significnat threat."
Townsend clarified during the hearing that the U.S. must not allow China to establish a military facility in Africa's Atlantic coast where they would rearm and repair their naval vessels.
The report claimed that U.S. President Biden's principal deputy national security adviser, Jon Finer, had traveled to Equatorial Guinea in October to attempt to halt China's plans. Finer reportedly met with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his son Vice President Teodoro "Teodorin" Nguema Obiang Mangue, to convince them to reject China's proposal to build a base in their country.
Obiang is the world's longest-serving president, having been in power for more than 40 years. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have accused him of relentless persecution of civil society and corruption, including siphoning off of the country's oil wealth.
A senior Biden administration official said that the country continues to engage with the Equitorial Guniea government to address the maritime security issue. The officials said they have made it explicitly clear to the African nation that Chinese activity along its coast would present a serious national security concern.
Tensions between China and the United States have escalated in recent months as a result of human rights issues, the COVID-19 outbreak, and worries over Taiwan. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently warned of grave repercussions if China invaded Taiwan and forcibly seized the island. Blinken warned that China has to "think very carefully" about its plans to avoid provoking an international crisis.
