Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the Dead Sea area over fears of a drone infiltration
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran: Explosions heard in the Piroozi, Sabalan, and Sayyad districts of Tehran
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran: Air defenses are confronting intensive Israeli targets over the skies of Mashhad
"Israel’s" Channel 12: Around 20 cars caught fire following an Iranian strike in the central region
Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei on X: We must respond with strength to the terrorist Zionist entity... We will never compromise with the Zionists
Israeli media: A new barrage of rockets launched from Iran has been detected
Israeli media: Two direct hits were recorded in the latest salvo of missiles, the first in the north and the second in Tel Aviv
Iran: Fars News Agency: The Armed Forces attacked the Meron Air Traffic Control Base in northern occupied Palestine
Israeli media: Israeli Channel 12: An Iranian missile impacted a building in central Israel directly
The Israeli military command has warned of another imminent Iranian missile strike just minutes after the first wave of attacks was completed

Why China is interested in peace in the Horn of Africa: SCMP

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: South China Morning Post
  • 9 Jan 2022 18:58
4 Min Read

China is taking measures opposed to those of the United States in its dealing with the Horn of Africa, and it seems like it is more interested in peace since it serves its economic interests.

  • x
  • Members of a 160-strong Chinese army medical team attend the opening of a $41 million Chinese-funded ebola treatment hospital, Monrovia, Liberia, November 25, 2014 (AFP)
    Members of a 160-strong Chinese army medical team attend the opening of a $41 million Chinese-funded Ebola treatment hospital, Monrovia, Liberia, November 25, 2014 (AFP)

Some regional observers see China's pledge to appoint an envoy on peace in the Horn of Africa as Beijing moving from its traditional position of not intervening in the affairs of other countries. They also perceive this as a sign of China growing out of its shell and displaying more confidence in the international arena.

China called for regional peace in the Horn through its foreign minister Wang Yi during his visit to Kenya last week. The diplomat also took the chance to praise the region for its "unique strategic position and great development potential."

The region has been plagued and ravaged by civil wars and coup d'etats that had effects on investment, in which Chinese companies have a hand.

Chinese companies have made huge investments in the region and said investments included infrastructures, such as ports and railways, and some attribute China's intervention to these investments, according to an article on South China Morning Post (SCMP).

China is presenting itself as an alternative mediator to the Ethiopian conflict

China appointing an envoy shows that Beijing has realized the region's geostrategic value, and it is ready to "officially and openly" put aside its "principle of non-interference" to serve its interests, said Seifudein Adam, a global studies professor at one of Japan's most prestigious universities, Doshisha University.

The professor sees that China is presenting itself as an alternative mediator to the Ethiopian conflict that the United States has failed to mediate so far. He also highlighted that Beijing is growing more confident of being a rising global power that can provide mediation for conflicts in foreign countries in addition to other "global public goods."

Related News

Hamas warns of US threats of military intervention against Iran

Bipartisan Congress bill seeks to block US war on Iran

China's special envoy will allow the Asian giant to "better support and coordinate with African multilateral peace and security efforts," said an expert and researcher at the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

He also saw that the envoy's appointment would help make China more informed on certain issues, such as the crisis in Somalia and the civil war in Ethiopia.

China's vast investments in the region

China's vast investments in the region include a $4.5 billion rail link to Djibouti in Ethiopia, as the former continues a key maritime outlet for Ethiopia's imports and exports.

China is also making progress in Eritrea, which joined the Belt and Road Initiative a few months ago, meaning it could see Chinese money flow to develop its infrastructure soon.

The Asian giant is taking an approach parallel to that of the US, which sanctioned leaders in Ethiopia and Eritrea, both of which have been rebels in Tigray, Ethiopia. Instead of punishment and unilateral sanctions, China condemned the punitive measures.

During his visit to Eritrea, Wang condemned the US sanctions and praised the leaders of the two countries, who he said appeared to be asserting their independence from the United States.

Yunnan: China interested in peace and security in the region

China's economic interests in the region and the latter's significance in the Belt and Road Initiative make China interested in peace and security in the region, said Yunnan Chen, a senior research officer at the Overseas Development Insitute think tank.

She reasoned that conflicts put at risk the lives of Chinese citizens and workers on the ground, not to mention the sustainability of the major infrastructure projects considered part of the BRI.

Many other experts saw that China's interest in the region was rational and peace-based, as Beijing wants regional peace for the best interest of its investments and its Belt and Road Initiative.

"One can see a similar dynamic here of China both safeguarding its investment in the region and contributing to regional security," said W. Gyude Moore, a former Liberian public works minister and a senior policy expert in the Centre for Global Development. 

  • United States
  • Africa
  • Horn of Africa
  • China
  • Ethiopia
  • Sudan
  • Wang Yi

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Turkish Air Force pilot gestures from the cockpit of an F-16 military fighter jet before an Air Policing exercise at the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Wednesday, March 6, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Israeli aircraft violate Turkish airspace, fighter jets scrambled

An Israeli occupation forces armored personnel carrier maneuvers in the Gaza Strip, southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian resistance downs Israeli drone in Gaza amid extensive ops

An Israeli Hermes 450 UAV drone flies over Beirut, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Politics

Iran reports shooting down 28 types of hostile aircraft in 24 hours

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze after a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran retaliatory strikes target greater Tel Aviv as injuries reported

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS