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Witnesses warn Chinese military expansion and weapon flows are changing security dynamics in the Horn of Africa
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Summary
Experts at the Senate hearing described China’s growing military footprint — including a base in Djibouti and expanded training, port and weapons ties — and said Beijing’s long-term, disciplined strategy is outpacing U.S. engagement in the region.
Witnesses told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that China’s expanding presence in East Africa is reshaping the region’s security landscape and that the United States must adapt its engagement strategy.
Joshua Mazurvi noted that "In Djibouti, China built a military base with a peer sufficient to host a Chinese aircraft carrier or nuclear submarine," and that Beijing’s companies and officials have deep, long-term ties across the region. He said Chinese naval deployments and participation in anti-piracy patrols give the People’s Liberation Army experience it could apply elsewhere.
Witnesses described a wide range of Chinese activities: state-level visits and frequent diplomacy, infrastructure financing and loans, port and construction projects, weapons transfers and military training exchanges. Ambassadors and senators described annual military engagement between Chinese leaders and African defense chiefs and noted Chinese ships’ port calls around the continent.
Committee members warned that China often pairs security relationships with commercial arrangements, and that Beijing’s loans and projects can create political leverage. Senators and witnesses discussed the strategic risk if China secures additional basing or logistics access on the Atlantic or Indian Ocean coasts.
Discussion only: The hearing was a fact-finding session; no committee decisions were made.
