China's security policy in Africa: A new or false dawn for the evolution of the application of China's non-interference principle?. Issue 3 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barton, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: South African journal of international affairs. Volume 25:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 413
• Page End: 434
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: China -- Africa -- South Sudan -- Djibouti -- non-interference -- security policy -- peacekeeping -- military cooperation; South Africa -- Foreign relations -- Periodicals; South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1989-1994 -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; World politics -- 1945-1989 -- Periodicals; 968
• DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2018.1526707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-0461

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the application of the non-interference principle in the context of China's security policy in Africa, to determine the extent to which we are witnessing an evolution in the application of this principle. Indeed, as seen with the recent opening of the military base in Djibouti or with China's contribution to peace talks in South Sudan, it would appear that the non-intervention principle is undergoing a course reversal. This paper will argue that, in spite of these apparent shifts, there has been no fundamental change to the application of this principle. To make this point, this article applies Ren's typology, which characterises three levels of nuance in the forms that the application of non-interference has taken in practice. This typology is then applied in a comparative manner across the four following components of China's security policy in Africa: peacekeeping operations; military cooperation; naval power projection; and crisis management mediation.