The United States of America has raised an alarm over China’s plan to launch its first permanent military facility on the Atlantic Ocean.
The base will be built on the coast of Equatorial Guinea, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal, based on classified information from U.S. intelligence.
Siting such a base should also be a source of concern for Nigeria as Malabo, the Equatorial Guinean Capital, is a mere 144 kilometres away from Calabar, 225km from Port Harcourt, and 672km from Lagos.
China currently has a military base in the East African nation of Djibouti, which it built in 2016.
However, China says the new “Support base” will be used for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid in Africa and West Asia. It is also expected to be used for military co-operation, naval exercises and rescue missions.
The United States says it is alarmed that China’s presence on Africa’s Atlantic coast would enhance the possible threat to it as such a base would give Chinese warships a place to re-arm and refit opposite the East Coast.
General Stephen Townsend, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, had informed the U.S. Senate in April, 2021 that “China’s most significant threat would be a militarily useful Naval facility on the Atlantic coast of Africa.
“By militarily useful, I mean something more than a place that they can make port calls and get gas and groceries. I’m talking about a port where they can re-arm with munitions and repair naval vessels.”
Jon Finer, President Joe Biden’s Principal Deputy National Security Adviser, travelled to Equatorial Guinea in October in an effort to convince President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his son, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue to reject China’s proposal.
The 79-year-old Obiang is the longest-serving President in the world, having ruled his country with a tight fist since August, 1979.
It is worthy to note that tensions between China and the U.S. have risen in recent times amidst human rights issues, the COVID-19 pandemic origin issues and concerns about Taiwan.