The China in Africa Podcast Africa is a Testing Ground for China’s Global Security Initiative
Aug 29, 2025
Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Strategic Studies Center, dives into China's growing role in African security. He discusses China's Global Security Initiative, contrasting it with Western military approaches. Paul highlights how African leaders navigate loans and partnerships while assessing security training from China. The conversation sheds light on the complexities of China-Africa relations, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of security support and diplomatic backing. It's a riveting exploration of how these dynamics shape Africa's future.
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GSI As External Face Of China’s Security
- The Global Security Initiative (GSI) is China’s external expression of a national security concept rooted in regime stability.
- GSI reframes global security debates via forums, discourse, and principles that align with China’s governance priorities.
Sovereignty And 'Legitimate Security' Explained
- GSI emphasizes sovereignty, non-interference, and “legitimate security interests,” which can be interpreted broadly to include regime and territorial claims.
- China links these principles to domestic-focused security tools like police, intelligence, and coast guard cooperation.
GSI Targets Police And Paramilitary Capacity
- GSI programming focuses more on law enforcement and paramilitary capacities than pure military-to-military exchanges.
- China finds institutional affinity with many African policing systems that are centralized and under executive control.