China's future security policy in Africa

This paper contends that China's economic interests in Africa face a dual security challenge. On the one hand the amount of nontraditional violence in Africa is increasing. On the other, China has to deal with uncertainty about the future strategic intentions of other powers. The combination of these two threats could lead China to embark on a more strident and unilateral security policy. However, a study of its current practises shows that it increasingly tends to resort to collective action. Despite the fact that China's interest in Africa is growing, alongside its own military capacities and diplomatic assertiveness, it is found that a cooperative security policy is also China's only realistic option for the future.