SOUTH AFRICA WELCOMES CHINESE MILITARY ASSISTANCE
via
BDLive
The
SOUTH AFRICAN National Defence Force (SANDF) would benefit from CHINESE
military training, discipline and expertise if an exchange programme were
initiated, Maj-Gen Ntakaleleni Sigudu of the Department of Defence stated.
Addressing
diplomats and military representatives on the 86th anniversary of the CHINESE
People’s Liberation Army, Maj-Gen Sigudu said had it not been for CHINA’S contribution
to the military training of cadres of the AFRICAN National Congress and other
liberation movements in AFRICA, the continent’s freedom could have taken much
longer.
He
said CHINA’S role in SOUTH AFRICA’S liberation should be celebrated as it did
not start between 15 and 20 years with the change of CHINA’S expansionist
economic policy but dated back to the colonial era.
IMPROVE MILITARY TRAINING
He
said although modern CHINESE policy seemed focused on economic ties and trade,
the presence in SOUTH AFRICA of a new military attaché of CHINA, Senior Col Xu
Jianwei, was testimony to the need to broaden ties to include agreements that
could improve military training and expertise to help the AFRICAN Union build a
formidable AFRICA-based peacekeeping force.
Background Information:
CHINA AND AFRICA
MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY
THE SECRET WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US FOR AFRICA'S OIL RICHES
CHINA’S WINNING STRATEGY IN AFRICA
“Conflict
is still a plague on this continent and the continent is increasingly
challenged to build capacity to engage and tackle its own problems. Therefore
we appreciate the undertaking by the CHINESE People’s Liberation Army to
contribute significantly to the AU’s objectives of building its own strong,
effective and efficient peacekeeping capability,” he said.
He
congratulated CHINA for the more focused and value-adding economic development
programme in AFRICA that had led to roads and rail infrastructure development
in some AFRICAN states as well as the construction of the AU headquarters in
Addis Ababa.
CHINA
offered a genuine partnership unparalleled by the contributions in the past of AFRICA’S
colonial masters.
CHINA'S PRESENCE IN AFRICA
Snr
Col Xu said CHINA’S military participation in AFRICA was growing, with CHINESE
soldiers already on the ground in SUDAN, LIBERIA, MALI and the DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO. He said the CHINESE People’s Liberation Army planned to
steadily increase its participation in peacekeeping efforts in AFRICA because
the continent’s stability was in the global interest.
CHINA
particularly wanted to work side by side with SOUTH AFRICA, whose foreign
policy was focused on bringing stability in AFRICA to enhance social
development and trade. This was already having a significant effect on
stabilising many countries previously facing conflict.
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