Login
iscover
The People’s Republic of China and South Africa have agreed to expand military cooperation after a series of meetings with international military attachés this month.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Both militaries will collaborate on strategic communication, mechanism building, and address common security challenges, according to defence ministry statements made this week.
South African National Defence Force Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya met with Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu in Beijing on 21 June.
General Li said Chinese President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to China–South Africa relations for a shared future, substantive exchanges, and cooperation between the two militaries.
“As an important component of bilateral relations, the mil-to-mil relationship has always been at the forefront of China’s military relations with African countries,” he said.
“The two sides have achieved fruitful exchanges and cooperation in fields such as joint training and exercises, academic education, medical and health care, and equipment technology.”
China is willing to work with the South African military to deepen strategic communication, optimise mechanism building, and work together to address common security challenges, he said.
General Maphwanya said the South African National Defence Force is willing to continue to deepen practical exchanges and cooperation in various fields with the Chinese military, constantly improve the level of mil-to-mil relations, and contribute to building a fairer, safer, and better world.
Earlier this year in May, US officials accused South Africa of supplying weapons to a Russian cargo ship which docked at Simon’s Town naval base near Cape Town in December 2022. The country has abstained from voting on UN resolutions involving the Ukraine War.
Later this year, South Africa will host the BRICS summit in August to discuss global economic governance with member countries including Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
Earlier this month, 74 military attachés and their spouses from 51 countries visited Shaanxi Province in northwest China at the invitation of China’s Ministry of National Defense.
The military attachés were briefed on the Central Theater Command of the Chinese PLA, the economic and social development of Shaanxi Province, construction of the “Belt and Road” project and visits to relevant military units and local communities.
Fifty-four senior military, police officers, and defence officials from 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries attended a 15-day seminar held in the International College of Defense Studies of the PLA National Defense University in earlier June.
Participants discussed risks and challenges to global and regional security, security perspectives and policies of China and LAC countries. They also visited PLA army, navy, air force, armed police forces, and military academies to learn about the development of the Chinese military.
