The Washington Post’s China-Djibouti Story Caught the Attention of U.S. Right-Wing Commentators

Coverage of China-Africa issues is scarce in major U.S. newspapers like The Washington Post, so it was notable last week when WAPO’s Nairobi Bureau Chief Max Bearak published a report on how Beijing’s engagement in the tiny Horn of Africa country Djibouti highlights China’s larger ambitions for Africa as a whole.

The story took more than six months to report and includes some excellent insights from Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s foreign affairs minister, former U.S. Ambassador David Shinn, and University of Notre Dame China-Africa scholar Joshua Eisenman.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms
6 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator

You Might Like

Howard W. French: “America’s Downsized Relationship With Africa Is About to Go Totally Adrift”

Just a few days before Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi embarks on his latest visit to Africa, author and journalist Howard W. French complained that the United States appears to be going in ...

One of Those “Only in Djibouti” Days

Djibouti’s Chief of the General Staff of the Armies, Lieutenant General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim (photo), had a very busy day last Thursday hosting senior naval commanders from both China and the United States for ...

U.S. Generals Continue to Insist China Plans to Build New Military Bases in Africa Even Though There’s No Evidence

The United States military is turning up the volume on its longstanding allegation that China is actively considering building new military bases around the world, including in four African countries. 

This Chart Explains Why the U.S. Seems Increasingly Disengaged From Africa

This chart that measures African trade clearly explains why there’s so little interest in the United States about fostering closer ties with Africa. The U.S. trading relationship peaked in 2011 and since ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP