China is making diplomatic inroads in Equatorial Guinea via an old tactic: donating broadcasting equipment. This comes as the West African country faces a lot of U.S. pressure due to fears that it might host China’s first Atlantic military base.
Qi Mei, China’s ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, headed the transfer ceremony at the Television Broadcast Center in Malabo. Donating equipment to cash-strapped state broadcasters is an established Chinese soft power tool. Countries as far afield as Somalia, the Philippines, and Cuba have received such donations.
