The Wall Street Journal is the latest U.S. news outlet to publish unconfirmed Pentagon claims that China seeks to build a second military outpost in Africa, this time on the Atlantic coast. Monday’s article was almost identical to an AP story published in May that featured statements by AFRICOM head General Stephen Townsend who alleged, also without evidence, that China seeks to build an Atlantic navy base on the continent.
WHY THIS IS A BAD CHINA TAKE: It’s entirely possible that China is looking to build an Atlantic military base in Africa, but there is no evidence of any kind on the public record, neither in Chinese nor in English, that Beijing is even considering such a move. Neither the WSJ nor AP contacted a Chinese official or even a Chinese military analyst to question the U.S. military’s claim. At a minimum, these stories lack critical editorial balance.
