On November 20, 2020, Dr. TANG Xiaoyang participated in a closed-door roundtable on “Security Cooperation in Africa” held virtually by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Dr. Tang is a China Forum Expert of Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University, Resident Scholar at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy, and Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University.

At the roundtable centered around long-term peacebuilding in Africa, Dr. Tang pointed out that China has become an important emerging force in shaping African security, taking on more security and peacekeeping responsibilities. Since the beginning of the 21st century, China has participated in peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other African countries, and dispatched formed contingents to peacekeeping operations in Mali and South Sudan. It has also deployed warships to escort vessels in the Gulf of Aden, and set up its first overseas replenishment base in Djibouti. However, China’s endeavors in this area are not geared toward geopolitical competition, but rather toward creating a peaceful and stable environment for African development and its trade with China. In addition, its peacebuilding operations in Africa have always underlined drawing on local knowledge. China stands ever ready to work with other state partners to help build a safer Africa.