China–Djibouti relations

People's Republic of China–Djibouti relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the People's Republic of China and Djibouti. China and Djibouti established relations on January 8, 1979.[1]: 348  China has financed a number of public works projects in Djibouti, including a stadium, the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Palace.[2] In September 2010, Type 920 Hospital Ship, also known as the "Peace Ark", visited Djibouti.[3]

China–Djibouti relations
Map indicating locations of China and Djibouti

China
Djibouti
Institut Sino Djiboutien des Affaires Portuaires ("Sino-Djiboutian Port Affairs Institute"; 中吉港口交流学院) - Shenzhen

Economic development
See also: Economy of Djibouti and Djibouti and the International Monetary Fund

Since the first Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2000, Beijing has delivered $16.6 million in development finance to Djibouti.[4] Major Chinese aid projects in Djibouti include:

  • $8.2 million to fund the construction of a hospital in Arta[4]
  • A $2.41 million grant for construction of a new headquarters for the Djiboutian Foreign Minister[4]
  • $1.75 million in food aid during a drought in Djibouti in 2005[4]

Ethiopia-Djibouti Potable Water Project

In 2017, China announced the launch of a cross-border potable water project between Ethiopia and Djibouti. The project will include the installation of a 102 kilometer long pipeline to draw groundwater from the Ethiopian town of Hadagalla to be provided to the towns of Ali-Sabieh, Dikhil, Arta and Djibouti city.[5]

Spaceport

In January 2023, Djibouti signed a deal with the Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group to build the first African spaceport.[6] The agreement followed a January 7th visit of a delegation from the company led by Vice President Allen Fund to meet with the Djiboutian government and Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti Hu Bin.[7] The $1 billion USD project, expected to be completed in 2028, provides the Chinese company full ownership of the spaceport for 30 years, after which the facility will be handed over to Djibouti.[8] Djibouti represents an advantageous location for orbital launches as its proximity to the Earth's equator (10° latitude) and the consequential increased rotational speed requires less fuel for launches.[9][10]

Military development

Support base
Main article: People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti

In 2016, construction began on a Chinese naval outpost in Djibouti. The site was slated to become China's first overseas military installation, with an estimated cost of $600 million. According to Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the 90-acre plot would likely house only 300 Chinese troops and would require the Chinese government to pay the Djiboutian government $20 million annually for ten years with an option for an additional period of ten years.[11][12][13][14]

Medical cooperation

On its 2017 mission to Africa, the People's Liberation Army Navy hospital ship Peace Ark traveled to Djibouti where it treated 7,841 Djiboutian patients.[1]: 284 

Human rights

In July 2019, UN ambassadors from 50 countries, including Djibouti, have signed a joint letter to the UNHRC defending China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang region.[15]

In June 2020, Djibouti was one of 53 countries that backed the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations.[16]

See also

References
  1. Shinn, David H.; Eisenman, Joshua (2023). China's Relations with Africa: a New Era of Strategic Engagement. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-21001-0.
  2. "Djibouti -- china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  3. "China's hospital ship Peace Ark leaves Djibouti - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  4. Austin Strange, Bradley C. Parks, Michael J. Tierney, Andreas Fuchs, Axel Dreher, and Vijaya Ramachandran. 2013. China's Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. CGD Working Paper 323. Washington DC: Center for Global Development. http://aiddatachina.org/projects?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search=&active_string%5B%5D=Active&country_name%5B%5D=Djibouti&scope_names%5B%5D=Official+Finance%5B%5D
  5. "Chinese funded Ethio-Djibouti water project to be inaugurated soon - China.org.cn". China Internet Information Center. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  6. Nyabiage, Jevans (21 January 2023). "Djibouti in Horn of Africa on track for spaceport following deal with Hong Kong firm, six years after opening of Chinese naval base". South China Morning Post.
  7. Okafor, Chiendu (10 January 2023). "Djibouti signs a $1 billion deal with Honk Kong to build a spaceport in the horn of Africa". Business Insider.
  8. "A planned spaceport in Djibouti may give China a boost". The Economist. 19 January 2023.
  9. "Djibouti inks $1bn deal with Hong Kong company to build rocket launch site". The North Africa Post. 12 January 2023.
  10. Berger, Eric (20 January 2023). "Rocket Report: SpaceX reaches 'ludicrous' cadence; ABL explains RS1 failure". Ars Technica.
  11. Page, Jeremy (19 August 2016). "China Builds First Overseas Military Outpost". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  12. Zhou, Laura (April 17, 2017). "How a Chinese investment boom is changing the face of Djibouti". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. About half an hour's drive west of the restaurant, a Chinese military base is surreptitiously taking shape near the dusty construction site of the China-funded, US$590 million Doraleh Multipurpose Port.Paice, Edward (May 30, 2017). "Djibouti Wins Jackpot – Renting Out Desert for Military Bases". The Cipher Brief. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  13. Jacobs, Andrew; Perlez, Jane (February 25, 2017). "U.S. Wary of Its New Neighbor in Djibouti: A Chinese Naval Base". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  14. Chan, Minnie (September 25, 2017). "Live-fire show of force by troops from China's first overseas military base". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  15. "The Pro-Xinjiang Contingent". Wired. 28 July 2019.
  16. Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
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