Africa’s wars as testing grounds for China

China’s military technology needs continuous testing, and Africa’s war zones offer an ideal proving ground, according to the article. The argument centers on the growing presence of Chinese arms manufacturers on the continent and the battlefield experience their equipment can gain there.

Norinco, one of China’s leading weapons producers, opened an office in Dakar in 2023. The move serves not only African countries, but also Chinese manufacturers seeking to expand and refine their military products.

The article says the results are already visible in some equipment categories. Chinese-made armored tanks now serve in 70% of African armies, it states, giving Beijing’s weapons an expanding operational presence across the continent.

Over time, weapons tested in war could build the references Chinese manufacturers need to compete with more expensive Western equipment, which comes with extensive regulations. Beijing hopes Africa can provide a springboard for that competition. The article summarizes the appeal of China’s arms industry in blunt terms: its factories deliver cheaply and quickly, and they do not ask questions.