Africa and Chinese Arms Transfers

The UK-based Royal United Services Institute published on 20 April 2017 a brief analysis titled "Chinese Arms Exports Contradict Its International Messaging" by James Shinnie.

It looks at China's arms transfers to Africa, cooperative security agreements, and Chinese support for UN peacekeeping operations.

The article erroneously states that "China is now the largest single contributor of personnel to UN peacekeeping." As of 28 February 2017, China had 2,567 personnel assigned to UN peacekeeping operations globally. Eleven other countries, including six African countries, had more personnel assigned to UN peacekeeping operations on that date. Xi Jinping's 2015 announcement of allocating 8,000 Chinese soldiers to the UN's standby force does not constitute assigned personnel. Nor is it clear that all of the 8,000 personnel have even been identified on paper.