If the US ever has to deploy forces to support attacks against our interests or in defense of our European allies, like an attack on Ukraine, then our forces would have to traverse the Atlantic. Right now, our surface naval ships, land based air assets, submarines, and naval air assets are not challenged regarding that mission. We own the Atlantic. But China wants to change that.
That’s why she is using the window of opportunity the Biden administration affords to build a naval base on the African Atlantic coast. From there she could raid against American ships on the high seas. This deal must be stopped. But it won’t be.
(China has been slowly moving into Africa for decades, including buying farm land to feed the Chinese people)
China looking to build naval base on Africa’s Atlantic!https://t.co/TtGHEXrEKe [1]— Easytime (@Easytime4) December 6, 2021 [2]
FNC: “China appears to be eyeing its first permanent military base on the shores of Africa’s Atlantic coast, and Washington – not keen on the idea – has already started a diplomatic effort to put the kibosh on any plans, a report said.
U.S. officials, citing classified American intelligence reports, told the Wall Street Journal that Beijing could be eyeing Equatorial Guinea’s port city of Bata for the base. The report said Bata already comes with a deep-water port that had been upgraded by China Road & Bridge Co. from 2009 to 2014. The report said U.S. intelligence first learned of the possibility of the base in 2019.
Jon Finer, the principal deputy U.S. national security adviser, visited the Central African country in October in an effort to dissuade President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his son from agreeing to the deal, according to the Journal. The White House said in a statement at the time that the two discussed ‘ways to enhance maritime security and end the COVID-19 pandemic.’ ”
One Biden aide said America “made clear to Equatorial Guinea that certain potential steps involving [Chinese] activity there would raise national-security concerns.”
Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of U.S. Africa Command, said the “most significant threat” from Beijing would be a naval base on Africa’s Atlantic coast. The potential of such a base is “setting off alarm bells at the White House and Pentagon.” As it should. This is the Chinese going from a regional hegemon mission to a global strategic footprint. This is aimed at us.