American leaders said publicly during the US-Africa Leaders Summit that the US would offer help for Africa's security, insisting that its security interests in Africa are not just about countering terrorism, and that it would engage the African Union and ECOWAS and improve their capacities so that they are able to effectively safeguard their own neighborhood. By so doing, the US projects itself as a peace angel that can bring lasting peace and security to Africa. At the same time, during an interview, the American leader marked China as a free rider for 30 years in world peace and security affairs. But is that true?
During the years when Africa was troubled by unrest and turmoil, the US did not show much enthusiasm in safeguarding peace and security in Africa. When the tide was turned and Africa's political and security situation as a whole was turning better, the US however, out of its counter-terrorism needs, rushed into setting up an Africa Command, establishing drone basis in a number of African countries and sending more military experts to the continent. It is evident that the US "return to Africa" has nothing to do with Africa's security, but simply driven by its strategy to strengthen military presence and control Africa's security lifeline. African countries are soberly aware of this, and oppose the relocation of USAFRICOM to Africa. That is why it is still embarrassingly based in Stuttgart of Germany.
Counter-terrorism has become a catchphrase for the US to interfere in Africa's peace and security affairs in recent years. However, the double standard approach, unilateral means and pursuit of regime change, coupled with domestic political considerations, made the counter-terror activities seldom successful. In most cases, it made things worse. In the early 1990s, the US used force in Somalia under UNOSOM, but rashly withdrew its troops due to domestic pressure brought by the incident of "Blackhawk Down", leading to years of civil war among the warlords in the country and the spread of the terrorist forces from the land to the sea. In 2011, it was just the bombardment of NATO and military actions of the US and France that toppled the Qaddafi regime, leaving Libya in chaos until today and a safe haven for many terrorist and extremist forces in the Sahel region. Many of these terrorists and extremists were just the forces the US and its allies relied on in toppling the Qaddafi regime. The outflow of terrorist forces from Libya inflated the conflicts in the north of Mali, almost toppling the legal government.
Contrary to what it said, at the time for peace in Africa, the US often took "neo-interventionism" and the "responsibility to protect" as an excuse to blatantly interfere with Africa's internal affairs irrespective of the legitimate appeal of the AU and African sub-regional organizations, which weakened the authority of the AU and undermined the efforts of the African people to solve African problems in the African way. Since Africa is not the US' core interests and diplomatic priority, although being a world police itself, the US has very limited presence in the UN peace-keeping missions in Africa.
China has never been a free rider of the US regarding Africa's peace and security issues. On the contrary, China is making visible contribution to Africa's peace and security. Over the years, China has sent more peace-keepers to the UN missions in Africa than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council. Up till now, China has participated in 16 UN peace-keeping missions in Africa, contributing over 1800 peace-keeping personnel now on the continent. Last year, China sent for the first time formed unit of security forces to Mali, and plans to send similar security forces to South Sudan this year. China's active involvement in peace-keeping missions has been widely commended. Starting from 2009, China has by far sent 17 batches of fleets, escorting over 5400 Chinese and international vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Somali seas. In 2012, China launched the "Initiative on China-Africa Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Security" at the fifth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC, with the purpose of deepening cooperation in relevant fields with the AU and African countries. During his visit to Africa last May, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed to upgrade China-Africa Cooperation in peace and security, announcing that China would actively explore ways to help the development of an African Standby Force and African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis, and support the collective security mechanisms in Africa. The Chinese government has also been actively involved in the mediation efforts to stop wars and address hotspot issues.
It is natural for China to take a more active part in Africa's peace and security construction with the growth of China-Africa cooperation and people-to-people exchange. However, China has been consistent in its diplomatic policies and concepts. China respects the sovereignty of African countries, values the roles of the UN and regional organizations, always be persuasive and unbiased and pushes peaceful talks. China never seeks selfish geo-political interests and always works for the sake of peace and stability of related countries and regions. Such practice will inject new dynamism in the cause of African peace and security.
We know well that due to complex histories and realities, Africa is still confronted with severe challenges and restraints in its pursuit for peace and security, and needs concerted efforts and active participation of the international community. The US, with its military might and influence in Africa, can play a crucial role. We are willing to work together with the US and other members of the international community to promote peace and development in Africa for win-win results and benefits of the entire mankind.
(Liu Guijin, President of China Asia-Africa Society, August 17th, 2014, www.xinhuanet.com)