China in the South Atlantic: a matter of security
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34624/ro.v0i4.40067Keywords:
China, South Atlantic, 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, GeopoliticsAbstract
Although a relatively late actor in the South Atlantic, China has become increasingly involved in the dynamics of the region due to its economic commitments, logistical needs and perceived threats to the security of its investments and diaspora. This article therefore argues that in a context where geo-economics is inseparable from geopolitics, the South Atlantic, although remote for China, has become increasingly important in the operations that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been conducting in the region since 2014. As we aim to demonstrate, the role that the South Atlantic plays in China's maritime strategy is not qualitatively different from that played by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. On the contrary, the difference lies mainly in its intensity, since by virtue of its geography the South Atlantic is a distant sea, which makes it less urgent than the Pacific where Chinese assertiveness is high. However, although distant, the South Atlantic tends to allow the PLAN, in the medium and/or long term, to alleviate the pressure exerted by the US on China's coastal waters.
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