Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 2, Issue 1, Fall 2016 | Page 96

Global Security and Intelligence Studies
civilians demonstrating that an increase in Chinese arms transfers to Africa is likely
associated with more strife and bloodletting.
While China is largely known for its sale of small weapons and the human
carnage left in their wake in places like Sudan and the DRC, the Chinese are also
active in supplying sophisticated weapons to oil-rich African states including armored
vehicles, artillery, jet fighters, and training and transport aircraft. China’s sophisticated
weapons transfers to Sudan include F-6 and F-7 fighter aircraft, light tanks, and antiaircraft
systems. Zimbabwe was the recipient of nine J-7 fighter aircraft and six K-8
trainer aircraft as well as 10 T-69 tanks and 30 T-59 tanks. Nigeria has expanded its
assets with its US$251 million purchase of 15 F-7 fighter aircraft (Young 2016). And
Angola ordered eight Su-27 fighter aircraft. Transfer of This sale corresponded very
strongly with the fact that in 2005 Angola exported 17.5 million tons of crude oil
to China becoming China’s largest oil supplier by 2006. Chinese arms transfers are
strongly associated with oil and trade agreements with geo-economically important
countries such as Angola, Nigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and the DRC, among
others. Angola is surpassed only by Sudan as China’s most geo-economic trading
partner in Africa. Sudan has been the recipient of more Chinese made weapons and
military equipment such as cargo trucks, battle tanks, and transport aircraft. These are
in addition to mortars, rocket launchers, and air defense systems (Chang 2007). The
level of sophistication of Chinese arms transferred to Sudan is strongly associated with
Sudan’s geo-economic importance to China. China is the recipient of more than, or
approximately, 90% of Sudan’s oil exports. China’s military presence in Sudan is quite
substantial, with over 4000 Chinese military personnel in the country to protect its
extensive and multi-billion dollar oil infrastructure investments (Human Rights First
2008).
Zimbabwe is not oil rich, but endowed with a variety of critical minerals that
China needs in its industrialization efforts. Accordingly, Zimbabwe has been the
recipient of small arms and ammunition and sophisticated weaponry such as different
types of armored fighting vehicles, and jet aircrafts. Moreover, China supplied the
Mugabe regime instruments of opposition control such as radio-jamming equipment
to disrupt opposition party broadcasts, and riot control equipment to suppress
protests and demonstrations. In particular, oil-rich or strategic mineral endowed
countries are the recipients of millions of dollars in Chinese investments, including
military assistance or arms sales. The Republic of Congo is also rich in oil and supplies
China with approximately 5% of its oil requirements. Congolese military forces are
armed with major Chinese weapons such as the Type 59 tanks, Type 63 107-mm
rocket launchers, Type 60 122-mm howitzers, and Type 59 130-mm cannons. This is
in addition to various types of Chinese light weapons. Critics argue that China ignores
the UN international arms embargo on Congo and continues to sell weapons to the
country.
Other geo-economic African countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, the
DRC, and the like have received weapons systems such as the K-8 trainer aircraft, the
J-7 fighter aircraft, training ship, missile fast craft with C802 ship-to-ship missiles.
States that are not so geo-economic such as Mauritania, Zambia, Namibia, Eritrea,
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