“In 2021, the PRC employed multiple diplomatic tools in an attempt to erode U.S. and partner influence such as highlighting the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and criticizing U.S.-backed security partnerships including the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) and Australia-UK-United States partnership.
“The PRC has likely considered Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, Angola, and Tajikistan among other places as locations for [People’s Liberation Army] military logistics facilities. The PRC has probably already made overtures to Namibia, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. The PLA is most interested in military access along the [sea lines of communications from China to the Strait of Hormuz, Africa, and
the Pacific Islands.”
— From “Military and security developments involving the People’s Republic of China,” a report to the U.S. Congress, released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Nov. 29.
