Classified American intelligence reports suggest China intends to establish its first permanent military presence on the Atlantic Ocean in the tiny Central African country of Equatorial Guinea, according to U.S. officials.<\/p>\n
The officials declined to describe details of the secret intelligence findings. But they said the reports raise the prospect that Chinese warships would be able to rearm and refit opposite the East Coast of the U.S.\u2014a threat that is setting off alarm bells at the White House and Pentagon.<\/p>\n
Principal deputy U.S. national security adviser Jon Finer visited Equatorial Guinea in October on a mission to persuade President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his son and heir apparent, Vice President Teodoro \u201cTeodorin\u201d Nguema Obiang Mangue, to reject China\u2019s overtures.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of our diplomacy to address maritime-security issues, we have made clear to Equatorial Guinea that certain potential steps involving [Chinese] activity there would raise national-security concerns,\u201d said a senior Biden administration official.<\/p>\n
The great-power skirmishing over a country that rarely draws outside attention reflects the rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. The two countries are sparring over the status of Taiwan, China\u2019s testing of a hypersonic missile, the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n "US finds itself maneuvering to try to block #China<\/a> from projecting its military power from new overseas bases, from Cambodia to the #UAE<\/a>. In #EquatorialGuinea<\/a>, [#PRC<\/a>] likely [has] an eye on #Bata<\/a>..already has a #Chinese<\/a>-built deep-water commercial #port<\/a>"https:\/\/t.co\/JMIF9yMa0w<\/a><\/p>\n — Andrew Erickson \u827e\u7acb\u4fe1 (@AndrewSErickson) December 6, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n