China and Equatorial Guinea: Why Their New 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' Matters

Equatorial Guinea's primary export product to China is crude petroleum, followed by petroleum gas and rough wood, while China's exports to Equatorial Guinea are more diversified; special-purpose ships, gas turbines and ceramic bricks are the top products among them. For China, Equatorial Guinea is not a particularly crucial economic partner, although China recognizes that diversity is crucial for resilient supply chains. Washington's perspective is that a Chinese naval base in Equatorial Guinea could threaten U.S. national security by providing China with a logistical base and springboard in the Atlantic Ocean. The reports of a possible Chinese naval base in Equatorial Guinea concern a Chinese-built deep-water port in Bata, a city in mainland Equatorial Guinea. During President Obiang's visit to China in April 2015, China and Equatorial Guinea established a comprehensive partnership of cooperation. If Gabon is anything to go by, the elevation of China's bilateral ties with Equatorial Guinea to a "Comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" indicates the establishment of a framework for deeper military cooperation between Malabo and Beijing. Given Equatorial Guinea's uniqueness on the continent, as a country that has historic and current links to several European countries, its new elevation with China - whether driven by economics or strategy - has implications for Africa's strategic environment more broadly.