China is beginning to match its economic presence abroad with the military reach required to operate across it.
The clearest evidence came from Egypt. Chinese J-16 fighters flew there recently, supported by YU-20 tankers that refuelled them in the air. The Chinese jets are taking part in Egypt’s “Eagles of Civilisation” alongside Egyptian Rafales and MiG-29s. This is the first time China has sent the jets to Africa, providing experience in moving a combat force across continents and operating with a major Arab military.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Egypt commemorates 70 years of diplomatic relations. Over those decades, ties have evolved from diplomacy and trade into infrastructure, technology and now military cooperation.
Chinese economic interests are deeply embedded around the Suez Canal. Chinese companies have established manufacturing and logistics operations, using Egypt as a production and distribution base linking their supply chains to European, African and Middle Eastern markets.
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