At the commemoration of the 97th Anniversary of the founding of China People's Liberation Army -- also known as Army Day celebrated on August 1 -- Zimbabwe and China demonstrated that there is an opportunity to deepen military cooperation between China and Africa, which could hold the key to global peace and security.
Zimbabwe and China enjoy strong bilateral bonds that stemmed from cooperation during Zimbabwe's liberation struggle when China offered military and technical assistance that helped the country achieve Independence from Britain in 1980.
China also assisted other liberation movements in Africa and in the Global South, including in countries such as Mozambique, Angola, Algeria and South Africa.
Nearly five decades on, amid a vastly evolved global peace and security situation, military cooperation holds renewed potential that not just guarantees peace and security, but addresses pitfalls of Western military influence that had proliferated in the intervening years.
There have also been dangers of new dynamics in the creation of destabilising forces and pivots by countries such as the United States whose Africa Command outfit has sent worrying signals across the continent.
China's model is vastly different, as China drives the concept of comprehensive and sustainable peace based on ideals of multilateralism, sovereign equality of nations and win-win cooperation. These, in essence, anchor the idea of the Global Security Initiative which China's President Xi Jinping propounded in 2022.
Zimbabwe is among 100 countries and organisations that have endorsed the concept.
However, the question remains, how can the two sides cooperate in the new era, and to what extent can this be replicated to make African countries a key node in the formation of a new global security architecture?
The starting point is that China enjoys respect and admiration of Zimbabwe and many in the international community, and the fact that it has taken the lead in initiating the GSI is a turning point in history, which harnesses both the richness of history and the allure of the future.
What is more, China, in responding comprehensively to current challenges in security in both traditional and emerging, non-traditional domains is demonstrating pragmatism and great foresight that requires a buy-in from countries of the world to achieve results that will impact the direction of the globe.
The PLA is thus a symbol and metaphor for this prospect, while various other dimensions of China's new philosophy support the quest for a broad-based framework and architecture.
Coming of age
China is an ancient civilisation and its modernisation has shown depth in evolution and development across various dimensions.
The development of the PLA, formed in 1949 at the end of World War II when the communist forces defeated the Nationalists, making possible the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, is an inspirational story itself. It would later assist liberation movements cross the world, gain strength and position China as a military power.
At the commemorations in Harare, Zimbabwe's Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri showered praised on the PLA.
She said celebrations of the origins of the Chinese Army Day, reminded people of the pivotal moment in history, the Nanchang Uprising of August 1, 1927.
"It was here, amidst great turmoil and struggle, that the Chinese Communist Party and its allies rose to ensure that the voices of the many were not silenced by the tyranny of the few. This spirit of resilience and determination resonates deeply in the hearts of people across the globe.
"The story of the People's Liberation Army is one of strength, unity, and unwavering commitment to the principles of peace and stability. As we honour this remarkable institution today, let us recognise the vital role that defence forces play in safeguarding national sovereignty and integrity as well as fostering international partnerships based on mutual respect and cooperation," she said.
Minister Muchinguri noted that Zimbabwe had associated with People's Liberation Army from the time of the liberation struggle which ushered in independence in 1980.
The People's Liberation Army contributed immensely to Zimbabwe's struggle for independence.
Since Independence China has assisted Zimbabwe military with technical/technological, material, and capacity development in the form of skills training. Just eight months ago, in December 2023, China gave Zimbabwe an assortment of military goods worth US$28 million, which President Mnangagwa received at a handover by Ambassador Zhou Ding in Harare.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri highlighted some of these achievements and said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces currently had 68 students engaged in various military courses in China, while the PLA had seven Senior Directing Staff serving as instructors at the Zimbabwe National Defence University and Zimbabwe Staff College.
"This engagement is not just a testament to our strong military ties, but also a demonstration of our shared commitment to capacity building and professional development," she said.
Xi Jinping thought and new global security order
President Xi's GSI concept changes how the world should think about global peace and security, including military cooperation, with the possibility of building new alliances and protocols that support the confronting of new challenges, and the threats posed by the continuation of a dysfunctional global order.
A representative of the PLA, Senior Colonel Wang Zhenyu explained the modernisation of the Chinese army anchored on "thoroughly" applying Xi Jinping's thought of strengthening the military, implemented the military strategy for the new era, and deepened military reforms.
"Its system, structure, pattern, and appearance have been completely renewed," he said.
"Since 2020, China proposed strategic tasks of achieving the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and more quickly elevating our people's armed forces to world-class standards. To this end, Chinese People's Liberation Army will continue to modernise our military theory, organisational forms, personnel, weaponry and equipment."
The theoretical and philosophical bases of China's changing military is solid, and expectedly winning hearts and minds in the international community.
Wang said: "Today, our world is changing in ways like never before, and the international community is confronted with multiple risks and challenges. Regional security hotspots keep flaring up, local conflicts and turbulence occur frequently, unilateralism and protectionism have risen significantly, and traditional and non-traditional security threats are entwined. The world is once again at a crossroads in history."
He said President Xi's idea of the GSI, which calls for countries to adapt to the profoundly changing international landscape in the spirit of solidarity, and address the complex and intertwined security challenges with a win-win mindset represented and echoed the trend of history and respond to the international community's desire for countries to unite and work together to build a world that is free from fear and enjoys universal security.
To put this into context, Wang highlighted three areas that define China's approach to global security.
"Firstly, we value peace and harmony," he said.
"China's strategic culture is firmly based on universal love and non-aggression".
He explained that for thousands of years, peace had been deeply ingrained in the veins and the DNA of the Chinese nation -- and it has been a consistent pursuit of Chinese military whose national-defence policy is inherently defensive and adhered to the path of peaceful development. China has made a commitment of never seeking hegemony or expansion. No matter how much it develops, China will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence, nor engage in an arms race.
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Secondly, China is committed to pursuing common security and advocates a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. In this thinking, China recognises that different countries have distinct security interests and goals, and there is not one-size-fits-all solution to complex issues.
The Asian nation has denounced seeking bloc confrontation, which can only intensify tension and trigger war and conflict. At present, the Chinese military is faithfully committed to the new concept of security, actively develops constructive relation with foreign militaries, deepens international military cooperation in all respects, and strives to contribute to building a beautiful world of lasting peace and security.
Lastly, Wang explained that China was committed to maintaining world peace and development, expressed through the support of the United Nations and peacekeeping as an instrument developed for safeguarding world peace and security.
Since participating in peacekeeping operations, the Chinese military has sent almost 50 000 peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping missions in over 20 countries and regions, and actively fulfilled the international obligations of a major country army.
China is the largest troop contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.
The strength, philosophy and vision of Chinese army makes it an attractive partner to those countries of the world seeking lasting, comprehensive and sustainable global peace and security.
Wang said: "No matter how the international landscape evolves, China will always follow the path of peaceful development...strive to maintain world peace, promote global growth, and uphold international order."
- Zvomuya is a Sino-Africa researcher, security analyst and development practitioner from the University of Westminster, UK.
