China WatchChina Expands Military-Political Education Programs In Developing Countries

Published 8 December 2021

China has vastly expanded its military training programs for military officers from developing countries. In these programs, in which military officers from more than 100 countries have participated, Beijing combines military training with ideological education to promote authoritarian governance, especially its “Party-Army model” with the army subordinate to the ruling party. A new report says that these efforts are “an increasingly important component of China’s engagement. These efforts include training programs aimed at future military and political leaders.”

With Barbados to become a republic and remove the Queen as head of state – a decision which, according to some sources, appears to have been influenced by China – interest in the extent and impacts of China’s diplomatic reach in Commonwealth countries is growing.

A discussion paper by Dr. Radomir Tylecote and Henri Rossano describes China’s expanding military training programs for developing Commonwealth countries.

The paper examines how Beijing combines military training with ideological education to promote authoritarian governance, especially its “Party-Army model” with the army subordinate to the ruling party. As leading researchers acknowledge, this is liable to be “antithetical [to] multiparty democratic systems.”

Commonwealth officers are undergoing military training in China in growing numbers.

This briefing goes on to highlight:

Growing Military Training Cooperation with Commonwealth Countries
“China has growing interests in the Commonwealth and military and other security activities are an increasingly important component of China’s engagement. These efforts include training programs aimed at future military and political leaders,” the authors say.

The authors provide emerging examples, including from Barbados, Cameroon, Namibia, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Guyana, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Kenya.

“An opportunity now exists for the U.K. and allies, including Commonwealth countries, to better understand and map these efforts. The U.K. should also consider how best to apply and rejuvenate shared Commonwealth military aid and education programs,” the authors say.

Military Training Institutions
China’s foreign military training should be understood in the context of Beijing’s growing diplomatic programs for foreign elites in general, including building “politico-military schools.”

“China has trained thousands of officers at middle and senior levels, as well as government officials, from over 100 countries over recent decades …,: the authors say, noting that the numbers are rising.

Training Approaches
China says its training programs are intended to encourage friendly attitudes towards China and its forces among foreign officers.

Some visiting officers previously interviewed have “expressed admiration for China and its development, sometimes criticizing the West’s attitude towards China, especially if this attitude is also seen to apply to their own countries,” the discussion paper notes.