China has renewed its diplomatic and economic push across Africa, with a growing focus on East Africa, as global trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty reshape international partnerships. The effort is being led by Wang Yi, who this week began Beijing’s traditional New Year diplomatic outreach to the continent.
The current tour includes visits to Ethiopia, Somalia, and Tanzania, with Lesotho the sole Southern African stop. The itinerary reflects China’s priorities: securing strategic trade corridors, expanding access to critical minerals, and strengthening market ties as competition for Africa’s resources and trade routes intensifies.
The timing of the visit coincides with strained US–Africa relations following sharp tariff increases and reductions in development assistance in 2025. Although some of the most severe measures were later revised to a flat 15% tariff, the initial policy shock disrupted export-oriented economies and dampened investor confidence across several African markets.
Lesotho was among the hardest hit, temporarily facing tariffs of up to 50% on exports to the United States. The resulting economic strain contributed to job losses, weaker export earnings, and the declaration of a two-year national state of disaster. The African Development Bank warned at the time that Lesotho’s economic growth could fall below 1% in 2025 if external pressures persisted.
Horn of Africa and Strategic Shipping Routes
Somalia’s inclusion in the tour is particularly significant, marking the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to the country in several decades. The visit comes amid heightened diplomatic sensitivity in the Horn of Africa, following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region.
China has reiterated its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and is seeking to deepen its influence around the Gulf of Aden — a critical maritime corridor linking Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The route is central to global trade flows and remains vital for Chinese exports to European markets.
Copper, Railways, and Competing Trade Corridors
Further south, Tanzania plays a pivotal role in China’s strategy to secure access to Africa’s copper belt. Chinese firms are investing in the rehabilitation of the Tanzania–Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) line, which connects the port of Dar es Salaam to Zambia’s mining regions.
The railway upgrade is widely viewed as a strategic counterweight to the US- and EU-backed Lobito Corridor, which aims to link Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Atlantic ports through Angola. China’s interest in the region was reinforced in late 2025 when Premier Li Qiang visited Zambia — the first Chinese premier to do so in nearly three decades.
Trade Signals and Market Competition
China’s engagement with Lesotho also reflects its broader effort to position itself as a proponent of open trade. In mid-2025, Beijing announced zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries, expanding a policy that had previously applied only to the least developed economies.
Despite heightened trade tensions, Africa–US trade has shown unexpected resilience. According to data from US authorities, American imports from Africa rose sharply in the first half of 2025, while US exports to the continent also increased. However, imports continued to outpace exports, resulting in a widening US goods trade deficit with Africa.
China’s latest diplomatic push underscores intensifying competition among global powers for Africa’s markets, minerals, and strategic corridors. For African economies, the challenge will be to leverage renewed interest to strengthen infrastructure, diversify trade, and build resilient value chains — rather than becoming overly dependent on any single external partner.