Ahead of being part of the government contingent welcoming home SA soldiers returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa’s senior soldier, SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, was in China wearing his military diplomat hat.
He met with Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun in Beijing on 10 June where, according to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National Defence Ministry, under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, co-operation between the two militaries in various fields has flourished in recent years, with a special bond forged through “the tests of the international situation”.
Dong is reported as saying: “China is willing to work with South Africa to practice the true multilateralism and jointly oppose the hegemony, bullying, power politics, and division and confrontation.” He added both countries should enhance exchanges, strengthen strategic communication, optimise cooperation mechanisms, expand pragmatic co-operation and promote deeper, wider military-to-military relations to contribute to building a high-level community with a shared future for China and South Africa.
Responding, Maphwanya is reported as saying: “South Africa highly values its relations with China and firmly adheres to the one-China principle. The militaries of South Africa and China enjoy long-term friendship and are sincere friends and partners.”
Maphwanya added that South Africa is willing to work with China to strengthen practical cooperation in such fields as joint exercises and training, military education, personnel training, and maritime security, and continuously improve the level of military cooperation.
Maphwanya’s visit to China was for the tenth meeting of the China-South Africa Defence Committee – Maphwanya has undertaken other visits to China for Committee meetings. South Africa in November/December last year hosted the ninth edition.
The first meeting of the China–South Africa Defence Committee, a forum created in 2000 with the Pretoria Declaration, was held in April 2003. Only a year later a formal agreement was signed allowing for the training of South African soldiers and a donation of electronic equipment to the South African National Defence Force, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) reported.
The SANDF enjoys close ties with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), notably hosting Exercise Mosi II with the PLA Navy and Russian Navy in February 2023.
China’s military ties with South Africa go back many decades, as China supported the African National Congress in its fight against apartheid, with the first batch of six uMkhonto weSizwe fighters being sent for military training in China in November 1961. As a consequence of this support during the liberation era, South Africa recognized the People’s Republic of China in January 1998 with the ending of formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
However, it is only in recent years that South African-China defence cooperation has notably increased. In June 2014, for example, three vessels comprising the 16th Escort Task Group of the Chinese PLA Navy visited Cape Town and subsequently numerous naval task groups have made a stop in the Cape. This culminated in the first multinational maritime exercise (known in South Africa as Exercise Mosi) between China, Russia and South Africa in November 2019.
In August 2024, the People’s Liberation Army Navy hospital ship Peace Ark visited Cape Town, where it treated thousands of people. During the visit, the Peace Ark provided medical services for 3 700 visitors and successfully performed surgeries such as uterine fibroid removal and cataract restoration. During the Covid-19 pandemic, China provided personal protective equipment, vaccines and other essential items to South Africa and other African countries.
