China’s influence on African ports extends to software, automation and AI: study

Chinese firms not only operate, finance or hold stakes in about one third of all ports in Africa, but Beijing now also controls the Software, Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that run the infrastructure.And that reach extends well beyond the docks, with Beijing financing and operating the road, rail and warehousing networks connected to these ports and other maritime projects across the continent, closely intertwining African trade with China’s own trading systems.These are the findings of a study released last month by the Africa-centre-for-strategic-studies" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158706" data-entity-type="organization">Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, which concludes that China has established shipping corridors linking African port clusters to Chinese hub cities such as Qingdao and Yantai in Shandong province, reflecting Africa’s deepening integration into China-centred maritime networks.