Chinese projects, firms and workers in Africa more vulnerable to security threats in regions where armed conflict, social tensions thrive
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenChao Kongin BeijingPublished: 5:05pm, 3 Jul 2026Attacks on Chinese citizens and businesses in sub-Saharan Africa tend to increase in the years following a rise in Chinese investment, according to a new study by researchers at the School of Overseas Security and Protection at the Chinese People’s Police University.However, the authors stressed that the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that Chinese investment itself caused violence.
They argued that Chinese investment was often concentrated in resource-rich but politically fragile regions where armed conflict, weak governance and social tensions were already prevalent.
As investment expands, Chinese projects, companies and personnel become more exposed to existing security risks. According to the researchers, investment interacts with local political and social conditions rather than acting as an independent trigger for violence.
