Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East: Navigating Through Smooth and Rough Seas

Editor

Jean-Marc F. Blanchard (Editor)

ISBN: 9781041352587

Published: October 12, 2026

Format: Hardcover — 256 pages, 13 B/W illustrations

Language: English

Publisher: Routledge (Routledge Studies on the Political Economy of Asia)

Description

Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East: Navigating Through Smooth and Rough Seas examines Chinese "involved" seaports abroad — ports where China's involvement takes the form of foreign direct investment (FDI), the construction of a terminal or special economic zone (SEZ), and/or terminal operations — in countries such as Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

The country-oriented chapters examine whether planned Chinese ports actually materialize; the effects of completed projects on port performance, trade and job creation; and the wider implications of China's presence. The book also asks why Chinese seaports succeed or fail, and why they have the consequences they do. It offers an in-depth treatment of China's footprint in African and Middle Eastern seaports and of China's overseas ports policy and policymaking.

Key Features

• Seven country case studies spanning East Africa, West Africa, North Africa and the Gulf, written by regional and China specialists
• Explains the drivers of Chinese overseas ports policy and the varied behaviour of Chinese state-owned and private corporate actors
• Assesses real outcomes — port performance, trade flows and employment — rather than announced projects alone
• Practical application: a framework for evaluating port and SEZ investment proposals involving Chinese partners, useful to host-government ministries and port authorities
• Practical application: country-level evidence for risk analysts and investors assessing maritime infrastructure exposure along Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf trade routes
• Practical application: case material for teaching FDI, Belt and Road Initiative (Maritime Silk Road) and infrastructure diplomacy courses

Coverage

• China's overseas ports policies and their drivers, with a focus on Africa
• Chinese corporate entities, overseas ports and Chinese foreign policy: heterogeneity and variation
• Djibouti as a window into Chinese ports in Africa
• Kenya's Chinese-built ports and infrastructure
• Chinese-involved ports in Tanzania
• Greenfield investment at Lekki Port, Nigeria
• China's engagement in Egypt's seaport sector
• Chinese involvement in UAE ports
• Chinese investment in Oman's Duqm maritime infrastructure

About the Editor

Jean-Marc F. Blanchard is Founding Executive Director of the Mr. & Mrs. S. H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations. An expert on China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative and overseas ports, he has edited, co-edited or contributed to 23 edited books and special journal issues, authored more than 90 publications, and co-authored Economic Statecraft and Foreign Policy. He is General Editor of the Routledge Series on the Political Economy of Asia, serves on the editorial boards of leading China/Asia journals, and is a member of the National Committee on U.S.–China Relations. He holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

1. Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East: Full Ahead, Stop, and Full Astern — Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
2. Chinese Overseas Ports Policies and Drivers and the Case of Africa — Shaofeng Chen and Maggie Ma
3. Chinese Corporate Entities, Overseas Ports, and Chinese Foreign Policy: Exploring Heterogeneity and Variation — William Piekos
4. Djibouti, a Window into Chinese Ports in Africa — Cliff Mboya and Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
5. Kenya's Chinese Ports and Infrastructure — David Styan
6. Chinese Involved Ports in Tanzania: Close Bilateral Ties No Guarantee of Smooth Sailing — Conrad John Masabo and Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
7. Piloting Greenfield Investment at Lekki Port: The Evolving Capabilities of Chinese Firms — Hong Zhang and Vincent Ibonye
8. China's Involvement in Egypt's Seaports Sector: Diving into a Complex and Synergistic Engagement — Mordechai Chaziza and Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
9. Chinese Involvement in UAE Ports — Jonathan Fulton
10. The Hype of Duqm: Chinese Investments in the Maritime Infrastructure of Oman — Jeffrey Payne

Why buy this book?

Much of the debate on China's ports abroad relies on headlines about "debt traps" or naval bases. This volume replaces that with evidence: project by project, it shows which Chinese-involved ports were actually built, how they perform, and what they have meant for trade and jobs in the host country. For libraries supporting programmes in political economy, international relations, African and Middle Eastern studies or maritime policy, it is a current, Routledge-edited reference on a subject where reliable comparative material is scarce.

Keywords

Chinese overseas ports, Maritime Silk Road, Belt and Road Initiative, foreign direct investment, special economic zones, port terminals, Djibouti, Lekki Port, Duqm, Africa–China relations, Middle East, geopolitics, infrastructure, political economy

Target Audience

Academics, Policymakers, Policy practitioners, International business professionals

Genre

Political Economy, Geopolitics, Foreign Direct Investment, Belt and Road Initiative, African Studies, Ports and Maritime Infrastructure

Q&A

Which countries are covered in Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East?
The case studies cover Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria (Lekki Port), Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Oman (Duqm), alongside chapters on China's overall overseas ports policy.

What does "Chinese-involved port" mean in this book?
A seaport where China participates through foreign direct investment, the construction of a terminal or special economic zone, and/or the operation of terminals.

Does the book explain why some Chinese port projects fail?
Yes. A central question of the volume is why Chinese seaports succeed or fail, and why they produce the effects they do on port performance, trade and employment.

Who edited the book and what is his background?
Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, Founding Executive Director of the Mr. & Mrs. S. H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations and General Editor of the Routledge Series on the Political Economy of Asia, and a specialist on China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative.

Is this book useful for courses on the Belt and Road Initiative?
Yes. Its country chapters provide comparative, evidence-based material on the maritime dimension of China's overseas investment, suited to courses on FDI, infrastructure, geopolitics and international political economy.

Where can I buy Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East?
You can order the hardcover edition directly from CLNZ Books at clnzbooks.com. The price includes worldwide shipping, and we accept card, PayPal and international bank transfer, with institutional invoicing available for libraries.

📘 Learn more about shipping, delivery times, and returns, see our FAQ here

📦 New to ordering with us? See our How to Order guide for payment, shipping, and institutional order options.