{"product_id":"chinese-overseas-ports-africa-middle-east","title":"Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East: Navigating Through Smooth and Rough Seas","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEditor\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJean-Marc F. Blanchard (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781041352587\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 12, 2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardcover — 256 pages, 13 B\/W illustrations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Routledge (Routledge Studies on the Political Economy of Asia)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eChinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East: Navigating Through Smooth and Rough Seas\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeven country case studies spanning East Africa, West Africa, North Africa and the Gulf, written by regional and China specialists\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExplains the drivers of Chinese overseas ports policy and the varied behaviour of Chinese state-owned and private corporate actors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAssesses real outcomes — port performance, trade flows and employment — rather than announced projects alone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePractical application: a framework for evaluating port and SEZ investment proposals involving Chinese partners, useful to host-government ministries and port authorities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePractical application: country-level evidence for risk analysts and investors assessing maritime infrastructure exposure along Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf trade routes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePractical application: case material for teaching FDI, Belt and Road Initiative (Maritime Silk Road) and infrastructure diplomacy courses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoverage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChina's overseas ports policies and their drivers, with a focus on Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese corporate entities, overseas ports and Chinese foreign policy: heterogeneity and variation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDjibouti as a window into Chinese ports in Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKenya's Chinese-built ports and infrastructure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese-involved ports in Tanzania\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreenfield investment at Lekki Port, Nigeria\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChina's engagement in Egypt's seaport sector\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese involvement in UAE ports\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese investment in Oman's Duqm maritime infrastructure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Editor\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJean-Marc F. Blanchard\u003c\/strong\u003e is Founding Executive Director of the Mr. \u0026amp; 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 \u003cem\u003eEconomic Statecraft and Foreign Policy\u003c\/em\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East: Full Ahead, Stop, and Full Astern — Jean-Marc F. Blanchard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese Overseas Ports Policies and Drivers and the Case of Africa — Shaofeng Chen and Maggie Ma\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese Corporate Entities, Overseas Ports, and Chinese Foreign Policy: Exploring Heterogeneity and Variation — William Piekos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDjibouti, a Window into Chinese Ports in Africa — Cliff Mboya and Jean-Marc F. Blanchard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKenya's Chinese Ports and Infrastructure — David Styan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese Involved Ports in Tanzania: Close Bilateral Ties No Guarantee of Smooth Sailing — Conrad John Masabo and Jean-Marc F. Blanchard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePiloting Greenfield Investment at Lekki Port: The Evolving Capabilities of Chinese Firms — Hong Zhang and Vincent Ibonye\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChina's Involvement in Egypt's Seaports Sector: Diving into a Complex and Synergistic Engagement — Mordechai Chaziza and Jean-Marc F. Blanchard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChinese Involvement in UAE Ports — Jonathan Fulton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Hype of Duqm: Chinese Investments in the Maritime Infrastructure of Oman — Jeffrey Payne\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuch 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKeywords\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChinese 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\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTarget Audience\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcademics, Policymakers, Policy practitioners, International business professionals\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePolitical Economy, Geopolitics, Foreign Direct Investment, Belt and Road Initiative, African Studies, Ports and Maritime Infrastructure\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhich countries are covered in Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does \"Chinese-involved port\" mean in this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA seaport where China participates through foreign direct investment, the construction of a terminal or special economic zone, and\/or the operation of terminals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book explain why some Chinese port projects fail?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho edited the book and what is his background?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJean-Marc F. Blanchard, Founding Executive Director of the Mr. \u0026amp; 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book useful for courses on the Belt and Road Initiative?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere can I buy Chinese Overseas Ports in Africa and the Middle East?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📘 Learn more about shipping, delivery times, and returns, see our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/clnzbooks.com\/pages\/faq-frequently-asked-questions\" style=\"color:#8B0000; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:bold;\"\u003eFAQ here\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📦 New to ordering with us? See our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/clnzbooks.com\/pages\/how-to-order\" style=\"color:#8B0000; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:bold;\"\u003eHow to Order\u003c\/a\u003e guide for payment, shipping, and institutional order options.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Routledge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67893513322570,"sku":"9781041352587","price":383.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0287\/7351\/5338\/files\/chinese-overseas-ports-src.jpg?v=1793721792","url":"https:\/\/clnzbooks.com\/products\/chinese-overseas-ports-africa-middle-east","provider":"CLNZ Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}