I have read the same article since the early 70’s. It amazes me that each time the author thinks they have stumbled onto a fact that is earth shattering. The Chinese have been using the same strategy in Africa since Mao was on the green side of the grass.
How many bases did they build there when Mao was around?
I’m aware of Red China supporting the ANC and ZANU-PF among other communist regimes, but they didn’t have the kind of military back then that they do now.