China pursues a “military diplomacy” strategy as part of its vision to enhance its global security role, based on the “Global Security Initiative” launched by Chinese President “Xi Jinping.” This strategy aims to create a security environment for China that serves its interests, modernize its military, and build a strong network of relationships with the world’s militaries through military education and training. The Global Security Initiative is the new strategic framework through which China is working to enhance its security influence. Within this framework, China adopts an integrated military diplomacy strategy for training foreign officers, aiming to strengthen its role as a global security power, particularly in the “Global South” (Africa, the Arab world, Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean).
China’s military diplomacy strategy for training foreign officers is based on building a “community with a shared future for mankind” and enhancing its global influence, especially in the Global South. China also focuses on training police and security personnel, particularly in African countries, to combat terrorism, or what is known in Chinese military and security doctrine as the “Three Evils” (terrorism, separatism, and extremism). This includes providing them with training in “smart city surveillance technologies,” which will enhance future intelligence sharing between China and these countries.
Through joint military exercises, delegation visits, and technology transfer, Beijing aims to strengthen the security capabilities of its allies and protect its foreign investments (Belt and Road Initiative). This is based on a shared and sustainable security doctrine that serves as an alternative to Western and American alliances. China’s military education strategy involves attracting thousands of officers from Asian, African, and Latin American countries to study at Chinese military academies to enhance “soft power” and build mutual trust. This creates a counterbalance to American influence by offering China a military and diplomatic alternative unconditionally on human rights issues, thus attracting developing countries. China also enhances its role as a security mediator, such as in the Middle East, through active Chinese military diplomacy. This Chinese military strategy is part of a shift in China’s national defense doctrine towards active participation in international security affairs.
The most prominent features of the strategy for training foreign officers are highlighted by China’s reliance on “military soft power” through multiple mechanisms, most notably extensive training opportunities. Within the framework of the Global Security Initiative, China announced its readiness to provide 5,000 training opportunities for developing countries over five years. These opportunities target specialists from developing countries to address global security issues and all international security concerns. China and its military and security academies offer all forms of police and security training. China aims to train 3,000 foreign law enforcement officers (during 2025-2026) to enhance countries’ capabilities in combating transnational crime and protecting Chinese investments. In addition to the role of Chinese military educational institutions, the People’s Liberation Army established three new academies in 2025, focusing on information support, joint logistics, and land weapons, to strengthen foreign military partnerships.
Beijing also relies on a strategy of professional military education, known militarily as “PME.” Beijing uses military education programs as a hard “soft power” tool to build military elites loyal to or understanding of the Chinese vision in Africa and the Middle East. The role of “China’s National Defense University” (PLA NDU) is prominent here.
PLA NDU is the primary institution for training senior foreign officers and civilian officials, with the aim of transferring Chinese strategic thinking and building long-term loyalties with foreign military and security officers and leaders, especially in developing countries of the Global South, to serve China’s interests, policies, and its Belt and Road Initiative.
Chinese military and security academies target military elites and build networks of influence. The Chinese strategy focuses on preparing future leaders to ensure long-term cooperation by targeting senior ranks. The (China’s National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army) “PLA NDU” offers advanced courses for officers of the rank of colonel and above to build strategic relationships with future elites in Arab and African armies. Furthermore, China has penetrated the national academies of many countries, particularly Arab, African, and developing nations, working to develop joint curricula and forging ongoing academic cooperation with major military institutions such as the Nasser Military Academy in Egypt, through the exchange of expertise in national security.
In this context, Chinese military academies, through the training of foreign officers, are working to export the “Chinese model” of military rule. This training extends beyond combat skills to encompass the relationship between the military and the party. Beijing seeks to export its model of governance, which links military activity with political and party activity. China promotes itself as a security alternative to the West and the United States, presenting itself as a counterweight to Western hegemony. It emphasizes principles such as “indivisible security” and non-interference in internal affairs, which resonate with countries in the Global South, particularly Arab and African nations.
China has been actively recruiting African military elites recently to aid its regional expansion in Africa and the Middle East. The African continent remains the primary destination for the “People’s Liberation Army” (PLA), where China utilizes joint military exercises and logistical bases, such as those in Djibouti, to solidify its presence by 2049. The year 2026 also witnessed a greater focus on the Middle East region, with China strengthening security confidence-building measures through initiatives such as the Second China-Arab Summit and utilizing its military education program to deepen intelligence and security ties.
On the other hand, several Chinese cyber and digital military companies provide technological and digital training to foreign military and security leaders worldwide. Chinese cyber companies have collaborated on joint defense exercises and technological research to enhance capabilities against digital threats. Among the most prominent of these companies are: (Qi An Xin & 360).
One of the major strategic objectives behind China’s military diplomacy is to train and cultivate loyalty among foreign military elites as an alternative to the Western and American military system. This is achieved by presenting a “more equitable and efficient” Chinese security model as a counterweight to American hegemony while simultaneously protecting China’s economic interests by ensuring the security of the Belt and Road Initiative through the training of host countries for Chinese investments. In addition to serving China’s intelligence-gathering needs, China also benefits from military exchanges to learn foreign tactics and upgrade the combat capabilities of the Chinese military.
In 2026, Chinese military officer training focused on integrating advanced technology and expanding international cooperation, both through annual domestic exercises and specialized training programs for foreigners. The year 2026 began with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s annual training exercises, which included intensive combat drills across all branches (land, sea, air, and missile force). With the Chinese military’s increased technological focus, officers are being trained in the use of unmanned systems (drones), artificial intelligence, and hypersonic weapons, such as the (DF-17 missile). These exercises aim to enhance operational capabilities in an “information” environment, emphasizing rapid response and realistic combat scenarios.
China also relies on training foreign officers as part of its military diplomacy strategy. Here, China seeks to enhance its global security role through extensive training programs, including security and police officers. China announced plans to train 3,000 security officers from various countries during 2025/2026, aiming to improve their capabilities in combating transnational crime. In addition, the “People’s Liberation Army” (PLA) offers programs for exchanging security and military expertise, providing training opportunities for approximately 5,000 specialists from developing countries over five years to address global security challenges.
China’s military and security training programs within the framework of its cooperation plan with Arab countries (2025-2026) encompass numerous aspects. On the Egyptian side, 2025 witnessed the joint Chinese-Egyptian air exercise “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” the first of its kind, in which Egyptian and Chinese officers trained in modern air combat techniques and aerial refueling. Regarding Chinese military cooperation with the UAE and the Middle East, China anticipates expanding military and training exchanges with the UAE and other countries in the region to strengthen strategic cooperation.
The process of officer training within China takes many forms, most notably direct recruitment. China currently relies on attracting graduates from civilian universities (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees) as a primary source of officers and providing them with military training. In addition to basic officer training, initial military training in some branches of the Chinese armed forces, such as the Air Force, can last up to three months.
Based on the preceding military analysis to understand China’s mechanism for preparing future military cadres and elites from Arab, African, and other countries of the Global South, several long-term strategic objectives emerge for China behind training and preparing future military cadres and elites, particularly from the Global South, to achieve ideological convergence. Chinese training aims to create harmony in military doctrine between the Chinese army and the armies of partner countries, which will contribute in the future to supporting Chinese causes by building a network of friendly international relations that could prove decisive in scenarios of acute conflict, such as the Taiwan issue, or in the event of global division between blocs.
