Commentary American military leaders’ fears that China could gain military access to bases on the Atlantic Ocean are being stoked by its success in expanding military relationships via strategic arms sales. If China succeeds, it may force the United States to divert political and military attention away from defending U.S. friends and allies in Asia who also are facing Beijing’s increasing military threats. During a testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 22, Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Stephen Townsend warned that China’s power projection ambitions include “a network of bases around the globe …on the Atlantic coast of Africa.” One clear Chinese target for Atlantic Ocean military access is Nigeria, China’s second largest African trading partner. In early June 2018, China sent the Type 054A missile-armed frigate Yencheng to participate in a multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Nigerian Navy. A conference held …