China's Gateway To Africa

Djibouti, one of Africa's smallest countries, has become China's "strategic partner." The Chinese have built a military base and a port, and is currently constructing a free trade zone, fast establishing it as Beijing's gateway to the continent.

You can read the rest @
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/djibouti-is-becoming-gateway-to-africa-for-china-a-1191441.html

By the way, here is Djibouti on a map:

Note well this location allows China to access their new "gateway to Africa" by sea without going through Europe or the Middle East. These guys are smart.