Why China is choosing to stay silent on Africa’s wave of coups

LONDON - No fewer than seven African countries have experienced military coups in the past two years, with

Gabon being the latest to fall under the control of army generals,

at the start of September.

But while the wave of military coups has prompted an anguished debate in European capitals about the failure of Western efforts to promote development and stability in the continent, the Chinese authorities have said nothing in public.