_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: Email: abeikuprehi@yahoo.com; Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences 7(1): 1-16, 2018; Article no.ARJASS.42838 ISSN: 2456-4761 Beneath the Cover of China’s Rising Engagement in Africa: A Security Perspective Linda Peasah Owusu 1 and Thomas Prehi Botchway 2* 1 Independent Researcher, P.O. Box Kf 2199, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana. 2 Law School, Chongqing University, Shapingba, Chongqing, China. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/ARJASS/2018/42838 Editor(s): (1) David A. Kinnunen, Department of Kinesiology, California State University Fresno, USA. (2) Takalani Samuel Mashau, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Management, School of Education, University of Venda, South Africa. Reviewers: (1) Linh H. Nguyen, Vietnam. (2) Imam Mukhlis, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia. (3) Hussin Jose Hejase, Al Maaref University, Lebanon. (4) Akinde Oluwaseun Abayomi, Federal University Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria. (5) Senibi. K. Victoria, Covenant University, Nigeria. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/25685 Received 13 th May 2018 Accepted 20 th July 2018 Published 26 th July 2018 ABSTRACT With the soaring increase in demand for oil owing to its rapid economic growth and expansion, coupled with her quest to build a strong and formidable security system, China has no option than to ensure her energy security. For a country whose oil consumption has been increasing yearly, the need to secure sustainable and affordable energy supplies is imperative. China’s policy of self- reliance with regard to energy security is no longer feasible. The country’s growing dependence on the global energy supplies and oil-rich countries such as Russia and the West Asia region has become complex. For a country that hopes to achieve greater economic progress and secure maximum economic growth for its people, securing energy supplies is very crucial, especially when every great and progressing country’s ultimate interest is to secure a place in the international community. Using a historical comparative approach in analysing China's growing engagement in Africa, the paper suggests that China’s rising interest on the continent is a strategic move to have a more reliable and secure energy supply without interruptions. China is very much aware of the United Original Research Article