I’m surprised they haven’t started serious colonization yet.
That said, they may meet their match with Africa.
https://www.kimdutoit.com/2017/05/05/let-africa-sink/
They have, in a roundabout way. The bases will just make it easier to secure their holdings.
Oh, it's coming soon enough; it sorta like a python which entraps you to provide something that you really want;
but it is at an undisclosed cost to you, which is not revealed until you can't reimburse, or cover the expense.
They threaten to call in your collateral in a series of incremental steps
Then they trade-off saying we'll build you an international airport (which we operate), provided we can build you a harbor and seaport (which we alone operate).
All the while, you are gradually surrendering your own national sovereignty and control at what you think is a small price, but the price and demands continue to grow.
Need a recent example ?
Doctor Tedros is the first African Director-General to be appointed to the WHO, at China's insistence,
and the Somali is the first in its 72-year history to not be a medical doctor, nor has he ever practiced medicine.
It seems that China has built expensive roadways, hospitals, stadiums, and electrical generators in Somalia, under the auspices of the "belt and road" tactical economic system.
Little wonder why Dr. Tedros, placed in the Who position by China, supported their initial denial about covid, encouraged international travel without restraint,
and further supported the China claim that it wasn't infectious "human-to-human", thus delaying international medical preparations while China scooped up all the PPE supplies it could muster.
Incidentally, Somalia has the longest coastline in all of Africa, which incidentally sits strategically in the most opportune location for maritime travel ;
furthermore, Africa has many precious minerals and rare earth deposits that remain untapped due to warring factions.
Chinese colonies are just a matter of time, and opportunity.