Although a latecomer in the South Atlantic, China astutely acknowledged the strategic importance of incorporating these distant waters into its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative. This chapter asserts that the relevance of the South Atlantic for China is cultivated not only by the exploration of new hydrocarbon reserves but also by the pivotal role this Ocean plays in the construction of China’s Blue Water Navy and the protection of its diaspora and investment. Through an examination of China’s endeavours in the South Atlantic, we attempt to close a gap in the literature which has focused on the 21st Maritime Silk Road within the Indian and Pacific oceans, thereby expanding the scope of scholarly enquiry. This study corroborates the view that the role of the South Atlantic in Chinese naval calculus is driven by a pragmatic shift from a low-profile stance toward a gradual pursuit of naval presence in the region.