China-Africa
China-Africa relations refer to the economic, political, and cultural interactions between China and the African continent. This relationship has grown significantly in recent years, with China becoming a major investor and trading partner for many African countries. The engagement has sparked both opportunities and challenges, shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.
6 Key excerpts on "China-Africa"
eBook - ePub- Vijay Sakhuja, Jane Chan, Vijay Sakhuja, Jane Chan(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd(Publisher)
...In terms of ideology, China finds Africa as a fertile ground to export its development model and in terms of geopolitics, China feels that Africa is one place where it clearly enjoys an upper hand on the US and other European powers in terms of public perception and goodwill. These multiple interests, either exclusively or mutually, have influenced China’s Africa policy from time to time. For example, from 1949-1979 political interests mostly dominated China’s Africa policy – that is to garner Africa’s support to avoid international isolation, to spread revolution in Africa, for solidarity on agendas like human rights, UN reform, Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan etc. From 1979-1990s when China started its reform and opening up; economics became the driving force of China-Africa ties. Under Jiang Zemin’s ‘Going out strategy’, African resources and markets increasingly captured Chinese imagination. However, following the 2008 financial crisis, when Chinese exports to western markets started decreasing, Africa’s importance further increased in China’s policy circle. In recent years, China’s own economic transformation has become one of the key reasons behind China’s coming up with global initiatives like ‘One Road, One belt’, or ‘AIIB’. While adjusting to the new normal in the Chinese economy, China now has to chase new economic goals like creating new markets for Chinese goods, making resources available for its rising energy needs, moving up the global supply chain, cracking down on its polluting industries, keeping the business running for Chinese constructive companies and create jobs for its citizen. And, Africa offers a one-stop shop for all Chinese needs and objectives. Chinese scholars argue that it is high-time China diversifies from investing its huge foreign exchange reserves in buying US government bonds to investing in infrastructure construction across the world...
eBook - ePub- Chris Alden(Author)
- 2010(Publication Date)
- Zed Books(Publisher)
...Capital-rich, technologically proven and harbouring a sense of political entitlement, China has embarked on a global search for untapped resources, new markets and reliable diplomatic partners in which Africa features prominently. And while African resources are vital to the health of the Chinese economy, the continent also occupies an important place in China’s global ambitions as well. China’s emergence as a key player in Africa, the impact of its presence and its challenges to traditional Western pre-eminence in African economies all form critical components of this dynamic new relationship. This chapter will investigate Chinese foreign policy towards Africa by, first, examining the drivers and instruments of China’s contemporary engagement with the continent as well as the wider context within which its Africa policy has developed. Second, the chapter will focus on the key structure and institutions involved in shaping China’s Africa policy. Third, it will assess the ideological sources of China’s contemporary involvement, including the role of history in constructing a foreign policy that would appeal to both African needs and interests. Finally, it will conclude with a preliminary analysis of the impact of China’s foray into Africa among African elites. The development of China’s foreign policy towards Africa Though the official rhetoric of continuity speaks otherwise, the fact is that from the opening of official ties with Egypt in 1956, China’s engagement with Africa has been episodic, shifting from periods of intense activity in the 1960s and early 1970s to outright neglect for much of the 1980s...
eBook - ePubChina and Africa
The New Era
- Daniel Large(Author)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Polity(Publisher)
...African countries may have to choose or play their cards carefully, using opportunities other powers present. Considering China–Africa relations narrowly risks overstating the continent’s importance in Beijing’s global politics. This has changed over time. For all Beijing’s hype, use of Africa to promote claims about being a responsible global power and inflated rhetoric about Africa’s growing importance in world affairs, the continent is a relatively low priority in China’s foreign policy and global politics, despite the impressive personal investment in relations by China’s leadership. This is dominated by the US. Africa played a key role in China’s ‘going global’ strategy but has now become a less pivotal part of China’s global economic engagement in the BRI era. China’s trade with Latin America far exceeds that with Africa, for example, and it has been relying more on Middle Eastern oil imports. Africa, however, retains its significance in supporting China’s foreign policy on traditional concerns like Taiwan, Tibet or Japan, more recent issues like Xinjiang, Hong Kong, or China’s multilateral engagement and vision of its future world role. By and large African states are open to and outwardly supportive of China, while prioritizing their own interests and seeking to maximize these actively. Intensifying US–China strategic competition renders the geopolitical context of China’s relations with African countries uncertain. Looking forward, Africa’s relative importance may well change, as seen with technology, markets and political allies. One aspect of China’s rivalry with America concerned future standards in technology and connectivity. However, the contrast between China’s role within and importance to African countries, and Africa’s significance to China, was striking: China’s economic and political footprint in Africa is real and growing, but Africa in China’s domestic and foreign policy is much less pronounced...
eBook - ePubChina in Africa
Strategic Motives and Economic Interests
- Suisheng Zhao, Suisheng Zhao(Authors)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...We see here the general pattern of positively assessing and appreciating China as rewarding economic opportunities for Africa and as a non-confrontational political and ideological partner, in sharp contrast to the old Western relations with the continent. Growing doubts, criticism and resentment among Africans against the Chinese presence are also reported. 46 Some Africans have pondered if China has become a development partner, an economic competitor or simply a new hegemony to Africa. 47 Another group of African scholars and practitioners analyze specifically China’s role in Southern Africa’s extractive industries with thoughtful policy suggestions calling for innovative actions aiming at a win–win–win partnership for the Chinese, local rulers and elites, and local populace. 48 African researchers have also published impressive works to examine China in Africa with a highly commendable goal of understanding China more. 49 Gauging the African perception: our field research Armed with the lessons from the existing literature, in 2012 and 2013 we conducted field research in sub-Saharan Africa to gauge and examine how China’s explosive presence has been perceived by the African hosts. We commissioned an opinion survey in Ghana and utilized another opinion survey done in Madagascar. One of us visited seven countries (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe) from February to April 2013, met many dozens of African, Chinese and American politicians, officials, businesspersons, workers, scholars, students and journalists there, and visited many sites and institutions related to Chinese activities in Africa. We also carried out interviews or discussions with scholars from several other African nations (Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Togo and Zambia). The findings of our field research tend to support much of the existing literature and, we believe, have also generated new understandings about African perception of China’s presence in Africa...
eBook - ePubChina and Africa in Global Context
Encounters, Policy, Cooperation and Migration
- LI Anshan(Author)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Postscript China–Africa relations in globalisation DOI: 10.4324/9781003220152-25 There are five basic facts about China–Africa relations, which are acknowledged by all. The relations have developed very fast; China has provided a choice for Africans which they can choose or decline; China’s infrastructure building in Africa benefits everyone – Africans, visitors and investors from around the world; Africans’ perspective on China is generally favourable according to the poll; and the Chinese have little knowledge about Africa, and vice versa. International affairs have experienced great change. Brexit brings a new situation in Europe and the United Kingdom may or may not enjoy its independence, while Germany and France are trying to adjust to the new context. A racial crisis is spreading all over the United States, which just withdrew from Afghanistan where it created many troubles during its stay. The Middle East faces tremendous obstacles in bringing peace to the region. African leaders have reached an agreement on an African Continental Free Trade Area, which is designed to unite 1.3 billion people under one market. The Communist Party of China has just passed its 100th anniversary and continues the struggle for the people’s benefit. Most tragically, the globe is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is killing people and destroying economies in every corner of the world. By all accounts, globalisation is now sweeping across Africa. Farmers in Ghana are in a precarious position because of the inflow of subsidised cheap rice from the United States; American drivers refuel their cars with oil imported from Nigeria; Senegalese are buying clothes made in China and Vietnam; Beijingers drink South African beer while checking newspapers for the stock values of Naspers there; Africans have regular business deals in the Yiwu market; Ethiopian Mursi’s pictures spread to Japan via the internet; the African diaspora forms the sixth part of Africa...
eBook - ePubAfrica's Shadow Rise
China and the Mirage of African Economic Development
- Pádraig Carmody, Peter Kragelund, Ricardo Reboredo(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Zed Books(Publisher)
...3 China’s interests and impacts in Southern Africa 3.1 Introduction The previous chapter explored the nature of power relations between Chinese and African states. This chapter takes a deeper dive into Southern Africa to further probe the question as to whether the rise of China and the other BRICS 1 powers is facilitating the creation of more developmental states or is reinforcing extractive economies and dependency in the region? This is one of the central questions facing Southern Africa in terms of its development and a profoundly important one for understanding the ramifications of (hitherto low-quality) Global South-led growth. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2011), ‘South–South economic relations are, generally, not purely or primarily market-driven, and relations between Southern states and firms hold out the potential for more constructive integration’. This chapter examines whether or not this is the case in regard to Southern Africa’s relations with China and also South Africa: the two most influential countries among the BRICS grouping in the region. 2 In order to examine this question this chapter reviews recent literature, analyses trade data and draws on interviews conducted with academics and diplomats in Pretoria and Johannesburg in South Africa in 2014. 3 Before addressing the question specifically, it is necessary to contextualise the nature of China’s engagement with the region. 3.2 Conceptualising Chinese and BRICS’ engagement in Southern Africa China has had some level of interaction and engagement with Southern Africa for centuries but since 2008 it has been Africa’s largest single trading partner...
