With the West reeling from the financial crisis and pulling back some of its investment in Africa, could China step into the breach and expand its footprint on the continent - a presence that already worries Western powers?
On the face of it, China, which is relatively unscathed by the crisis, has a golden opportunity to exploit Western disarray and increase its financial and political penetration of the continent. Already there are signs that Africans are starting to look away from the West and towards other emerging markets, especially China, as they watch the banking chaos in the traditional capitalist markets.
This could have a lasting impact on Africa’s perceptions of East and West as they see Asian financial structures surviving better than those in Europe and America.
China’s economy is still robust, despite the turmoil elsewhere, with GDP growth this year expected to reach 8.5 to 9 percent. Its thirst for African commodities, especially oil, is unabated to fuel Beijing’s rapid industrialisation drive. Western governments and aid groups accuse Beijing of turning a blind eye to misrule, corruption and human rights abuses as it invests in Africa, including in controversial countries like Sudan, whose Darfur region is suffering a deep humanitarian crisis. But many Africans welcome China’s refusal to interfere in political issues, in contrast to Western attitudes.
Experts say it is questionable whether China has the capacity to get more deeply involved in Africa economically because of its existing huge exposure and the diversification of investment on the continent to include other emerging market countries like Brazil, India and Russia. Not to mention the huge petrodollar funds of Gulf states. They say that in any case economic contagion will reach China which has vital export links with the West.
But will the spectacle of the Western capitalist system in disarray push African countries to look even more towards the East, finally breaking their strong ties with former colonial powers in Europe and with the United States. What do you think?
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[...] Barry Moody, Does crisis give China new opportunity in Africa? [...]
- Posted by read this week: revolution and chinese foreign policy « read this week[...] Though the world financial crisis will impact trade between China and Africa, the crisis may also allow China to increase its influence in the country at a time when Western investment in Africa is declining. [...]
- Posted by Chinese investment in Africa soars | Worldfocus[...] Though the world financial crisis will impact trade between China and Africa, the crisis may also allow China to increase its influence in the country at a time when Western investment in Africa is declining. [...]
- Posted by China-Africa: Chinese investment in Africa : what are they saying. | Daniel's BlogWilbert Mukori has insight and unfortunately is probably right.
I think, China will do well in Africa because they are very pragmatic and understand long term goals. They are now in a position to achieve these goals because they do not intefere with the politics of countries where they are involved. eg Sudan, Zimbabwe
The west should learn from China and take the same approach. Then they don’t have to worry about being called colonialists etc and should shed all their old values. So western countries, duplicate what appears to be a succesful model or perish.
- Posted by buffalojumpWhat a wonderful discussion here.
Our African friends perhaps know very well that the most evil thing the West media has done to Africa is to portrait Africa as a hopeless continent. Its purpose is to destroy the African people’s self-belief so that the West can behave like angles, god and masters.
So does the West media portrait China as a totalitarian country with terrible human rights problems. Friends, do not trust the West media’s rubbish. China treats Africa as friends who have suffered the same in the past, have the same desire to develop, and deserve the same bright future.
Of course China benefits from the trade with Africa. The key issue is that whether such trade is mutual beneficial and good for the long-term interest for future development. The old Chinese wisdom is that a business is a good one only if it serves all parties good.
- Posted by ShiWilbert Mukori, China cannot be A trading partner and ruler of Africa at the same time, over the years we have had western involvement and dictators flourished. Mugabe was Thatcher’s darling before he went into flip mode, Mobutu was a Belgian darling,Taylor was an American friend(who conveniently escaped from a USA prison),Biya and Bongo were French darlings, . Stop kidding yourself, a lot of dictators were close to western governments because they were doing their bidding, sanctions or conditions never got rid of any dictator. China is not responsible for human rights abuses in Africa, ONLY Africans can get rid of their dictators, neither the West nor China can do that for us, so your notion that the Chinese are propping up dictators is very naive and deluding. Europe and America had a bloody history before they got it right and Africa has gotten through it own and is now on the path to development in partnership with China.
- Posted by Nduka TolefeI urge prominent leaders of the continent to engage more carefully with the new giant from the East as Africa relations with China is very promising and could prove to have great potential in the near future. Amidst the global financial crisis and consequent shakeup of markets, Africa, whose resources range far beyond any other continent, has an advantage to prosper after this financial storm. The Chinese have understand and known of this potential for centuries, and even though their motives are more suited to further their own’s country development, the leaders of Africa’s communities must establish or broker meticulous deals to ensure that Chinese prospects in Africa are mutually beneficial.
It can work. We must strive toward this new development with confidence and care.
- Posted by OMARI JABARIWith the West’s attention somewhere else China is definitely going to expand its influence in Africa. If China is not bothered about human rights, corruption, etc. - and most people would agree on that - then surely if follows that the ordinary African would not get the maximum benefit from present or future (increased) China - Africa trade.
By propping up Africa’s corrupt and oppressive regimes, how can that possibly benefit our people? It brings no comfort to me to know that Chinese government abuses its the same Africa’s dictator abuse us.
- Posted by Wilbert Mukori