Aspects of China Africa Relation - Research Paper Example

China-Africa Relation Introduction Since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, China has shown a rejuvenated interest in the Africa states. In the mid-2013, China’s newly elected President Xi Jinping chose 3 African countries, the Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Tanzania, for his first foreign tour as the head of country. In recent, it is seen that almost every Chinese Foreign Minister’s debut foreign tour is always to the African continent (“More than Minerals”). It is not only a certain manifestation of China’s commitment as a key development partner in Africa, but also highlights the growing importance of Africa on a global economical and political level. As the Chinese media welcomed Beijing’s foreign policies towards Africa as the effective practice of diplomacy for increasing the dominance of China in a global politics, the widespread debates over China’s motives and role in Africa have once again come under the spotlight. With the growing Chinese interests in Africa, the competition among global powers for control over Africa has further intensified. There are various perceptions about whether rapidly developing Sino-Africa relations are beneficial for African states or there are more negative effects of it (Ayodele and Olusegun 2-3). China’s massive investments and economic interests in Africa have come under close scrutiny of global powers and experts in international relations and global politics. Overall, cryptic nature of China’s foreign policy and skeptical approach of global leaders and experts over China’s policies in Africa have led to serious question whether China is another exploiter, a new colonizer, or a genuine partner in development of Africa (Ayodele and Olusegun 2-4). The paper will try to answer this question by analyzing various aspects of China’s economic, aid, and political relations with African states over the years. Also, the paper will investigate key drivers for China’s growing interest in Africa by means of various researches and reports. Further, on the basis of available data and facts, the paper will highlight crucial positive and negative effects of China’s foreign policies towards African states. 2. Sino-African Relations over the Years Even though the cultural exchanges and trades between Africa and China existed for many centuries, the modern Sino-Africa relations started with the official formation of diplomatic ties with Egyptian government in 1956 (Chun 10). The solid improvements in Africa and China’s relationship in the late 1950s was a direct result of China’s worsening relations with the Soviet Union and its policies to form a counter balance power to western imperialism and Soviet hegemony. According to Peit Konings, an expert in Sino-Africa politics, due to its own background of colonization’s victim, China saw itself as the leader of developing and third world countries, and consequently, African nations also seen it as natural ally (Ayodele and Olusegun 3-4). China funded various infrastructure projects and supported independence movements between the 1960s and 1970s in Africa. China also played a crucial role in development of bilateral relations among African countries. During the 1970s, China provided aid to more than 30 African countries. Since then Africa and China have emerged as all-weather allies that support, help, and understand each other. Till today, 51 out of 54 African countries, including the most recent ties with South Sudan in 2012, have formed diplomatic relations with China. Sino-China diplomatic ties mainly represent both sides’ efforts to gain higher global status (Chun 10-12). Similar to political aspects, the economic aspects of the Sino-China relations also have rapidly grown. Sino-African trade size rose from $13 million in 1950, to $35 million in 1956 and to $260 million in 1966. After the adoption of Open Up and Reform foreign policies by the Chinese regime in the late 1970s, the Sino-African trade further increased with 3.7% annual growth on average (Chun 11). After the 1990s, the mutual trade volume increased remarkably over 42%. In 2001, bilateral trade size for the 1st time passed over $10 billion, and in 2008, it reached to a record high of $107 billion. While Sino-Africa trade dropped in 2009 due to the global economic crisis, it regained acceleration in 2010 with $128 billon of trade volume and then $170 billion in 2011. It is estimated that the bilateral trade volume may exceed $250 in 2015 (Chun 11). Also, China’s direct investments in Africa are increasing gradually. According to Tian Xuejun, the Chinese ambassador in South Africa, Chinese direct investment in Africa has exceeded $15 billion, i.e. up to 65% from 2008, while investments of various types have exceeded $45 billion (“More than Minerals”). The economic ties between China and Africa reflect the broad and extensive nature of Sino-Africa relationship. Besides, diplomatic and financial ties, cultural exchanges and aid programs have also increased between China and Africa in the last few years. In 2005, China signed 62 inter-governmental pacts on cultural exchange and mutual cooperation with 46 African states, under which both the sides have formed more than 210 cultural exchange committees and organized hundreds of art or cultural exchange programs (Chun 11). Almost 50% of the Chinese assistance to Africa is characterized as official aid, while the remaining constitutes debt relief funds and concessionary loans. The volume of Chinese assistance, including its concessionary loans, to African states has increased from about $825 million in 2005 to massive $10.5 billion in 2012. However, according to the US-based Center for Global Development (CGD), a secret database of Chinese assistance to Africa has exceeded a figure of $80 billion in 50 African states by 2011 (Chun 11-13). Due to China’s significant involvement in the African continent within a short period of time, African leaders consider close political and economic relations with Beijing as an assurance for future regional developments and economic prosperity. Also, majority of African states don’t only see China as an ally, but also an emerging global power which could offer a variant for development models. Especially, in terms of access to funding and loans for development, Africa sees China as an effective alternative to global financial institutions such as, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (Botha 60-75). Overall, the Sino-Africa relations have broadened in various major sectors, including investment, technology transfer, trade, development assistance, training, and relief funds, strengthening the political, economic, and cultural bonding between both the sides (Chun 13-15). 3. Key Drivers of China’s Massive Involvement in the African Continent China has had a great interest in Africa ever since the initial days of independence struggles in the 1960s in the continent. In that initial period, China’s interests were mainly diplomatic. China saw the importance of African states in its political disputes with Taiwan. China understood that key voting coalition of independent African states in the United Nations (UN) was crucial for securing majority votes in the UN Assembly in the diplomatic disputes with Taiwan. Besides it, China was seeking the support of African states in the Assembly for acquiring the seat at the UN Security Council (Ayodele and Olusegun 6-7). But, the current nature of China’s interest is different and based on economic needs rather than political demands. China’s involvement in Africa is mainly influenced by China’s massive needs for resources and energy, especially crude oil, to fuel its advanced, developing economy and to support its vast industrial sectors. The rapid growth of China’s manufacturing sector has also triggered growing domestic demand for natural resources, including precious metals, copper, aluminum, iron, gas and oil. Africa holds vast reserves of natural resources. Also, considering the excessive control of the western powers over Gulf oil, it is necessary for China to diversify its energy supplies and to protect its interests. Consequently, in order to fulfill vast domestic demand of raw material and energy, and to lower the dependency on Gulf oil, China has shown great interest in the African continent which is full of massive reserves of natural resources (Botha 13-14). China’s massive investments in oil industries of Sudan, Angola, Nigeria, Algeria, Zambia, and other resource-rich countries like, South Africa, Congo, and Ethiopia are great examples of it. Besides natural resources, agricultural needs are other key drivers of China’s interest. China has been struggling to ensure sufficient food and agricultural supplies to its huge population. Consequently, Chinese companies have been supported to invest in important sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, and related secondary production ventures in Africa. Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Zambia are some of the African countries where China has leased vast amount of cultivating lands and engaged in agricultural production, including poultry farming and meat production (Botha 38-40). China has seen Africa as a potential market for its large production of textiles, machinery, electronics, apparels, manufactured products, and technological products. A regular and dependent customer in terms of Africa has allowed China to maintain steep trajectory of its economic development (Ayodele and Olusegun 6-9). Last, but not the least, by establishing active engagement in Africa, China wants to strengthen its modern policies of increasing its influence in a global politics and seeking the status of a global power. By moving out of its comfort zone, China tries to prove that it could also compete on a global platform with the US and other western countries. The growing involvement and influence of China among African countries have forced the US and other global powers to recognize China’s potential political and economic influence in the world (Lyman). 4. Overall Impact of China’s Foreign Policies towards Africa In order to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese policies in Africa, one has to compare it with the outcomes of western policies in the region. Over the years, western countries have provided aid worth of several billion dollars for the development of Africa. However, throwing aid to the problem is not answer to Africa’s development challenge. It it were, massive funds offered over the years should have changed Africa’s present drastic situation. In contrary, China’s “trade, no aid” policies have proved to be effective in the economic development of the continent. The 6% economic growth of Africa in 2007, which is its highest growth ever, is a great proof of it (Ayodele and Olusegun 9). Chinese companies are seen investing in African regions where western firms are unwilling. Western powers are unenthusiastic to invest in sectors like, industry, agriculture, and infrastructure which are crucial for the development of Africa. In the last few years, China has built telecommunication networks, bridges, railroads, and other much required infrastructure in Africa. Also, China’s demand for raw materials and its extraction plants in Africa have allowed African governments to acquire much needed revenues and financial boost (Ayodele and Olusegun 9-10). However, despite such positive effects, there are numerous causes of devastating effects of Chinese involvement in Africa. For instance, the massive flow of cheap Chinese goods into African market has proved to be devastating for local manufacturers and businesses. In South Africa, imports of appeals from China have increased by 485% and consequently, job losses have reached over 25500 due to textile factory closures. In South Africa, it is reported that each 1 job in the formal sector supports around 4 more members. Therefore, the job loss of 25500 affects over 100000 people, triggering high rates of poverty, unemployment, and crimes in the country (Botha 16-17). Furthermore, China’s “no-condition” policy for investments and trades in Africa has fuelled high rates of corruption, human rights abuse, and violence in the continent. For example, China’s policy of trading arms in return of oil with Sudan has significantly affected the stability in the region as the Chinese arms are largely used by local rebels in civil conflicts. Similar situation is identified in other oil-producing countries like, Chad, Nigeria, and Angola (Lyman). Also, China has purposely ignore the human rights violation and oppressive actions of Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe and openly supported his government in order to protect own economic interests (Lyman). Also, China’s “non-conditional” aid is often abused by some African leaders for personal use rather than utilizing for the country’s development. According to researchers, China’s aid is highly misused. Due to China’s unrestrictive investments and funds, Africa has exposed to the growing culture of corruption, violence, and bureaucracy with high rates of crimes and human rights abuse (Migiro). 5. Conclusion In conclusion, China’s growing engagement in Africa in recent years is mainly influenced by the huge natural resources, energy, and agricultural demands of China and its economic interests. China’s unconditional trade and investment policies have proved to be successful as China has managed to establish its influence in major sectors, i.e., petroleum, raw materials, agriculture, and infrastructure, of Africa. Also, China has secured a new and long-term customer for its huge industrial productions. Even though Chinese introduction in African market has proved to be beneficial for the economic and infrastructural development of Africa, it has also triggered a number of issues such as, high rate of corruption, human rights abuse, unemployment, and violence in the region. In a way, China’s involvement in Africa can be considered as another exploitation of Africa by another global power for its own interests. Works Cited Ayodele, Thompson,and Olusegun Sotola. “China in Africa: An Evaluation of Chinese Investment.” Initiative for Public Policy Analysis (IPPA) (2014): 1-20. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. Botha, Ilana. “China in Africa: Friend or Foe? China’s Contemporary Political and Economic Relations with Africa.” SUNScholar Research Repository (2006): 1-122. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. Chun, Zhang. “The Sino-Africa Relationship: Toward a New Strategic Partnership.” www.lse.ac.uk (2012): 10-18. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. Lyman, Princeton N. “Chinas Rising Role in Africa.” Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). 21 Jul. 2005. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. Migiro, Katy. “China’s Aid to Africa Funds Corruption, Says Report.” Business Day. 25 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. “More than Minerals.” The Economist. 23 Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Feb. 2015. Read More