China and Africa, This Era
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) formerly called One Belt One Road has a completion date of 2049 which would be the hundredth year of the founding of modern China — the People’s Republic of China — by Mao Zedong. The BRI is an ambitious plan by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organisations. The BRI will connect almost every continent. One of the biggest beneficiaries is Africa, a continent with a gaping infrastructure gap and badly in need of investments.
The Belt and Road Initiative, started in 2013, is however not the beginning of China’s foray into Africa. The ancient kingdom is purported to have established links with Africa as far back as the middle-ages towards the horn of Africa, Somalia to be precise, and the regions of Mozambique.
Historically, Sino-African relations have had military, political, social, cultural and economic components. They still do. During the era of apartheid, decolonization and the Cold War, China established diplomatic relations with revolutionaries in countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Much of the 21st century has seen China exerting itself as an economic giant with a healthy dose of cultural exportation trailing its business pursuits. Some scholars believe China sees Africa as its second continent, unofficially. No other regional organisation elsewhere in the world has had its headquarters wholly funded by China. Commentators believe that singular act is sufficient to tie the Africa Union to the PRC’s apron strings. Indeed, it was reported in 2019 that Burundi, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia and 16 other African countries made up the ranks of 37 African, Latin American and Asian countries that praised China’s treatment of Uyghurs as ‘remarkable achievements in the field of human rights’. This was done via a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council. It is interesting to note that most of these countries have a significant Muslim population. Conversely, none of these countries have spoken up against Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya (who are Muslims). The Gambia which was not among the original 37 has successfully forced action on Myanmar at the International Criminal Court. The Gambia is predominantly Muslim.
With Sino-African trade volume rising from $1 billion in 1980 to over $165 billion in 2012, rising to over $200 billion in 2014. China has overtaken the USA as the continent’s biggest trading partner. Much of that trade is one-way in favour of China which takes out huge natural resources like coal, oil and natural gas to power Chinese homes and for its massive manufacturing sector — the biggest in the world.
Unlike the United States of America which propagates democracy along with capitalism and a huge concern for human rights in its dealings with its allies around the world, China’s Communist Party is not interested in promoting its own style of capitalism — political capitalism. A system instituted by the country’s visionary leader, Deng Xiaoping.
Direct investments aside, China is helping African countries build their infrastructure. Nigeria’s Abuja-Kaduna line and the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan line are examples. China is not just taking the continent’s resources. It is helping Africa modernize its infrastructure. China Development Bank, People’s Bank of China and Exim Bank of China have made massive investments on the continent.
With over a million of its citizens resident on the continent and a growing media presence, the nation is propagating soft power. Its Confucius institute has over 40 branches across Africa teaching Mandarin and the Chinese culture. This is not out of place. Where money goes, influence follows. China’s influence in Africa’s business firmament is solid and not accidental. It is cheaper to manufacture in China than anywhere else in the world. Thus entrepreneurs mostly from Nigeria find it easier to ship in finished products made to their specifications in Guangdong, Shenzhen, etc.
China’s GDP per capita is about $10000 and not enough to earn it ‘developed nation’ status even though it has a $14 trillion economy — second only to the USA. China is, however, heads and shoulders above Africa where the highest GDP if less than a trillion dollars. China’s investments are therefore highly required.
It is hoped that Africa’s leaders would take advantage of China’s investment to pull up its growing population of 1.2 billion people out of poverty and unemployment. With its highest GDP per capita at $6000 [South Africa] and the lowest at $400 [Niger], Africa is the poorest continent and also the continent with the poorest number of countries.
It is true that there’s mounting debt from Africa’s business relationship with China, but most of the bilateral deals are done with clear eyes. There have been no reports of arm twisting. It, therefore, behooves African leaders to be creative and make the most of the continent’s relationship with China.
China needs Africa’s resources just as Africa needs China’s investments and expertise. Sino-African relations in this decade and beyond should continue on a symbiotic basis.
