By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:53:00 +0000

It seems that the the improvement in Sino African relations may be entirely due to China’s self interest and the reasoning is entirely strategic and unlikely to be altruistic. After all, in China itself the people look down on those with the darkest skins. But China has to trade with black Africa when there is perceived to be such a worldwide supply shortage of the resources its burgeoning economy needs. By ingratiating itself to African countries and pouring billions of dollars into Africa in return for the necessary commodities China is seen by many as a good trading partner by African regimes. However, for those African countries run by a dictator the associated economic benefit does not go to the African country as a whole but instead goes to the regime often controlling its country by ruthless force and brutality – without any care and humanity for the ordinary African citizen – which will be perpetuated with continuing regime support from China. (Greed for the few with poverty for the majority). Sure, the African countries may get mega investment in new infrastructure and cities (probably palaces for the ruling regimes). But, provided China can keep its client African regimes happy does it need to worry about the human rights of the country’s subjects? As China cements its strategic presence in Africa and ensures the increasing flow of commodities and resources it is likely to be in China’s economic interest to support corrupt regimes and to supply them with the weaponry to maintain the hard line status quo. Should it therefore be China’s concern if an African ruling regime exterminates half of its people using the arms provided by China, so long as the flow of resources continues to flow back to China? Indeed, how long will it be before an African country has an expat Chinese army on its soil who could take over the country if political change interrupts such flow of goods? This is the real world where power will be exercised by the strongest to ensure economic survival. Ultimately great tracts of Africa may become a slave to the Chinese economy whilst still ruled by compliant despotic African dictators – effectively the puppets of China’s foreign policy. China is perhaps only taking advantage of the gross mismanagement of some African countries but by propping up their corrupt regimes it is ensuring that China can strip the assets bare with impunity. Colonials have done this in Africa to some extent in the past but not on the scale that is likely to take place in the 21st century. Sure China will be paying for the goods but at what cost to the people and the environments which will be stripped bare in Africa? Many of Africa’s leaders may be willing to sell its country’s soul and heritage to the great economic power that is China today in return for keeping these same leaders in power. Some of those African regimes with good human rights records who trade with China will share the benefits with their African countrymen. However, in the future some African regimes that have embraced China totally may lose all control of the Chinese presence in their country and may be unable to stop an effective Chinese takeover of their country exercised by its new African puppet regime. Some questions are whether things will be better or worse for Africans, or for the world as a whole? What Africans will benefit from the expected prosperity? What else can Africa do about it? Is this the new way for Africa to be managed and is it a future that Africa deserves after the years of mismanagement?

By: Aceface

Aceface — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:13:57 +0000

Tokyo International Conference on African Development,also known as TICAD was originally started in 1993.TICAD was the pioneer of roundtable talks between Asian power and African leaders that proceeds China-Africa Summit for thirteen years.Japan’s interst in Africa is more of a political nature,not on mercantilism as the author has proposed.
I think the author,along with most of the western writer on Japanese diplomacy,only repeat the hype and not relying on the fact.

Comments on: On African-Asian Relations

By: Mike

By: Aceface