By Peter Eigen, Special to CNN
Editor’s note: Peter Eigen is a member of the Africa Progress Panel, chaired by Kofi Annan. He is the founder and chair of the Advisory Council, Transparency International, and chairman of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. The views expressed are the author’s own.
China’s growing presence in Africa is one of the region’s biggest stories, but even seasoned analysts cannot decide whether this booming relationship is good or bad for Africa.
Critics say Chinese strategy is entirely self-promotional, aimed at maintaining access to Africa’s precious mineral resources even when that means propping up odious governments. China’s supporters say the Asian superpower is strictly neutral and business-oriented, preferring to generate economic growth not a dangerous dependency on aid.
China has certainly been contributing to Africa’s economic growth, both in terms of trade and with building infrastructure. All over the continent, it has built roads, railways, ports, airports, and more, filling a critical gap that western donors have been shy to provide and unblocking major bottlenecks to growth.
The rehabilitated 840-mile Benguela railway line, for example, now connects Angola’s Atlantic coast with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. And Chinese-financed roads have cut journey times from Ethiopia’s hinterland to the strategic port of Djibouti, facilitating livestock exports.
Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Africa and China continues to grow at an extraordinary pace, reaching $160 billion in 2011 from just $ 9 billion in 2000.
More from CNN: Is West losing out to China in Africa?
But some 90 percent of Sino-African trade is still based around natural resources – oil, ores, and minerals. And exports of natural resources by themselves do not help Africa to develop as we can see from the examples of Nigeria and Angola, Sub-Saharan Africa’s two largest oil exporters.
First, oil and mining are not labor intensive industries. So while natural resources may create impressive headline growth figures, they do not necessarily translate into widespread job creation.
Second, as we saw in the Netherlands in the 1960s and Norway today, large oil and mineral reserves can distort the local currency, pushing up prices of other exports, such as agricultural products, and making them much harder to sell overseas.
Third, without careful management, oil and mineral revenues have often fuelled corruption which has a severely negative impact on a country’s development. It’s notable, for example, that China is not yet one of the supporting countries for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an initiative to promote transparency and accountability in the governance of natural resources.
Away from the oil and mining industries, critics of China say they don’t see much evidence of China advocating for Africa on global issues either.
Climate change and better access to overseas markets are two such issues. But at the Africa Progress Panel we see little evidence of China pushing hard for improved market access for African products in non-African markets. Indeed, South African and other manufacturers have frequently complained about the crushing competition from Chinese textiles. Nor do we see China pushing for any meaningful breakthroughs in climate negotiations that would favor African nations.
More heavily publicized, Chinese use of its veto in the U.N. Security Council to inhibit international action on Darfur has made a mockery of China’s supposedly “neutral” stance.
So what else could Africa and China do so that Africa benefits more from its growing relationship with China?
For a start, African countries could diversify their economies as much as possible away from supplying unprocessed natural resources to China. This will make them less dependent on the vagaries of both the Chinese economy and the ups and downs of global commodity prices. Trade with China may have helped insulate Africa from the full impact of the 2008 financial crisis, but Africa still looks vulnerable to China’s economic slowdown. Meanwhile, African nations should also prepare for the day when they no longer have natural resources to sell. At the Africa Progress Panel, we talk about transforming natural resource wealth into human capital, by investing revenues into health and education.
Second, African countries need to encourage Chinese investment into more labor intensive sectors. Africa’s population is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, and job creation is a top priority. If Africa cannot create jobs to keep up with the growth of its workforce, then we can expect to see a large and growing population of frustrated, jobless youth.
As China’s relationship with Africa shifts from being essentially government-to-government to business-to-business, some analysts see enormous potential in the manufacturing industry, especially for clothing and textiles. Rising Chinese wages in this sector may lead Chinese manufacturers to export jobs to African countries where labor prices are lower.
One example of how this might work is Zambia, where some 300 Chinese companies now employ around 25,000 people. Ethiopia’s shoemaking sector has also benefitted from Chinese investment that has created jobs and exports.
For the most part, however, and despite the scale of investment, linkages between Chinese investment and local economies remains weak.
Third, African countries could negotiate better terms with Chinese investors, including quality control and better linkages with local economies. African governments could urge China to improve market access for African goods overseas, for example in trade fora such as the World Trade Organization. The IMF estimates the average import tariff faced by low-income countries in Africa in the BRICS at 13 percent – around three times the level in the United States and the European Union (which also operate a range of non-tariff barriers).
On quality, observers describe shoddy workmanship in a range of Chinese investments from crumbling walls in a Chinese-built hospital in Angola, enormous potholes in Ghanaian and Zambian roads, and a leaking roof in the African Union’s new $ 200 million headquarters opened in January.
Fairly or unfairly, many in Africa complain that Chinese projects do not employ enough Africans or do enough to transfer skills and technology. The reality is that this will vary from project to project. When a country is emerging from a decade or two of civil war, its labor force may not have sufficient capacity to work on technical projects. But at the Africa Progress Panel we view job creation as a priority issue for Africa’s development. Skills development has a major role to play in this respect.
And when Africans are employed, working conditions are sometimes substandard. Human Rights Watch reports dangerous work conditions in Zambian mines. And pay disputes at a copper mine also in Zambia led to two Chinese managers shooting at miners in 2010, then the death of a Chinese manager this August.
Fifth, Africa could keep working to make itself as attractive a business environment as possible. At the Africa Progress Panel, we consider further regional economic integration to be a priority. Africa’s population will one day represent the world’s largest consumer market. If they can get increased market access by investing in a single country, Chinese businesses will want to invest much more.
Analysts see more Chinese businesses coming to Africa, meaning that the Africa-China relationship is diversifying away from simply government-to-government relationships. This makes it harder to characterize the relationship as either good or bad. However we view it, China’s growing presence in Africa is part of a rapidly changing reality that presents enormous opportunity.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Is China good for most African Countries?
Sure. We are all watching the proof.
Africa never asked to built NUCLEAR BOMB, nor any kinds of heavy weapons.
Africa is the only Continent, that has all kinds of necessarily Natural resources. But, Africa does not have the challenged skills and creativity to use its hidden and visible resources, mindfully.
Therefore, China filled-up those gaps, between the resources and the necessarily knowledges and skills, although American drones and Satellites keep scaring them and causes destructions on their daily activities, in Africa.
In most Western Countries, Africans are discouraged not to take Courses and trainings, that are the most necessarily to use African natural resources. In some case, the courses are not available, purposely to make Africans remain uneducated.
I witnessed TOTAL CONTROL against people from my background, here in America. These has been done, and still happening by local and foreign Agents, whose aims are to damaged the good brains of Africans, everywhere, mostly by using varies types of CHEMICAL AGENTS/MIND-CONTROLS.
There are no questions about it.
At the past in the early 1950's MK-ULTRA and LSD-D type, has been used against BSD (Black Slave Descendants).
The very tragedy of life is, when the person(s) is dead in the head.
From the early 1980's WHO (World Health Organisation) some run by cruel Jewish, sent poisonous foods to Ethiopia, that has been soaked by Uranium residues and other toxic chemicals.
Better not to mention many Weapons that has been shipped to Africa, to murder fellow Africans.
The former Slaves in Africa are the most who hate Westerners.
100% Chinese. China won't teach Africans anything. After learning everything they know about infrastructure from the west, legitimately or not, they don't want to share that with Africans. they want to keep Africans dependent on china. even indistinguishable on operating their power plants for them. lately the Chinese are exploiting white guilt over historical colonizations to hide their own colonizations which are no less exploit I've. This is typical of the Chinese ethics of diversion when confronted with embarrassment.
What the Chinese are doing in Africa, is what the Europeans did before they were thrown out of the continent, when their former colonies gained independence. The Africans will no doubt one day throw the Chinese out. So, the Chinese would do the same as the Europeans in earlier day: to maximise the gains in Africa, while one's still there.
Forgot to mention: one of the few things the Chinese don't do, is to patrionise the Africans like many European colonialists and missionaries did.
At least the Chinese are not enslaving, killing and creating mass genocides in Africa, as the Europeans did and then pretending that they were trying to help the Africans. China is doing what any country with any wit and money does – exploit relationships with others to gain access to natural resources. At least they don't occupy the countries with troops and make up excuses for war, like the US does. That is why we are in such national debt.
Hmmm Good Point! As an African it is indeed very concerning but the pattern according to the article of maintaining access to Africa’s precious mineral resources even when that means propping up odious governments sounds like business as usual to me. It is what every foreign power has done in Africa-Nothing New. The issue is not those coming to take what we have it is the terrible African leaders that gives its resources away without regard to citizens as long as they line their pockets.
I hate Chinese ( Not honest in Business , trading and invaded small country in area Asaia , they mean.. )
I agree, they will pay Africans' hard labor very minimal. The Chinese businessman is the most stingy of all. Let's wait and see how the Africans will realize that they are being used and abused.
It is incredible to read and listen to western accusations being lobbed at China from every spectrum. In fact, the wars in D.R Congo are neocolonial-style proxie engagements stimulated and funded by western business. Most probably using South African front companies. After 600 years of western countries exploiting African countries, we are reading about western cocern that China is doing straight up no strings attached business in Africa. Let not the pot cal the kettle black. Lets face it this is all about western countries trying to protect their narket share. It has nothing to do about African countries.
Thanks. China is just exploiting Africa. That's what's going on. Africa is being mugged. Africa has been looted for a very long time. China is no hero for Africans. China is in line with all the other gang rapist of Africa.
Yeah sure, excluding the mass murders, slavery, and apartheid, they are just like everyone else.
Your statement China won't teach Africa anything is not apt. However minimal Africa is bound to learn at least from mere association from China.
The chinese are don't anything like the Europeans before, pretty ignorant statement. Colonial powers obtained through force and prices weren't set by the market. With the chinese its negotiated and consensual, don't like it don't do it, unfortunately no one (esp westerners) offer better terms so its really pathetic.... westerners condemn but can't offer anything better, if anything the west has offered far worse for hundreds of years and for the first time in a long time there is hope for Africa.
Yes, you so hated those terrible westerners you had to go and live with them. Pathetic.
China has been building roads, bridges and railways for African for almost free as early as Obama's father was still herding goats in Kenya, in '50s.
How else can they steal those resources.
Compare to Westerner in colonized era, they stole and didn't leave any legacy except chaos and hatred, Chinese is much more better than Westerner. Even now, the massacre of Platinum mine labor in South Africa in few months, the white people owned mining company are free trial.
Get China out of Africa tonight, before the sun rises if possible. Chinese are openly raping Africa's resources. Westerners were evil of course but at least Western ways are known. China's ways and methodologies are unknown (better the devil you know than one you don't know). Africa needs to think twice (or five times if necessary) before extending the hand of friendship to China.
Shame on you and your family name which looks like a Chinese one.
Jack...She's speaking the truth. You're obviousely not aware.
Probably, "it" looks and sounds like a human but actually really is just a "fake" one; a "monkey", indeed !
at least china never transport slavery
You do speak the truth. They are stripping the land and taking the natural recources killing elephants for Ivory
What you say may be true, but telling that to a western audience is absolutely pathetic. The west has exploited them far worse and now for the first time there is actually hope in Africa. Sure negotiate, but at least the chinese are negotiable, with the west is was be force or espionage.
I am not quite sure if they can "think". If they can, they are no more Africans long ago.
Aware African... Yiou're not too aware and not very smart.
Who owns the slaves in Mauritania? Black Muslim Africans. You're a liar and hypovrite. In America we don't hold blacks downthese days. we have many blacks in politics and and they have the same education opportunities as whites and maybe even more with the programs. take your propaganda and go back to Africa.
huh!!!
China is doing what's best for China in the international stage.
The US should follow suit.
In reply to:
j. von hettlingen
Forgot to mention: one of the few things the Chinese don't do, is to patrionise the Africans like many European colonialists and missionaries did.
October 30, 2012 at 1:39 pm |
Like what, shipping the most physically gifted Africans back home to be their slaves?
Hi, i am a black Africa. no the white devils didn't do anything good in Africa. only causing war, stole African wealth etc. they brought in diseases to kill black populations. for a example of it diseases is Aids. now they are surprise to see that black population is the second largest in the world after Asia. why the white devil population is dying out around the world. white people are the most dangerous human beings in the world that's they evil deeds is befalling on them today. everyone around the world hate white people that,s when u hear killing around the world who is the victim white people. the name white means satanic. that's why white people behavior like Satan.
Hey Anita ( ironically a European neme) you are a racist of the wost type.
By the way Aids originated in Africa.
Why would China be bad for Africa? This alone is a preposterous question. At least the Chinese didn't send agents into the Congo to overthrow Patrice Lumumba like we did in 1960 or anywhere else in Africa for that matter! We, along with the French and the British have done far more harm in Africa than either Russia or China! The defense rests!
I agree with you。I am a chinese and now living in china，my twin sister now working in New zealand。I think some westerners are not know about the real china and our culture。Although we have some problems because china is a developing country，we have the largest population in the world。welcome to china and see the real china。中国人必将领导世界，但我们不会称霸世界。
I am an American who is working in China for an international Hotel Chain. I fully agree with you that most Americans/Westerners don't understand the Chinese culture unless they are here experiencing and living it in person. Even as a foreigner working in a foreign land, I realize there are problems in this developing country, but there are problems in every country. Unfortunately due to poor coverage and propaganda fed by the West's biased media and governments, people will continue to have closed minds and not realize the opportunities China is offering other countries.
No, western nations do know about the Chinese and their culture. (A) Most westerners are well travelled; and (B) You are overpopulating most western nations so we know exactly what you have instore for Africa.
If you really want to know how bad the Chinese people are, ask Vietnamese people.
I do not think "western nations do know about the Chinese and their culture"。A foreigner can konw about chinese culture more than ourselves,it is a big joke，I can't understand why some westerners think china is bad for Africa? We invest in Africa，we earn money by our hard working，meanwhile，african people can raising their living standards,in chinese this is called ”双赢“。
I am proud of being a chinese，China has a long history and being the second largest economy in just few years。It is time for some westerners to learn from us,and accept the fact that China is becoming more and more stronger。
@Saint Ola: If you really really want how bad the Vietnamese are just ask the Champa, Cambodian, etc. LOL. Everything in the world should be relatively viewed...However, it proves that your view may be one-sided view and are ignorant especially about the "real" history of the Viets.
Zhenyi, I like the way you place your point and I fully support. I am supprised to see that so many people here in the discussion are so bias and prejudiced.
@Saint Ola . Today the majority of Vietnamese people are a mix race of Chinese and local stock. It take one to know one. Samo samo.
Aarron, Yor drinkibg too much of their koolaid. Plus their internet is minitored so you couldn't speak against it and you're probably scared to so your post means nothing.
@Weasle
"You are overpopulating most western nations so we know exactly what you have instore for Africa."
Sounds like you have an education of a 8 year old! "Most western nations" was overpopulated by the European colonisits that stole the land from the Native Americans!!
if you really want to know what a real thief Vietnamese is, ask Chinese people.
We all know how bad Chinese people are so there's no need to ask anyone
China invade Tibet. Selling prisoners organs. Stealing technologies. Making faked, poison cheap products. Exploit Africa. Eating human soup. Claiming all islands in Asia belong to China and much, much more.
How can you ask the Chinese when they themselves are the biggest thieves. They have been stealing and looting Tibet and the Tibetans since the 1950's and are still there. We Tibetans don't want the Chinese in Tibet ... Go back behind your so called 'great wall' and live under all the propaganda that your own government feeds your foolish heads. And leave the Vietnamese alone.
Kim, I think you are living in your own world. Stop being so naive and do not fill your life with hatred.
Good.
Good partnerships will be the key.
Hold these ugly red flags for a bowl of chicken rice? Sure!
Explain to the ignorant mujique that I am, what CCCP have to do with China!!!!!
Obviously you know realities of Africa very well but Chinese do have some bias. In U.S,chinese owned businesses sponsor a Chinese who doesn't even know English over anyone. That's very well known. For Indians, you got to know some English if you are fresh off the boat in U.S from India. So it's not all qualification.
You are biased. Indian companies in US in fact sponsored many Indians, who do not have the qualification, to come to US. There is still a large scale on-going investigation of a hundred Indian companies in this large scale scam.
If you read my comment carefully, I don't disagree with you. Both Chinese and Indians prefer working with their own people specially to keep cost down. Fresh off the boat experienced workers from their own countries costs less than to hire Americans here. What I meant is that Indians would at least test worker's basic English but Chinese don't care at all. I can name dozen companies and you can find for yourselves Chinese workers who hardly speak English but were able to avail sponsorship.
Why india hate China so badly?
It's easy to find fault with anything, but let's stop for a second and ask a question: Has the West been good or bad for Africa in the last few hundred years? For example, when they were mining in Africa, did they pay Africans or build roads for them?
We aren't talking 100 years ago we are talking about today and the future.
why you afraid of facing the history?
so what you are saying the western nations should not give an opinion because they themselves have a sketchy record in handling Africa? so if we see something wrong in life we are to first to look into our past record on the event before we can give our opinion on the matter not very progressive processes
Hi, i am a black Africa. no the white devils didn't do anything good in Africa. only causing war, stole African wealth etc. they brought in diseases to kill black populations. for a example of it diseases is Aids. now they are surprise to see that black population is the second largest in the world after Asia. why the white devil population is dying out around the world. white people are the most dangerous human beings in the world that's they evil deeds is befalling on them today. everyone around the world hate white people that,s when u hear killing around the world who is the victim white people. the name white means satanic. that's why white people behavior like Satan.
China involvement in Africa has been good so far and well received, the Chinese pays market rate for the natural resources, they did not go in and grab the African land, colonise the countries there, make the people there as slaves and then steal all their natural resources and ship them back to their home countries. Instead, trade are based on commercial agreements, some countries are too poor to pay for infrastructure, so there is a barter system, China buys the natural resources upfront contract and in return, helps to pay for the natural resources by building much needed infrastructure like roads, rail, buildings, ports, hospitals, etc. This is definitely a win win situation, I hope the Western press will stop fuelling inaccurate stories of Chinese exploiting Africa, this is not true.
They dont grab land from Africa yet simply because they cant keep them. In Asia, the grab South China Sea and tiny islands from ASEAN countries where they can do it by force.
I agree with Ombala, the chinese are doing a very good job in africa. let us focus on arguments that matters to africa. the western world has lost it to china by outsourcing to china and by loosing africa to china. Hello western world afric is doing fine without you.
thumb up!
NOT ONLY IN AFRICA BUT IN INDIAN OCEAN TOO!!!!! Now China is very much powerful in Sri Lanka and in Maldives too.. USA is only trying to get Middle East oil..
Africa is there.Stop whining and go there and invest yourselves.As some one ho had malaria whilst there, i can say whoever is there is also making huge sacrifcies.Cone on arm char bigots
Chinese investment began as early as the late '50s. China built road, bridges and railway for African countries,
when Obama's father was still herding goats in Kenya.
lol
Is china good or bad to africa? How bout the presence of white man in africa? i think they're worse. Chinese people don't send africans to china, they don't implement apartheid, and many other things..
hay , the Chinese is setting up a truck manufacturing plant here in my town creating jobs , by doing this they have created jobs , just like GM FORD and Volkswagen ,have done and continued to do in my country any investment is welcomed, you guys in the west preach a open market system , so why are you getting annoyed at china just doing what you guys have been doing for years and years , if you want to compete with china , invest in Africa this is were you will find the next big growth in the word cause we are starting from such a low platform
Thats very good to know. That kind of investment (manufacturing) is how China could really help. In the Congo(drc), they are building roads, but mainly so they can cut down the jungles and get lumber and other minerals.
To: White man from South Africa.- Isn't it time for you to go back to Europe? Your people have exploited my homeland long enough. I'll be leaving the U.S. soon to return to "my" homeland, Africa, since the exile of my people because of the slave trade. I am not African American, I am African. I'm going home and you should, too. If you want to trade with Africa, then fine, but that's as far as it goes. I'm presently very familiar with China since I have a close friend from Tiawan 臺灣 or 台灣. She has her country and I will finally have mine.
China are the new colonialists in Africa and Africa has not learned the last time round. African "leaders" are greedy and do not hesitate to steal from their own people. Here's some mining rights in exchange for a shopping trip to China – look at Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.
I travel all over Africa and see this all the time. China ships short term criminals to Africa to build roads and then leave them there after the project to open shops and sell cheap Chinese plastic buckets to the locals.
Uganda: New road into Kampala build by China with Chinese labour and every last bit of construction material imported from China.
Angola: Heavy earth moving equipment imported. Good deal it comes with a Chinese drive, co-driver and their families. The streets in Luanda now has Chinese characters – there are so many Chinese in Angola.
Nigeria: China has access to oil. Their area is a piece of China within Nigeria.
Zimbabwe: China is growing out of season crops for export to China. The locals are dying of hunger.
Zambia copper belt: Chinese mine owners pay their workers sub-minimum wages and then kill them when they strike.
All over Africa: 100 meters after the road ends a little shop selling Chinese goods. At every traffic light or street corner locals selling counterfeit goods (CD's DVD's, Sunglasses, Clothing) with support of the Chinese trade mission.
Is China good or bad for Africa?
China will suck Africa dry and the Africans will become the slaves of China.,, and Africa will still blame the West.
Mark my words
^ You need to learn history, African history before making such an ignorant statement. The colonialist have always been the European Americans.... There was even an article on CNN that practically claiming Africa was theirs!!! FAILED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM!
Exactly what is happening. Well said.
America and European powers had there chances with africans/blacks and failed unto this day! Now America and European nations will have to go to war with China soon because they know, who control the resources on the Africa continent controls the world. The kings of Egypt control the world for thousands of years because they had minerals, animals, oil and bodies for war. That material pit is bottomless, it will always be! God don't like sneaky ugly heartedness, he is pulling the people of the greek bloodline off the top because you will not stop being selfish. Black people in the world trusted loved and admired you, but what did you do? Hurt! Sad to say, but Africans wil help Chinese fight you to pull the control of world to China because then blacks will be not left behind anymore. Chinese will grant them number two positioning in world order for many reasons; one: my partner in war or business. It only takes a few generations to re-teach, re-learn, re-believe, re-establish, and re-love. Someone that loved you so much, but you didn't notice. I think because you think you're so cute...you never knew! The government called a sequester to allot monies in the pacific realm to deal with the rising sun not far off. Western powers and America are setting up to enstall a black man as pope to move the people of the african continent in there favor, but God's will, is his will. God isn't going to let you persecute his children anymore.
too early to tell... but what happens when Africa's land is devastated and poisoned? we may say that the west did not help africa grow economically, instead they only sent some food aids. and china built mediocre roads and establishments and created "some jobs" and "some profit" at the expense of their environment and natural resources...
An African girl married a Chines man and give birth to a baby boy. After two months, the child passed away and the mother of the girld said that "every thing produced or made by Chines will not long last" as presented in the article of Peter Eign such as the hospital in Angola, the roads in Zambia and the roof of African Union Head Quarter in Ethiopia.
^ Disgusting troll.
There are plenty of half breeds in south Africa from white invaders raping local blacks during apartheid that make this white lie a myth. In south Africa they are called coloureds who are generally gangsters,druggies,alcoholics,spousal users and treated as third class citizens. EU men and paedophiles love to visit south Africa to exploit local coloureds like they do in Vietnam..
That's why AIDS is a big issue in china. Spreading from Africa
That was evil! But let me tell you someone. In Israel long time ago the evil King Ahab wanted to war for profit and he asked his brother the king of judah, King Jehohaphat; "will you go with me?" King Jehohaphat reply, "your wifes are my wifes, your children my children." So the Chinese are also planning ahead, be forespoken: Africa, your wifes are my wifes; your children my children. Jehohaphat loves Israel, his family so he went even knowing in his heart Ahab was wrong and God....... Chinese will tell Africans with chinese origins your blood is my blood; my brother!
If you really care about Afica, go on and do something for them, send them the remaining of your meal in stead of throwing it away. Sitting in the office and find something in chinese 's actions in Afica to criticize is so hypocritical. At least, China has spent time with Afica and it helps that land not be forgotten by the rest of the world.
Chinese were good people. They treated us equal. They built many roads, railway, school here. They did this back in mid-1950s. Obama's father saw this when he was still in Kenya. Before he went to Hawaii.
Chinese did not make us slave like Europeans.
you probably are a chinese writing this 'from kenya'.
China is NOT good for Africa ..PERIOD! They promised Tibet so many things and look what they have done after 60 years. They killed 1.5 million Tibetans .. 1/6th of the entire population. They stole from Tibetan households, They built roads and rails to take minerals and out of Tibet and resettled so many HAN Chinese in Tibet. We Tibetans are already outnumbered in Tibet. There are more Chinese in Tibet than Tibetans. Time to be reincarnated on another planet. More than 81 Tibetans self immolated themselves sine 2009 .. GOOD LUCK AFRICA!
Here's a novel idea. Countries around the world take responsibility for themselves instead of pointing fingers at other nations. Somehow by diverting attention from their own evils t someone elses it makes their abuses seem acceptable. I only hit you 8 times and not 10 like that other guy. How is this going to affect the world in a positive way? Rather than learn from the past, they'd just like to show how they are being somewhat slightly less horrible by recounting an ugly history. It's disgusting.
For unreal, you don't know. China is giving money to the corrupt governments of Africa, ALL of them. They are not creating nothing, no jobs and no infrastructure. The factories are operated by chinese. The roads and other infrastructure they "give" it's like the products they export: good for trash. So, what is so good about China in Africa?
before chinese went africa, a pair of socks imported from western world cost 6 usd, and most of the local people are bare foot. but now most of them can afford clothing. talking about making a difference!!! what have you done? talking about sucking oil from africa, what's the biggest oil company in nigeria? is it a chinese company? dont even mention middle east.
Sadly the rise of China's economic involvement in Africa has gone hand-in-hand with the mass destruction of Africa's elephants and rhino's. In 2007, 13 rhino's were poached in South Africa, since 2008 it is well over 1400, this year alone standing at 460. Last week the largest seizure of elephant tusks took place in Hong Kong, a massive 3.81
tonnes. Ivory and rhino horn is predominantly used in China and Vietnam. Rhino horn is pure keratin, has no medicinal values whatsoever. The killing of Africa's elephants continue at an alarming rate of between 25000 -50 000 per annum. It will be a great accomplishment for the Chinese government if they repatriated some funds back into Africa's conservation and did far more to curb trade in endangered species. Wouldn't it be great if China financed training and job creation for game wardens/rangers across the African continent that could help in conservation.
Very true.
are white people going to give africa reparations for enslaving people?
To you people who speak of slavery. Do you know that in Mauritania Afirca that 10 to 20 percent are in slavery. it was outlawed only in 2007 and only one case has been procecuted. This muslim nation still practices slavery.
Sure
The whites who actually had slaves can pay reparations.
Oh yeah, they are all long dead.
Or are you proposing that whites alive now, who never ahd slaves should be held accountable?
If so then you would greatly benefit from some critical thinkinc courses.
You are absolutely correct. In 15 years time, the only place you will be able to see the elephants, rhinos will be in zoos, because of the demand for animal parts in china.
The demand for shark fin soup which is considered a delicacy in china, has left the shark population decimated around Africa. A bowl of this soup can fetch upwards of $100 usd, meanwhile the fishermen who practice this trade, which is spurred on by Chinese demand, cant even afford a small bowl of the soup that their efforts provide. I know this article is not so much about poaching but more so about a philosophical question, but with the rapidly declining populations of Ivory bearing animals as well as sharks, it stands to reason that there is a "raping" of resources happening and their final destination seems to be the far east.
The Asian demand for ivory and rhino horns is mainly from Vietnam. China, as well as other East Asia countries, is not a big part of it.
stupid western in africa,let them go and live chinese people alone
Good for Africa. Bad for America and Europe. Unlike the Americans and Europeans who arrived in Africa with guns and bombs blazing, China came with machinery and know-how to help build the much needed infrastructure. Of course, there are trade-offs for China too – nothing is free these days. But at least Africa will end up with some good infrastructure and a helping hand for development – not bombed out buildings and plutonium residues left by the West.
China in Africa is good. The west is now not happy why china should build road and schools for us. the west are now living with their selfish interest in Africa, why long time west did not come and propagate is the WEST or US good for Africa.
Africa is never poor nor luck of ffod. it is as results of bulying from the west. A small continenet having 60% of world resourses, how could it be poor if the west have trade with us Fairly.
China is now building roads, schools, hospitals and many more and does not intefer in our politics, so the west has open their ugly mouth again.
Long life Africans and long life China
I love china
Good! Now stay there.
Jack2, I think you don't know right from wrong; no it's pride! Two things you should never do; side with theives who don't even think about sharing with you and two; let race cloud your thinking. I forgive you because alot of people in the world don't understand how to truly love as Christ loved.... being unloved!
You can ask North Koreans for the answer
can't never surpass what the european have done to them.
I'm laughing at how jealous westerners are of how China and Africa are working together and engaging in fair deals. It's like an abusive boyfriend that keeps stalking his ex when she finds a new boyfriend.
Exactly. precisely, neat and 1000% true!
Thumb up
In your dreams...We are jusr aware of what is really going on there. Look what they did inTibet...past actions speak loud and clear.
This news loses credibility when Angola was pointed as a sub-saharan country...
but one thing can be proved, China is doing something for Africa, but Europe was not
Other countries are not good or bad for Africa. the only thing good or bad for Africa is thier leadership..... the responsibility for Afrika lies squarely on Africans. Stop having unnecessary issues with europeans, chinese or africans. countries dont have friends what they do have is common interesest
Wow! At last, someone who puts the whole thing into perspective. Yes, the fate of African countries lies with it's leaders. However, in many cases those leaders are elected by the people. And in many cases those leaders are self serving, greedy despots who will sell out their people to whoever makes the best offer. So maybe it's time for Africa to look to its people for growth. What's the point of changing ones dependance from the west to the east? A truly independant Africa should not need to be "helped" by any outside agency. Get the leadership right and the continent will flourish.
An intelligent assesment indeed.
The question should be has the western world been good or bad for africa and the world?
The question then should be is the western world good or bad for africa and the world ?
The third question is then has the western world recognised and apologised for slavery and for present day modern slavery it enriches itself from the developing countries.?
The fourth question is has the western world become richer and richer despite the recession?.
The fifth question is the last 200 years has the wealth amassed in the west been ethical?
The sixth question is how high is the unemployment in the west compared to the rest of the world?
The seventh question is how many western military bases are located on foreign soil?
The eight question is who has truthfully exploited the resources of the world using the military ?
The nineth question is which western country is not motivated by money and materialism?
WE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY,EXTREMELY WORRIED OF THE WESTERN WORLD
The Tenth question should be, should the people who looted all the wealth from colonies return it !
Yes,a westerner's wealth is on average 100 to 10000+ more than any other person on the planet.
Westerners form a minority in the world.....completely unbalanced.
There would be no excuse at all for them to return this stolen wealth and restore the damage they have caused.
You want to know if China is good or bad for Africa my answer to that question would be ask Africa.
This conversation propagates nothing more than fear mongering and bitter sentiments.
As long as there is a quest for wealth globally- someone or some country will always get the short end of the proverbial stick. That is economics 101 not everyone can be wealthy, and as long as people WANT/NEED for survival whether they be Chinese, western, Europeans etc there will always exist the push to acquire it.
[Respect and friendship between Africa and China]
From Great Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty to ROC and PRC, the relation between Africa and China always base on friendship and respect.
ROC had assisted India's independence from the immoral British. PRC and ROC both also assist Africa to get freedom and human dignity from immoral European countries.
The immoral European countries have made 25 million African black slaves and tortured 8 million to die in Europe's ships. Then the Europe also invaded Africa brutally to steal resources, the victims include Obama's grandfather in Kenya's jail. (Before 1861 the US is largest immoral African black slave country.) But the apology and compensation both have not done, where is the justice?
The figure was 65million black slaves were stolen from AFRICA and half were thrown overboard the cargo ships.
The rest were used to enrich and build the infrastructure of the western countries.
The largest mass exploitation of resources still continues abate by western countries.
Lets not forget who build the railway in North America under slave conditions. Hundreds of thousand were promised high wages and better lives in the East, only to become slaves
To you people who speak of slavery. Do you know that in Mauritania Afirca that 10 to 20 percent are in slavery. it was outlawed only in 2007 and only one case has been procecuted. This muslim nation still practices slavery.
[Africa must get apology and compensation from the dirty Europe]
Every African country is 1000 times better on human right record than immoral European animal countries. Every African countries should get apology and compensation (US$ 20 – 35 trillion) from the immoral European countries. Besides every African American should get US$ 20,000 from the immoral European countries; their ancestor deserves the compensation of US$ 600,000.
Africa should have patience, after 2050 the earth will emerge a 1000 years dominant justice power, its GDP and military will be double than the US; the world will have justice.
(The comment is sent from Hong Kong on 30 October 2012 during my travel)
NO ONE NEED TO ASK,I LOVE CHINA.ALL AFRICA LOVE CHINA.GOD BLESS CHINA
This write up is not complete as it does not say what did the others do when they took out all the minerals, gold and diamonds for hundreds of years, took away the people of Africa as slaves and what development did the leave behind.
South Africa has recently revealed the exploitation by western corporates and western countries on the resources of a country eg Anglo American,BHP Billiton,Lonmin,DeBeers etc.... All American,British,Australian and European countries.
They are all based in their respective countries and invest extremely little in the country they exploit. Instead they
have bedded local union officials,unions and ex union leaders who have become billionaires overnight.
The rest of the world needs to be extemely weary of western corporates that pervade the rest of the world's landscape.
Of course, China (Mainland + ROC Taiwan + Hong Kong + Macau) is good for Africa. ROC Taiwan also has assisted some African countries.
The topic is strange, the content is detailed and abundant but distorted, and innocence of 300 years history of Africa.
WE DONT NEED TOO MUCH STORY,GOD BLESS CHINA FOR AFRICA
I wrote some articles on China and Africa. Check them out if you´re interested in the subject. the adress is worldindebate * com
It depends on how many chinese ships the pirates can get!!!!! Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Reblogged this on Political Deficit and commented:
Peter Eigen is a member of the Africa Progress Panel, chaired by Kofi Annan. He is the founder and chair of the Advisory Council, Transparency International, and chairman of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Writing about China in Africa at CNN Global Public Square...
I would say that any real development,regardless of the country which invests etc,, is good for Africa, with 3 proviso,s,1;do it right,2;keep it clean,3;be responsible,, this could be said of any country in the world at this time,, this aint!! the "OLD DAYS",..old school/old boy, just wont cut it anymore,,It is just plain good business to not! shoot yourself in the foot,,,the world is too connected to have divisions and squabbling over these things,,there is enough for all,, if!! we DO IT RIGHT!,..My main concern with China investments there at this time would be,quality, and ability to maintain long term commitments etc,,,when the chinese economy crashes[soon], it will all grind to a halt and once again the Africans will suffer for others "mistakes",..Any country in Africa should maintain 51% ownership of all! investment strategies so they! can move in and pick it up when outsiders fail,,,,also, while Chinese construction teams are extremely good at building railroads, they have far less experience and quality in roads and buildings,infrastructure,as we can see, no?..ditto technical area,s as well,,thats the problem with stealing technology, you! wind up without the expertise to grow the tech unless you steal it again and again,, eventually your victims get wise and slam the doors,, then what??..dont mistake, I do admire the Chinese, very much so,for the most part the average Chinese is just a person, much of a muchness as anyone else, but they have a lot of catching up to do and so far what we have seen is not all that encouraging,,time will tell I suppose, as always,..my advice to all Africans would be;"sell the eggs and milk, but do not!! sell the farm"...keep that 51% at all times,,hey, if an "investor" cant make it with 49%, then something is very wrong at the get go, and best to avoid them we says,..they! will take you! down with them,, and we dont want that, do we??..btw, all this finger pointing and blame game of the past in Africa is counter productive in the extreme!, that was then, this now,, not even close! to the same thing, at all,,,
What people say or write is always subjective (in other worlds, objectivity is not possible), so it's pointless arguing about such an open subject.
It is to early to answer the question stated by the author of this article, only time will tell.
The question is who will the African nations turn to for help when the relationship is at last recognized as parasitic rather than symbiotic? Many nations and people will have to put aside real or perceived historical or present slights/wrongs in order to have a harmonious, functioning, united front versus the Chinese. Will it happen or fast enough?
African countries are making progress, African people's standard of living is improving, despite all the obstacles. And China's involvement is good for Africa, and very much needed.
I agree to your state of progress of present Africa, but the African virus of "willed ignorance" because of our unchangeable traditions towards progress makes it very attractive and easy to be exploited. Africa is still viewed as "dark continent" until we begin to believe in our capabilities and shun corruption at all levels. Africa needs to try and adopt other means of workable progress best suited for Africans.
I'm a Chinese, not from the western world.
There is an old saying in Chinese:
You got betrayed, or sold out, by your partner, and you were still counting the money for the sale price for them.
Let's see if this would happen in Africa.
For those Africans praising the Chinese contribution to your home countries, I simply want to say, with my truly sincerity, GOOD LUCK.
You or your sons may have a chance to see how the Chinese people rip you off, exploit all the resources you have, and leave nothing with you, in a different way than the western world had done to you before.
God bless you all.
JC是个傻逼洋五毛。
iwho else is even trying to do anything somewhat real in terms of progress in africa other than china? not the west. and certainly not africa itself. africans are not children. perhaps they should stand up and take charge of their own continent like asia did.
I have never understood why countries who sit on natural resources sell them so other countries can benefit, why the hell they dont create their own factories ???
Like mining resources is as simple as collecting fruits.
Slavery of the mind is the reason.
Africa has suddenly reminded me of this popular song "Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger" China's growing presence in Africa does not surprise me simply because Africa's history remarkably is been seen and still denied as Survivor and raw material supplier for the entire world. The history of slave trade is seen as a dependable and reliable human power of growth for the western world. The alternative to old form of slavery has been replaced by businesses outsourcing to poor countries for exploitation. This pattern of exploitations not new and the Chinese are back to take advantage of the long term neglect of Africa especially at a time Africa's oil exploration is at prime time. Africa sits on blessed enormous wealth but lacks the educational ability.
The whole article tries to be in a neutral tone, but in fact using all efforts to black China. Ok, I am not surprised to see article like this in western media. Maybe someone is interested in checking Chinese media. I am always laughing at people who believe the "fact" from the media without a doubt.
For this article. I only smell one thing: US is so envy China.
"African Countries should negotiate better terms with Chinese investors", soundly good.
Chinese people are okay. The goverment, the communist party, the ideology terrorize people even neighboring countries.
No No No No No.......Africa does not need China right now. The Chinese government is a communist dictatorship which thrives by enforcing restrictive macabre laws on the Chinese commoners, banishing religious freedoms, physically and emotionally abusing minority groups, having unreasonable territorial disputes with almost all its neighbors, terrorizing its poor prisoners with inhuman labor work, extremely polluting the earth and killing its own people. The relationship of China and Africa is not health because Africa is desperate and China is resource hungry. I am surprised that other Africans have still not learned from this phenomenon. The Europeans came to Africa partly because of our resources, now its happening with the Chinese and people are still blind. They don't pay the resources' worth but rather they wine and dine with the African dictatorship and flood it with guns to kill its own people. The African Western relationship is even better than a relationship with China because we share a long history with the west which is both good and bad. It would be unwise to start over another relationship again, its like going back to the thirteenth century.
C'mon, we are nice people, we can treat our friends the "right" way. How much do you need?
Chinese nationals, as businessmen in Africa, just take and take and give almost nothing in return. Everything is to their advantage as they have the economic leverage. That's only the beginning of the story. Don't be surprised when China establishes a naval & air base in West Africa to have a direct military presence in the Atlantic under the pretense of looking out for/protecting their economic interests in Africa in the face of so much local turmoil. Didn't see that one coming did you?
Actually it's pretty obvious.
I live in Mozambique. The president's house is being built by the Chinese. Mozambique and many other African governments have no anti-corruption laws or enforcement, the Chinese government violates human rights dialy. If you think those two facts will result in long term benefit for average Africans, watch out! Just because China doesn't use guns or enslave people (neither does the west at the moment, btw), it doesn't mean they care about average Africans.
CNN It would be nice to read one day
"What and How African Leaders are Navigating their Relationships with China" .
There are lots of articles on what China is doing in Africa but half the equation is pertaining to how African Leaders are addessing and managing the relationship. What are their terms of agreements on any of their economy and business agreements? Remember it was weak governments that allowed the exploitation of Africa in the beginning until it was too late.
I expected China if it really had good intentions in Africa then they would invest in industries which will process our raw materials rather than carrying away unprocessed raw materials home. If they do not invest in this then they are no different from Africa's former colonialists.
China will not process the material in Africa. All China wants from mineral resource countries is to pull out the goods and keep all their worker ants busy.
"Angola's Chinese-built 'ghost city' "
---------------–
CNN is declining on quality or morality? CNN needs to upgrade quality. That is not a ghost city but a nice city.
The building could be enjoyed for 200 years, it needs 2-3 years to be bought (assisted by government) or managed; it is common on civil construction. CNN is too rush.
The US uses violence to murder 100,000 innocent Iraqi and 10,000 innocent Libyan; thus the US as worst country on violating human right and violating morality on the earth in the 21st century. South Africa has blamed the US. The immoral US media also use lies to make rifts between Africa and other justice countries. The US must change behavior, the US is on the eve of big decline.
Why don't we ask the Africans who they want as their partners; the chinese or the west.
So far the africans chose the chinese and kicked the west out. Should we then invade their country and force them to accept us?
Which colonial power went into Africa with any other strategy and intent than self-promotion? Which one did not aim at access to Africa’s precious mineral resources even when that came at the expense of the people, their freedom and rights. We have suddenly become seized by virtue and caring, and a massive bout of amnesia, We set incredibly high standards for China in Africa that the 'civilized' West would never have considered reasonable when they feasted on the riches of the continent, but we expect China to 'prove its worthiness' and prove they are better?
China can only fail as they too are imperfect, but the West will certainly gain another victory out of their failure. Another bit of self-promotion?
Reblogged this on Musings.
The difference between the Western countries and China is that Westerners promised things like roads and infrastructure but exploited Africans without giving them any of that. The Chinese are exploiting them but are fulfilling their promises. Though the Chinese should not be respected in their exploitation of the African continent, we can at least give them credit for being a bit more clever and subtle with their motives.
To me, China-Chinese people should not invest so much money in Africa countries. Chinese are hard working people while African AREN"T. Also, African are NOT trust-able people.
Wow. Great job with the grammar buddy. Perhaps you shouldn't have been so lazy in English class.
Africa problem is the local people have no education. People like to cry out how western countries took advantage of Africans. This is true to extent. Even still today it is Africans who continue to take advantage of own people. During slave trades with the west, it was local conquering tribes who sold out the conquered tribesmen. Until Africa gets education, and leaders who do are not corrupt for themselves, Africa will have no hope.
China has certainly been contributing to Africa’s economic growth, both in terms of trade and with building infrastructure. All over the continent, it has built roads, railways, ports, airports, and more, filling a critical gap that western donors have been shy to provide and unblocking major bottlenecks to growth.Yes China is good for Africa all these years the West never did any of those things and now that they see billions can be made and they can't get a cut they start coming up with things they see problems with.
As the article stated, there is the potential for the relationship between China and Africa as a whole to be mutually beneficial. However, it seems that currently African governments are getting a smaller slice of the pie. To me, this relationship resembles a number of characteristics of imperialism, including the unbalanced trade and lopsided distribution of profits. As the most populated country in the world, China is desperate for natural resources, and will do whatever necessary to obtain those resources. Trade has jumped from $9 billion in 2000 to $160 billion in 2011. While the numbers are impressive, African economies are not achieving the growth they should be seeing, especially in the labor force. With suspected corruption, this whole relationship seems to be a front for a China-centric arrangement. For years, Americans have complained about jobs being sent to China, and now the Chinese may have to worry about jobs being sent to Africa. This trade relationship increases China’s standing as an international force to be reckoned with, and indicates that China intends on growing its own economy. Another interesting note is the blind eye China turns towards human rights violations and the apparent lack of care shown towards the labor that is benefitting them so greatly.
China was not and will never be a colonizer as history can testify. What China wants is a stability. To govern the most populous country in the world is a serious business. There is a Chinese saying "wealth comes from harmony". What China is doing in Africa is bilateral benefit, something the West have failed to do for much of their colonizing year. Unlike the West, it is pure exploitation. Look at the Far East, ethnic Chinese in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines etc etc are only focusing in creating and distributing wealth and jobs in their host country. Did you hear of any undermining movement by China on its neighbor? None! Those country in the Far East are so near China, were they ever been colonized by the Chinese in the past? None! Now, let us ask ourselves this question,what have we done for the African countries and for the African people! None! Time to stop criticizing!
Chine is not good for anybody especially the planet Earth.
How did whites building the US Transcontinental Railroad, work out for the Indians ?
The Irish and the Chinese built the Transcontinental railroad
I think is good thing for africa because our continent need to get some boost. you have to start somewhere.
Now is a time to try find another partners than europe of the us.
China is good for Africa. You can see the development which China brought to Africa. There is potential for both in a win-win situatiuon.
China will never be good to Africa until its good to its own people its brings prisoners from its country to work as slaves when its building and always they will employ chinese than Africans. so china can't be good to Africa and its not needed in Africa
Of course China is not good for Africa. Ask how many people who believe in a higher being or more then 1 ended up being killed in China. China has no respect for people who happen to believe in a god. No one talks about how the Muslims who refuse to renounce being Muslim fought Mao and the west ignored those who resisted Mao. Besides alot of those countries who accepted help from China were Muslim countries and they ignore there fellow Muslims because China paid those Muslims countries off like Sudan to ignore the plight of fellow Muslims. Samething goes for the Christian countries in Africa samething being bought off by China. Of course China is not good for Africa. China admires Karl Marx and who was Karl Marx the founder of Marxism who hated all non westerns and had words to described about Africans and Arabs.
BAD
In reading that story I thought it was a historical recap of Great Britain's stint in Africa. They Chinese are indeed more clever in that they just dispensed with all the religious pretense and decided not to send troops to protect business interests. If the United States were smart we'd have set up infrastructure, schools and sowed the seeds of a free market economy long ago instead of wasting trillions of dollars in the sand pit called the Middle East. At least the Africans are somewhat more open to a relationship. If we had trading partners and the non Islamic parts of Africa had strong economies we'd have MUCH more sway in peaceful negotiations in upper Mediterainean part of the continent. But nope. Didn't want to bother. Just a bunch of bush people and fly swatters. If the Chinese are raping them, I doubt it won't take long before they get tired of it and China decides it's not worth the hassle or sends in troops. Happened to the Brits and other European nations that tried to force them into something they didn't like.
What China is doing in Africa as the writer commented in this article is that China has done more for African countries than any of the European powers or the United States has ever done to help develop any of the countries in Africa. Western interests have always been to exploit and oppress to harness the underdeveloped poverty stricken countries' natural resources and wild animal life for their own interests under the guise of aid, including human experimentation regarding research on the AIDS virus. China's growing relations with African countries will have a more positive impact than any of the Western colonial and imperialist countries of the West.
China is a plague in any market.
You're a plague, go get rid of yourself before generalizing 1/6 of the world!
The West taught Africans how to hate each other and we still do till date. The Chinese are teaching Africans how to help our selves by investing infrastructues. African should understand that we can not eat our cake and have it. This is the moment the goverments in Africa should start invesing in Health care and Education and I can asure you Africa will grow exponentially: someday the Westerners will be applying for jobs in Africa.
AS A TIBETAN ... TRUST ME AFRICA!!!
China is NOT good for Africa ..PERIOD! They promised Tibet so many things and look what they have done after 60 years. They killed 1.5 million Tibetans .. 1/6th of the entire population. They stole from Tibetan households, They built roads and rails to take minerals and out of Tibet and resettled so many HAN Chinese in Tibet. We Tibetans are already outnumbered in Tibet. There are more Chinese in Tibet than Tibetans. Time to be reincarnated on another planet. More than 81 Tibetans self immolated themselves sine 2009 .. GOOD LUCK AFRICA!
^ 2 words trolling idiot!
china is and will have been a strong and united china.Tibet is a part of china forever,forever,,,,,,,
Good to hear from you.
You haven't a clue as to what you're talking about, China is raping the country of Ivory and gold with no concern over the collateral damage to the jungles and animals.
I went to Jack 2 from jack 3 but you're saying the same as i would post so i guess it doesn't matter.
China is not good for Africa. They need to go back with their substandard products and the substandard infrastructure that tehy bulding all over the continent. They also foster corruption in the continent. They bribe the corrupt African leaders who in turn will turn a blind eye while the thieving Chinese rob the continent blind.
What China is doing is Africa is absolutely no different from what we (United States) are doing in the Middle East. Do we ever complain about the horrendous human rights record at Saudi Arabia? Do we ever complain about the corruptions at Saudi royal family ?(both US companies giving bribes to the royal family and the royal family embezzling Saudi internal funds) Do we complain about the massive income inequality in Saudi Arabia and the fact that our investments are not really benefiting the average Saudi citizen? Do we stop selling them weapons because of their terrible human rights record and them being in a highly volatile region?
The answer is no for all of them. Every country will look out what's best for their interests, we are not different neither are the Chinese.
Reblogged this on Our Voices and commented:
The West pays no attention to Africa, But China Thinks that's a Mistake
They are raping the country for Ivory and gold.
China is only in Africa to steal their natural resources. As soon as the resources run out, so will China.
C'om, they are just doing what you ppl have done years ago.
All I can is that the west has lost all its credentials on this topic.
Africa would be a place for China to get food resources .
What ever else seems to make sense, theres a lot of ariable land out there, vs. China's 9% farmland, 25% of worlds population.
Its the international tensions, if 'popped' that will make China bad for Africa...
Lets argue under a sky thats only 20 miles high.
Even the flags are cheap see thru flags, I guess they are pretty shallow, I guess they are made in China.
China is raping Africa of its natural resources and comminting crimes to take it. They are taking gold, ivory and anything of value.
It's amazing how encredibly maive most people are in America. The Chinese are stealing and resources and killing animlas for the Ivory at alarming rates. China is on a mission and it's not from god
Ask the Rhinos and Elephants if China is good for Africa
African wildlife will be wiped out due to the Chinese presence in Africa. Rhinos will be slaughtered for their horns for Chinese medicine, elephants will be wiped out for their ivory so Chinese homes can be decorated. Other breeds will also be wiped out for other cultural indulgences of the Han new guests.
China should learn the western way of doing business in Africa: Colonize it first, take everything valuable for free or as "taxes", when all is done, let them become independent again and they will become one of it's protectorate. This is the only way the west will recognize China as their friend.
I would be nice too see how descents of slave owners will advice China, which of course is one the oldest cultures in the world and was populated by descents of Africans much before Europe was populated.
TO ME I SAY BOTH IN THE SENSE THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS CHEAP THE OTHER WAY INFERIOR. THAT IS GOOD AND BAD SIDE OF IT, AND BY THIS DEVELOPMENT THE ARE KILLING OUR OWN ECONOMY..
lol Africa is exploited by everyone. I feel bad for blacks
China' relationship with countries in Africa are beneficial to China and the African countries. Foreign policy is predicated on mutual benefit, trade, construction of the infrastructure in return for raw materials. The relationship that China presently has with Africa is far more balanced and equitable than with Western European countries in the 19th and 20th century.
The Chinese government has been renting land from other nations and moving it factories and workers there. This make me wonder if the Chinese government is doing the same thing with Africa. Let all hope Africa will not become China trash can.
Me chinese me tell joke. Me put pee pee in your coke.
It is very surprising every natural resources come from Africa but the continent is still poor. This is because the continent have been manipulated by colonial masters .China has done more developments in Africa in resent years than so called colonial masters but my biggest problem is that China has flock the continent with their prisoners working for them ,thereby depriving the locals from getting jobs. African leaders need to sign sensible agreements instead thinking about their 10%
Is China good or bad for Africa? [Did someone also asked who will replace America as world number one?]
Here is the number one contender to world economic supremacy – China. Economics is more or less the same everywhere. It is a branch of science following many principles that are universal.
China is also in world Financing. Financing and building of infrastructures for credits. Not only in Africa, but soon many countries will be financially indebted to them in the same manner that all of them are financially indebted to IMF-World Bank.
What would be the consequences of economic indebtedness?
f you are in government and you have no money and you need to show achievement it is good there is a partner there to build roads, bridges, airports, dams – infrastructures.
These countries are living beyond their means. It is the problem of the next administrations.
How can the USA lose out to China? We don't make anything anymore so there nothing to lose to China. As for China being good for Africa I think if anyone can put a end to teh black killing black genocides China can.
In all of this, Africans are to be blamed. We allow our leaders to dictate, betray us, perform less than what they promised before we voted them in and yet after a few bribes they will be voted in again, and by us (laughable). We will always complain until we wake up and take the bull by the horn, manage our resources ourselves. But this will be done by education and education alone. If we educate our children properly which i doubt (standard of education today is nothing to write home about) education is key because that is the only visa to knowing when you are gaining or losing in a deal, whether brokered by Chinese, the Europeans or anyone at that. I believe all the worries from the world over about Africans arent genuine, who will feel your pains more than you? Africans should try and get the standard of their education system to work better, that way Africans will try to do more. Thats not to say we are doing badly considering where we are coming from unfortunately bad leadership is killing Africa once again, greedy people at the helm of affairs selling Africa cheap to whoever is the highest bidder. You cannot say China is good for Africa if they built roads that are not good enough, (if a roads collapse 4 months after construction then its not good) I have been to China and China is beautiful, if they build exactly the same standard then i am ok. Mind you Europeans and Americans got nothing on China, (go to China and witness for yourself) so the world should be worried cause if the Chinese really got bad intentions, who can stop them? Where China produces for almost every one ( there is this joke that goes "God created the world and everything else is made in China" My take is Africa can only look out for herself, no one can care for you more than you care for yourself. Going back to the question if China is bad or good for Africa, my answer is BOTH. After all something has to give. I rest my case
We thing China like Turkish are good for such Africa countries or 3th world, because of challenges of western yet. in any case without a balance any holly country become enemy of man kind like America!! the world was peaceful 20 years ago when Somalia was peace because their where balance by Russian they where the other actor to play good or evil for our world. simply no balance no peace!!! to get happily live we wish a strong actor with balance with Vita for No or Yes..
History has shown that foreign inward investment has always and largely favoured the investors. It was unethical, inequitable and unreasonable. Such investment is one-sided and primarily done with the ulterior motive of benefits in mind debilitating the host countries. Africa has to be aware of these dangers and potential risk of letting China squat as an 'imperialist' investor to create a neo-imperialism which I believe is sweeping the entire Africa. While the world is looking the other way China has been switfly chipping away at Africa's above and underground natural wealth. During the British and the French imperial era raw materials were literally looted from African, Asian and Polynesian countries only to be sold back to them at exhorbitant prices. Instead of processing the materials in the host countries it was done in Britain and France to create employment. The unchecked and uncontrolled extraction of mineral deposits inevitably leads to impoverishment of colonised nations resulting in a skewed development leading in turn to dependency upon the investors. African leaders should watch out for the danger signs before it is too late.
china is evil like iran and russia those evil muct be stoped ..fk them all
China will exploit Africa for its mineral wealth
the butthurt in this thread is strong
China is a plague on South Africa's Rhinoceros' – contributing to the killing more than 650 in the past year and most of those in Kreuger National Park. The horns are often cut off of LIVING animals left to suffer and die. The Rhino horn is thought to be the Chinese equivalent of Viagra. Killing those animals is an evil and illegal practice. The Chinese, through their silly supersticions are killing off an entire population of animals. There is NOTHING good about Asian cultre – NOTHING.
Americans-
Seriously, shut the f** up. "China's business in africa is entirely self-promotional" OH REALLY? And America's countless amount of decades intervening in other countries affairs for political and economical reasons in violent ways (contras in Nicaragua, the ousting of chile's democratically elected socialist government for a ruthless dictator in chile, the shah of Iran , the support of the taliban and osama bin laden, the support for saddam hussein , etc) Please, you are NO ONE to play the "i'm an innocent little girl and chinas a monster" card, you all are so annoying.
and what have you done to the Tibetans
China is good for now as they are trying to out compete the trend the west had set for exploitation, so the Chinese are simply trying to be better than them, the Africans in return are only seeing this side of it. As soon as China collapses the western economies (which it already is doing), then China shall show us all its true intentions and colors (if you know what I mean).
The Chinese themselves do not treat their own well, how will they treat Africans?, regarding the exchange for African resources, well this is done with an equal exchange of raw materials and off loading their own prisoners population. This has little to do with the west as they already took what they needed and are now more or less out of the picture.
For those still complaining about the west, keep in mind that China + Russia+ Middle East shall work together in eliminating all western economies
So China + Russia+ Middle East VS US + European allies.
China does not interfear in the domestic issues, which is very welcomed by the majority of African "rulers". Another question which I missed in this article is the quality. In a couple years most of this infrastructure projects has to be rebuild again, because it is a big lake of quality how they build roads and other infrastructure projects.
Let history be the judge of what Africa will gain or benefit from Chinese business and investiment. If the next ten years of economic growth in Asia is anything close to the last ten years, I am sure some of that wealth generated will benefit those with ties to Chinese investiment and if it doesn't, africa will atleast have a better infrustructure of roads, railways, shipping ports, hospitals, and the list does on... which they can obviously hire someone to manage for them if they decide to kick the Chinese out...
I think it's good and bad at the same time. We could see clearly from different african countries that China benifited many african countries whether by boosting their economy, improving their infrastructure for the most part (Algeria East West highway), without forgetting the financial aid China provides to these countries, and which unlike western aid, they come with no conditions. On the other hand, China's presence in Africa is also problematic because it creates dependency, xenophobia, new form of colonialism (neocolonialism), and in some cases corruption. But to answer this question, the presence of China is good for the development of African countries despite of its disadvantages because without China they won't be able to boost and improve their economy or meet the minimum of infrastructure development. Besides, in cases like Algeria (even though Chinese presence is increasing) it consists of less than 20 % of Algeria's FDI and the rest of it is mostly directed toward European countries, which healthy because it's diversified. Bref, as long as those countries don't deal only with China and diversify their investments, the Chinese presence will be healthy and good for Algeria.
There are always critics when China is going for something from all over the world. Some useful, some completely junk. So, China do whatever you think is right just like United States. Time is precious, no time to argue about it.
After reading the views of american and europian people, I am sure that China is not going to win instead CHINA Has won already.
China is a miracle for Africa. African needs tens of millions of Chinese there. China can teach the africans much and the africans can learn so much from our beloved Chinese brothers and sisters. Africans need role models and there are no better role models on Earth than our Chinese brothers and sisters. What I believe the world would benefit from is to work in harmony to permit China men to marry african women. This will produce a tremendous african people that the Lord will surely bless. God bless you all.
I'll use Jack 2
To you people who speak of slavery. Do you know that in Mauritania Afirca that 10 to 20 percent are in slavery. it was outlawed only in 2007 and only one case has been procecuted. This muslim nation still practices slavery.
Africa themselves had slaves way before a white man came and bought slaves from the black muslims. know your history before you post.
Bad, really bad.
China currently has the excess wealth to offer foreign aid to Africa. The western countries are all saddled with debt. In the hearts and minds of most educated Africans, the memory of the brutality of the Euro-American slave trade by the Portuguese, British, Dutch and "Americans" still echoes 400 years later, especially in countries like Ghana. The Chinese, who explored East Africa a century before the Portuguese, don't have such legacy to deal with.
remember according to the west everything china does is evil, they always have malicious motives and nothing they do can ever have a positive effect on anything...
My question is how do people in America and the rest of the west know so much about China?
Most can't speak a word of chinese
Most don't know a thing about their history or culture
And very few have visited
So guys how do you know so damn much about the Chinese? Think about this for a second if someone from a foreign country tried to talk about your country the way you talk about china but couldn't speak your language, didn't know your history or culture and had never visited your country you would laugh them out of the room. but every day on the net we see this and no one says anything.
well I for one am sick of it.
Get a grip, stop china bashing.
If your worried about a future where china controls the world (not very likely i might add and you might know this already if you actually knew what the hell you were talking about) if you really are worried about Sino supremacy in the future get up off your ass and DO something about it. Stop tearing other people down and build yourself up...
Since when did we turn into such whiners and poor losers in the west??? It's embarrassing so please stop, and start by looking to yourself to change things. i would love to see someone with an ambitious plan to re industrialize the United States, that would be progress.
Africa need the money from natural resources to kickstart their economy. China is the biggest buyer of commodities and can front the capital intensive infrastructure needed for extraction. They buy even more resources from Brazil, Australia, Argintina etc but western countries think that Africans are less educated and more currupt therefore Chinese will take advantage as they once did. They are envious/jealous and will always bad mouth China/Africa trade. Some of the fastest growing countries in the world are in Africa and all because of the China trade. Why we never hear of Africans stripping China of goods and services that they could never afford from the west.
More important is to raise the questions from the people there, who do they prefer working with?
It sounds like a chick teaching a duch how to swim.
You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I believe I'd never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely wide for me. I'm looking forward to your next post, I will attempt to get the grasp of it!
China (Chinese) is not good for Africa, not good for Western World. Chinese do not share the same culture, are dangerous, want the "aggressive-way". Africa should belong to Western Culture, not Asians.
I would prefer the Chinese to the Europeans and or Americans way more . Europe,the West have been in Africa for centuries.What have they helped us do? Pillaging,colonialism,destruction,shaming us on their national TV is the pay we get for being a stupid people–giving out our resources to France,Germany,the US,Russia at no cost and receiving insults in return. Le the Chines come and let them come in droves.i want them. At least thgey are building roads,hospitals,stadia,recreational centres,technology is exchanged,though not at a pace I would have loved to see.but something is happening-at least. Let the Chinese come.Recently,I think that was about 6 or 7 years ago,I read an article that was questioning the use of a mobile phone manufacturing factory in Rwanda by the Chinese.Imagine.think Africans–think.If white people can ask these questions,this only indicates their total wicked and their commitment to keeping us under as low as possible.They are building factories in Bangladesh,Paskistan-far more dangerous places than even the worst in Africa,but would question factories set up by the Chinese.These people called Europeans are vampires.I will never trust a European,American,not even Obama.They are all controlled by the black-hating devils whose head is the demon of the dungeon. China come,we need you.No Russia,no US,no Europe,no France.China pleae come.Come quickly China.
Message was hurriedly posted and hardly checked for errors. Sorry about that.
China, as know from their history, became a enclosed subcontinent due to the actions of the European imperialist incursion on their native lands. However, after Mao Zedong had died and the Gang of Four's Red Revolution had been subdued, the succeeding generation of leaders opened up China to the rest of the world till we meet that country in it's present form.
Their historical past as well as their cultural inclinations lead them to do what they do;that is, focus on them first and the rest of the world follows in her wake. They may spend the billions,but does it mean that they are any different from what other European and American industrialist have been doing for time immemorial?!!.
The presence of forieigners such as the West and China in a country is not to be trusted. The only difference between the West and China is the mode of operation. In Nigeria, workers in Chinese-owned organisations are treated very unfairly The Chinese attempt to negotiate contracts in their language when they know noone understands them.
We Africans must never trust outsiders. They are all scavengers.
As a Foreigner living is China for over a decade . They have strict laws which you must obey or life will become miserable for you here . The Chinese are welcome to African countries in the spirit of globalization. China needs countries in Africa just as countries in Africa needs China. The point is that they must play according to the rules put in place by such countries . On the part of these African countries, they should make laws to plug all loopholes in the hiring of workers , harnessing of naturals resources , impose taxes on imports and on incomes . In this way the cooperation of the Chinese and some African countries should be a win win affair . Remember that China is a country and Africa is a continent . So we have to make contributions based on country to country not based on China versus the whole of African continent.
from 1959 to 1960s，China was in extremely difficult period, but still poured all its aid to Africa. So In the help of the African countries, China successfully returned to the United Nations permanent member position in 1971. China have interests and needs in Africa,but also have a sincere friendship with African.
وردنا خبرا مؤكدا مفاده ما يلي :
المجرم واثق البطاط يتواجد حاليا في مدينة الشعله – في بيت يقع في نهاية شارع (60) بداية منطقة الدوانم مع مجموعه من المجرمين من المليشيات التابعه لفيلق القدس الايراني وينطلق من مدينة الشعله لتنفيذ عمليات الاغتيال في مناطق الغزاليه والسيديه والعامريه وبدعم لوجستي من مكتب القائد العام للقوات المسلحه
تعليقنا //
اين مذكرة القاء القبض بحق هذا الارهابي يا مالكي وهو لايبعد عن مقرك في المنطقه الخضراء اكثر من 15 كيلومتر ومليشياتك وجيشك الاجرامي يحاصر احياء الاعظميه والعامريه والسيديه لكي يتحرك هذا المجرم وعصابات فيلق القدس لقتل الابرياء وتصفية المطالبين بحقوقهم المشروعه ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
China is bad for any nation. They are communist. Wealth mongers via oil, gold, rare earth metals worldwide. They will not stop until they have all the wealth of the worlds richest land
What has Western nations done for Africa? China will offer Africa an alternative, at least, and may be then the West will behave itself.
There is nothing good to come from China being in Africa. Sure now they may be helping those Africans but give it twenty years and suddenly it will be Africans fighting for Chinese interests in northern Africa, threatening the security of western nations. The West may be bad but nothing compares to a China left to its own designs.
good luck africa see for your self what chinese can do.
Those Chinese action to help African is indeed a very good thing. But I can not understand why they do not help their Chinese people first, there are still many Chinese people live in very poor condition. Rich people is only a part of their population. China this country is really very rich, but most of your people is actually very poor. Please do sth. beyond your means in order to be impressive.
BAD! BAD!! BAD!!! BAD!!!! Just ask anybody in the world, who matters. They support dictators, Aggressively uproot the local economy by dumping their inferior, cheap products made by slave labour. Damage the eco system. They have absolutely no ethics. Absolutely shameless!
When one reads Mr. Peter Eigen's article, one gets the impression that China is the only villain exploiting Africa. Mr. Eigen makes it sound as if the West has been doing an excellent job in Africa until the arrival of China. He does not bother to validate his criticism of China by comparing what the West has contributed in Africa in the last century and what China has contributed in the last two decades, he simply follows what has become fashionable – to advocate for Africa. For centuries the trade between Africa and the West has been about commodities, just like China, with the difference that China leaves behind visible improvements in terms of infrastructure. He mentions the leaky African Union hall, the crumbling hospital walls in Angola but does not mention the expensive but equally shoddy roads built by Western companies. Some of the new friends and advocates even suggest that China should not deal directly with Africa, instead should channel their development deals with Africa via joint ventures with the West because they know better how to deal with Africans.
Like them or not, Chinese and their face are the passport to Africa. I couldn't think of anything else than Chinese model of economic development that could contribute to the prosperity and bright future of Africa. Europeans left poverty and stavation in Africa. Chinese share their wealth and wisdom with Africans. These are all the basic facts. Don't be afraid of truth. Be humane!
Stop invade other countries China or you will get kick in the ass very hard
made in china are cheap but made in africa are cheaper...
China is going down soon....
only westerners feel worried about huge Chinese investment in Africa : too late, westerners, you have lost your opportunity in Africa, hopefully we are now doing business with China.
the West are scared year after year : Chines is to be the next super power, and billions dollars invested in Africa's infrastructures is the best thing done.
where do the critics come from : the fallen, indebted West.
Please our good and corrupt African leaders should wake-up on China and watch them very closely before it's too late. We all know that china is one the most callous country on Earth. China never had any good intentions for Africa and will never have .Right now they are buying lands, taking, crabbing and stealing everything within their reach at the same time using Africa as dumping ground with substandard goods and chemicals. They buy lands cultivate and take all the produce back to China leaving the owners of the land in hunger. The media cannot see everything as they happen. But I know one day I know the new generation politician will turn against them .But we don’t need to wait till that time .
I'll just say that Africans should take full control of their lands, resources- both human and material. I just feel outsiders (both China and the West) are taking advantage of us and unfortunately, our leaders are too myopic to recognise this. For us to build our continent to the level we all aspire, it's going to take commitment, hardwork and selflessness. Foreigners cannot develop our continent so we shouldn't wait on them to do so for us. Africa, arise and do what is best for you. Your destiny is in your hands.
No one noticed China's declaration that they will use Africa to grow food for their people and cut out the Africans altogether? They are busy trying to buy millions of acres across the globe, focus on Africa, Australia, other Asian countries. Australia asked for and received U.S. military to protect them from China, which declared it would take over these areas. Nope, don't think Africa will benefit.
While,As a Chinese,It is very interesting to find so many people from western world who know nothing about China talking about China and the Sino-Africa relationship.
The most ridiculous opinions in these comments are the following two:1.Workers from China to Africa are prisoners.2.Gov in China killed millions of people in Tibet.
I almost have nothing to say for a short while because I can hardly believe such foolish words can be trusted by so many people...
1.I graduated from Nankai University and some of my schoolmates are working in Africa.I want to ask those who said China had sent prisoners to Africa as workers (balabala...) a question,do you mean my schoolmates are criminals or NKU is a prison ?! In fact , China send workers , engineers , doctors , etc . to Africa every year . And prisoners in China are surely required to do some work , such as making shoe-pads , repairing machines , etc. These work won`t do harm to their body and they can learn some skills from it so that they can support themselves instead of continuing crime when they go back to society , the product will be sold in market and prisoners will get paid , though the pay is lower .
But we won`t send prisoners to Africa because they are not able to do the complicated work . And if they crime again , that`s a great shame on the earth . We will never take this risk .
2.These question is more ridiculous . Do you know the condition in Tibet 60 years ago ? Killed MILLIONS of Tibetans ? At that time . How many people were there altogether ? ALL of my Tibetan friends believe CCP is a good party because it is CCP who gave them lands and freedom . While , of course , it is surely a fact that some people hate CCP`s guts , they were slave owners but they have no lands ,no slaves , no privileges , they have nothing now . There are no such people in my Tibetan friends so they love CCP and the GOV . If you trust Dalai Lama , you are standing together with slave owners . Maybe that`s you western world`s position , just like what you were to Arican friends ?
To who still believe these two opinions above , you are really a " 傻逼 " . In English I can`t find any words to translate these two characters entirely and appropriately .
I find it interesting the kinds of stories Fareed covers on Africa. They are either irrelevant or negative. There are success stories in Africa and it would be good for such a self proclaimed global forum to seize the old stereotypes. Has anyone heard about the small west African country called Ghana? Did you know they have carried out successful democratic governance for 2 decades? Did you know they are one of the fastest economies?
As I know ,Africa is a land of war famine and massacre in many people`s brain . But in fact , there are many countries developing quite well in Africa , including Ghana . This country is becoming richer and richer by its agriculture . Cocoa from Ghana is famous all over the world . Keeping the momentum , Ghana should be a star in Africa . But an advice from China is : developing INDUSTRY is very important . There is one day , you will find you had cut down all the woods , digged out all the gold and other resources from the land , what will you do at that time ? So the industry is necessary . While I think the democracy is just a goal but not a way . Do not have blind faith in it (Look at Greece when dreaming to be another USA by western democracy ). And western democracy is not equal to democracy too . Come on Ghana ! We Chinese wish you become better and better and Africa become better and better . PS : Do not be satisfied with your achievement in 2 decades and keep growing . 20 years is just a blink of eye in history !
As long as Africa remains "stuck on stupid" everyone will be bad for them.
We foolishly allowed China to exploit Africa when the US could do it better.
US ? Exploit Africa ? INCREDIBLE ! I am from China , Maybe China is not the best choice to Africa , but the western world is certainly the worst ! Don`t forget the selling of the Africans as slaves...
The poor African people have been oppressed by most European countries at some stage of their history.
The Chinese are no different but have large numbers to feed.
Chinese will eventually attempt to take over African resources.
I do hope they are able to defend their own country and birthright.
I do feel for the oppressed peoples.
.
Dear follow African
If we don't understand the world policy is mean we can't understand why china invade Africa .westerncountry who let china come in,because of they bad policy,they see that better to pass the hand to china.
You can see how the row material like cotton be sale to china,
China can't buy cotton buy cotton directly to the farmer they have to pass through Paris or London .
I know that the Chinese are probably up to no good in Africa, but it's not like America hasn't done something similar around the world. If America wants to do something about this, then America needs to draw from its own experiences to deal with the issue.