China’s African Safari hits a bump
A report in the New York Times suggests that all is not plain sailing for China in her quest to conquer African riches.
As global commodity prices have plummeted and several of China’s African partners have stumbled deeper into chaos, China has backed away from some of its riskiest and most aggressive plans, looking for the same guarantees that Western companies have long sought for their investments: economic and political stability.
Today, China’s quest for commodities has not stalled. State-owned companies are bargain-hunting for copper and iron ore in more stable places like Zambia and Liberia. But Chinese companies are now driving harder bargains and avoiding some of the most chaotic corners of the continent. African governments facing falling revenues are realizing that they may still need the West’s help after all.
“The political situation is not very stable,” Huo Zhengde, the Chinese ambassador here, said in an interview, explaining the country’s hesitation to invest billions in Guinea, where a junta seized power after the death of the longtime president in December. “The international markets are not favorable.”
So, China is discovering that dealing with Africa is more than a question of signing deals with no strings attached. I welcome this new awareness with one caveat: China’s idea of a stable country is one where order is maintained through brute force with no consideration of human rights. And dictators are only too happy to take a nice backhander in return for ’stability’.
I hope that China sees this changing African climate as an opportunity to act like the responsible stakeholder that the continent desperately needs.
A deviation ….
It was tempting to write a post about China’s apparent recent cyberspying, but many have already done so and none better than the China Matters blog. Suggested reading.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Isn’t it a no-brainer for anybody or any country to avoid places and countries that have too many risks, with political instability being one of the huge ones? Didn’t they teach you that in your “Business 101″ class in the UK, a country that boasts of having a “good education system”?
For the nth time, what is the difference between Saudi Arabia, Burma and those African dictators?
And for the Nth time, what alternatives are you proposing? Running away from risky areas and countries is common sense, not new political or business strategy.
March 30th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
“what alternatives are you proposing? ”
I don’t need to propose an alternative to murder in order to criticise it as a morally indefensible way to end a dispute.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:14 am
What is the Uk doing? Morally defensive?
March 31st, 2009 at 2:37 am
The UK, as I understand it, is currently doing a dance with bankruptcy.
The problem isn’t that China lacks alternative (and more humane) strategies, it’s that she prefers the one that keeps dodgy regimes in power.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
China deals with everybody (as long as he/she acknowledges China’s “One China” mantra). How does China keep “dodgy regimes in power”? And how does China’s foreign policy encourage military coups?
Instead of dodging my questions for nth times, you could tell me (1) exactly what China’s approach (alternatives) should be, (2) how China encouraged coups in Thailand and the Philippines, both are ally of the US and its little buddy called Britain.
March 31st, 2009 at 11:07 pm
“How does China keep “dodgy regimes in power”? And how does China’s foreign policy encourage military coups?”
By propping them up with arms and money in return for control of resources, and, by so doing, making explicit to would-be juntas and despots the support they can expect if they remove democratically elected leaders in resource -rich countries.
Watch what happens in Madagascar in the coming months. Am I the only one who can see this coming?
I’ve already dealt with the other thing and moved on, Pffefer.
April 1st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I hope that China sees this changing African climate as an opportunity to act like the responsible stakeholder that the continent desperately needs.
That the “West” never was and never will be. Yes I hope China does act differently.
April 1st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
You mean like how the US propped up Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and how they (the US and its buddies like the UK) are propping up Saudi Arabia?
Again, how did China encourage military coups in Thailand, the Philippines and Madagascar? Dodgy stuart?
You simply pointed out what China’s Africa policy lacks (humanitarian blah blah blah), you have not told me explicitly what China should do. I am waiting!
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 am
hello – I’ve removed some of your comments because I’m pretty sure they were written while under the influence. Didn’t your parents tell you that Chinese nationalism and alcohol don’t mix?
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 am
Pffefer, explaining what is lacking is the same as telling you what needs to be changed.
I don’t know where you’re coming from with this:
“Again, how did China encourage military coups in Thailand, the Philippines and Madagascar?”
Only Madagascar was mentioned as a probable future ’strategic partner’ of China because the Motherland has a penchant for dealing with oppressive regimes. Despots know this and are thus encouraged to overthrow elected leaders.
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Saying “you are a moron, you should be nicer” doesn’t really cut it, does it? You have got to tell the guy what he needs to do to be “nicer”, correct? If you have really got something to say about possible alternatives that China could do or have, why don’t you spell it out?
You are the one who claimed China’s foreign policy encourages military coups. I am the one who said, well, Thailand and the Philippines have both had a lot of coups. I asked you how China encouraged the coups, you played dodge ball. I asked how China encouraged the coup in Madagascar, you played dodge ball again. What can I say about you, really?
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I encourage you to read the whole thread again. It will save us a lot of time. No dodge ball here.