African conflicts, international relations, Africa, China, China in Africa, Chinafrique, political interests, economic interests, Chinese foreign policy
China's involvement in Africa cannot be reduced to only one dimension. It would be an oversimplification to label the Chinese interests on the continent as either political or economic solely: these two aspects often constitute two faces of the same coin.
China's increasing engagement in Africa - the diversification of its diplomatic contacts, of its energy and mineral supplies, of its markets and investments - is just the illustration of how any power in the international system acts when it recognizes high potential. The problem is, however, that by reaffirming the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of states in the name of sovereignty and conducting business as usual, China is able to advance its interests in ways that the Western nations can only envy.
[...] Sautman, “Friends and Interests : China ‘s Distinctive Links with Africa”, Center on China's Transnational Relation, Working Paper no and “China's African Policy”, January 2006, p http://www.fmprc.gov.cn (accessed on: 7 December 2006). Simon Roughneen, “Influence anxiety: China's role in Africa”, ISN Security Watch May 2006. “Summit shows China's Africa clout”, BBC NEWS: Business November 2006, http://www.bbc.co.uk (accessed on: 4 December 2006). Sautman (2006), op. cit. p Princeton Lyman, “China's Rising role in Africa”, Presentation to the US-China Commission, July 2005. [...]
[...] Alden (2005), op. cit., p See the website of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, http://www.focac.org. Alden (2005), op. cit., p Jean-Christophe Servant, “China's trade safari in Africa”, Le Monde Diplomatique November 2005, http://mondediplo.com (accessed on: 7 December 2006). Ibid. In 2004 it contributed more than 1,500 troops to UN peacekeeping in Africa. Jung Chung-Lian, “Oil a new dimension in Sino-African relations”, African Geopolitics, no spring 2004. Joshua Eizenman and Joshua Kuriantzik, “China's Africa Strategy”, Current History, May 2006, pp. 219-224. [...]
[...] Although the government is accused of arming the militias involved in the “genocide”, China has developed a special relationship, and a durable one, with Sudan[20]. Sixty percent of Sudan's exports go to China - which has also been its largest arms supplier and its biggest political and diplomatic supporter in recent years, notably in the UN Security Council. Accordingly, China has opposed any sanction that could have jeopardized its Sudanese investments and future oil supplies. China, player in the energy field in the West Coast of Africa. China has also become a player in the energy field in the West Coast of Africa. [...]
[...] Roughneen (2006), op. cit. Quote from Chinese Deputy Minister Zhou Wenzhong (interview in the New York Times of 22 August 2005). In; Roughneen (2006), op. cit. Tull (2006), op. cit. p In the year 2004 alone, it invested almost $ 150 million in Sudan, three times as much as any other single country. In “China in Africa: Never too late to scramble”, The Economist October 2006. http://www.economist.com (accessed on: 10 December 2006). J.-C. [...]
[...] With this newfound South-South cooperation, both China and Africa have found a way around international frameworks for the political accountability of their leaders. Political dimension of Sino-African relations Another political dimension of Sino-African relations (although not as pertinent anymore) is endorsing the “One China” Principle, hence the diplomatic recognition-battle with Taiwan. Fortyeight African countries now recognise China (Chad, Senegal and Liberia being the latest countries to come aboard) - with only five left to sway to its side[9]. The US hegemony is undisputedly seen as an obstacle to China's ascendancy as a global political power. [...]
Online reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee