China in Africa: Is the continent being re-colonised?

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LancelotSA

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An interesting post I found which discusses Chinese investment in Africa... for those of you interested in these things. Below are some snippets from the article. If it interests you take a look at the full post on the link at the bottom.

China's foray into Africa since the turn of the century has indeed been remarkable, with trade volumes increasing ten-fold and the Chinese government identifying Africa as the future engine of global growth. However, China's return to Africa has not been without controversy as the Asian giant is accused of manipulating weak African states to control access to their resources and for flooding markets with cheap goods from the Mainland.
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African states know that in order to attract investment from China they need to have a valuable proposition - a process which is far more likely to lift the continent out of poverty than the traditional 'cap-in-hand' approach to courting additional foreign aid from the world's developed nations, which has done little to create long-term growth in Africa. In saying this, China injected upwards of US$ 9 billion into Africa last year in the form of 'win-win' investment, an amount which dwarfs the World Bank's US$ 2.5 billion. The World Bank has since asked to partner China in financing projects in Africa. With foreign reserves of US$ 1.5 trillion and a sovereign investment fund of US$ 200 billion to plough into promising global companies, China's purchase of 20% of Standard Bank is likely to be the sign of things to come.
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Another major advantage of China as a trading partner in Africa is the speed with which Beijing is able to make and implement decisions. Where the World Bank takes five years to conceptualise and implement a road or rail upgrade project, China takes 6 months. Infrastructure developments in Angola, Senegal, Gabon, Nigeria and Ghana attest to the rapidity of these developments. Due to all major Chinese enterprises being state-owned and decision-making extremely centralised in Beijing, China is able to deliver on promises made in a way which no other trading partner has been able to.
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In short, China brings a model of economic recovery to Africa that is able to work without the involvement of foreign advisors, institutions or bilateral mentors. For Africa, looking back on half a century of failed Western-led efforts to alleviate poverty and enhance self-governance, the new model provided by Beijing is a refreshing alternative, and one which will increasingly be adopted as the continent looks to speed up reform and narrow the gap with the developed world. While some lament the nature of China's push into Africa, others on the continent are pragmatically realising the potential this shift is creating and increasingly becoming viable global market players.
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http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/newslet...ica_is_the_continent_being_re-colonised_.html
 
Similar to what the Soviet Union (and Eastern Europe) did, eg the Aswan Dam in Egypt
and other African states in the 60-70's.
 
These guys are just business people, nobody is doing it for free...

The Africans are over the West and the West are over the Africans
China can come and do whatever they want, theres no harm done anyways
 
boramk said:
These guys are just business people, nobody is doing it for free...

The Africans are over the West and the West are over the Africans
China can come and do whatever they want, theres no harm done anyways
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Yip, you are exactly right. The article goes on to explain that Beijing are at lengths to explain that they have as many people living below the poverty line. For them any decision is made to be mutually beneficial. That is what makes this more appealing than the usual Western model. They are not looking to just provide handouts to appease their desire to look like they care... like some other countries we know.

This sums it up I reckon :

For China, Africa is the final frontier and partnership with the continent's 54 states is regarded by Beijing as a top global priority. These perceptions are countered by the residual perception throughout Europe and North America of Africa as a developmental burden, a lost cause that is being propped up by corrupt dictators, oil revenue and debt relief. Where the West has failed Africa in terms of poverty alleviation and structural adjustment, China hopes to succeed.
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Anyone watch the Boxer rebellion flick from the 80's about how the British, French, Japanese and US colonialists managed to hold of the onslaught of Chinese troops in Shanghai in the early 1900's? Off topic really, but China knows about colonialisation.
 
China's economic revolution today could be compared to Europe's industrial revolution that led to the colonialisation of Africa in the 1870s. The Europeans lasted about 60+ years in Africa. Instituting democracy before handing over power, has proved to be a failure because it does not fit with African thinking. The world has attached good governance conditions for aid to Africa which China doesn't seem to care about. China is only interested in Africa's resources and Africa is quite happy with that because western ideas of good governance and democracy are an anathema. China will invest in Africa to the extent that it keeps those resources flowing their way. I don't believe for a minute that they care that some despot is siphoning away his country's wealth into a Swiss bank account.
 
boramk said:
These guys are just business people, nobody is doing it for free...

The Africans are over the West and the West are over the Africans
China can come and do whatever they want, theres no harm done anyways
Click to expand...

If the local Blacks think they had a raw deal under the Nationalist Party, just wait until they under the yolk of our little yellow friends, then they will really know what a raw deal is all about. I give up on Africa. It is a basket case and a lost cause. The 'Chinks' will plunder the natural resourses, subjugate the local population and make the previous colonization look like a Sunday school picnic. But then that is probably what this country deserves. The current 'government' is a joke.
:sick:
 
Ozymandias said:
China's economic revolution today could be compared to Europe's industrial revolution that led to the colonialisation of Africa in the 1870s. The Europeans lasted about 60+ years in Africa. Instituting democracy before handing over power, has proved to be a failure because it does not fit with African thinking. The world has attached good governance conditions for aid to Africa which China doesn't seem to care about. China is only interested in Africa's resources and Africa is quite happy with that because western ideas of good governance and democracy are an anathema. China will invest in Africa to the extent that it keeps those resources flowing their way. I don't believe for a minute that they care that some despot is siphoning away his country's wealth into a Swiss bank account.
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Do you believe Western Democracy can be implemented everywhere in the world?
I believe the local people should work out a way which will be best for their own interest rather than just blindly governed by some colonialist.

Just look at Afghanistan and Iraq. I do not believe the US democracy will be successful there in the long run.
 
Ozymandias said:
China's economic revolution today could be compared to Europe's industrial revolution that led to the colonialisation of Africa in the 1870s. The Europeans lasted about 60+ years in Africa. Instituting democracy before handing over power, has proved to be a failure because it does not fit with African thinking. The world has attached good governance conditions for aid to Africa which China doesn't seem to care about. China is only interested in Africa's resources and Africa is quite happy with that because western ideas of good governance and democracy are an anathema. China will invest in Africa to the extent that it keeps those resources flowing their way. I don't believe for a minute that they care that some despot is siphoning away his country's wealth into a Swiss bank account.
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I totally agree - we all know China's abysmal human rights record in their own country - that is why they're propping dictators in Zimbabwe, Libya etc. At least with colonisation, Africa progressed in terms of infrastructure (roads, schools etc.), a proper land ownership system and a instilled a sense of law & order into a society whose only actions were growing their own food and occasionally engaging in killing in each other. The Chinese only seem to be enlarging the dictators' pockets.

For Africa, looking back on half a century of failed Western-led efforts to alleviate poverty and enhance self-governance, the new model provided by Beijing is a refreshing alternative, and one which will increasingly be adopted as the continent looks to speed up reform and narrow the gap with the developed world.
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:confused: The West has given (and written off) billions of pounds to Africa. The failure is not the West, it is Africa's incompetence and its tendency to pick despotic dictators. This "SA good news" website is a joke. No wonder only people blind to the realities of SA read it :rolleyes:
 
Rozier said:
If the local Blacks think they had a raw deal under the Nationalist Party, just wait until they under the yolk of our little yellow friends, then they will really know what a raw deal is all about. I give up on Africa. It is a basket case and a lost cause. The 'Chinks' will plunder the natural resourses, subjugate the local population and make the previous colonization look like a Sunday school picnic.
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With an attitude such as yours it is no wonder you seem to have very derogatory views of this continent... your use of the bold words above seem to indicate you to be a bit of a xenophobe...

But then that is probably what this country deserves. The current 'government' is a joke.
:sick:
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As for this part of your post, I will rather refrain from saying anything as my response to you regarding your words here will only get me warned or banned.
 
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Dominic Rooney said:
This "SA good news" website is a joke. No wonder only people blind to the realities of SA read it :rolleyes:
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If you are so clued up on economics and are much more enlightened than us "blind" people then please feel free to contact the writer of the article who provides his name at the end and does not hide behind the safety of anonymity slagging off this country like some people...

You write off everything posted on sagoodnews without even bothering to do some research on who wrote it... but we all know that no matter who wrote it, if it did not agree with your pessimistic view of this country, this continent and in fact black people as whole, you would have something critical to say about it... Max du Preez had it summed up perfectly...
 
BTW I don't think the West failed on Africa, Africa failed the West.

The Trouble With Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn't Working is a great read and explains
 
LancelotSA said:
If you are so clued up on economics and are much more enlightened than us "blind" people then please feel free to contact the writer of the article who provides his name at the end and does not hide behind the safety of anonymity slagging off this country like some people...
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Good, then you will have no problem revealing your full name? :D

Fact is, the Chinese lack credibility which is reflected in the way they treat their own people.
 
cyberarmy said:
Do you believe Western Democracy can be implemented everywhere in the world?
I believe the local people should work out a way which will be best for their own interest rather than just blindly governed by some colonialist.

Just look at Afghanistan and Iraq. I do not believe the US democracy will be successful there in the long run.
Click to expand...

Blindly governed by some colonialist?? I don't understand - power was handed over by Africa's colonialists. The great hope was that democracy would take hold. That was maybe a hope too far but self-determination, by the people for the people, was a noble notion. Sure local people should work out what's good for them. However, when the corrupt elite only decides on what's good for itself at the expense of the population, the people will fall back on the security of their tribal roots. The nation state dissolves into tribal factionalism as we have seen in Kenya. I don't forsee any narrowing of the gap with the developed world coming about under such circumstances. Africa wants to be left alone but still wants the handouts and plays on the west's guilty conscience for slavery and colonialism, to get it. Now they have a new trading partner that asks no questions. Maybe the west should do the same as China. Build a new road, power station or upgrade a port only if it facilitates the export of the resources it needs and ask no questions on how the proceeds are spent.
 
milano said:
Good, then you will have no problem revealing your full name? :D

Fact is, the Chinese lack credibility which is reflected in the way they treat their own people.
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Milano you are once again mixing issues here (or are you once again attempting to take this thread off topic as you have been known to do previously?).

My post was in response to the poster who felt the need to make a call that all information published on sagoodnews was pretty much "make believe" and only for the benefit of those "blind(ed) to the realities of SA". Now if he can show me that China are not investing billions in Africa then I will stop reading sagoodnews. The reason for stating that the writer of the article was not anonymous was an attempt to show that he is reputable and is not making up the figures quoted. The intention of the post I was responding to seemed to be to trash the article merely because it was posted on a site whose name he obviously does not like!

Why would the Chinese not be creditable? They are investing money in businesses in this country. The money is forthcoming. Where is the creditability issue? They also have the fastest growing economy in the world at the moment.
 
boramk said:
BTW I don't think the West failed on Africa, Africa failed the West.

The Trouble With Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn't Working is a great read and explains
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Damned if they don't and damned if they do. If the west ships it's surplus grain (and pays for the shipping!) to Africa it's bad because it causes African subsistance farmers not to bother to farm - heck there is free food. If they don't they are letting people die of hunger. Anyway now that there is an oil shortage the time for freebies is over. Let China supply the food from now on, after all they have a surplus over there --- oh wait......
 
LancelotSA said:
The intention of the post I was responding to seemed to be to trash the article merely because it was posted on a site whose name he obviously does not like!
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Since you specifically referred to people "hiding" behind anonymity, I am merely reminding you that you do to. You are welcome to reveal your true identity :D

Why would the Chinese not be creditable? They are investing money in businesses in this country. The money is forthcoming. Where is the creditability issue? They also have the fastest growing economy in the world at the moment.
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I just told you why they are not credible. Besides their human rights record, they have a population in which millions of people are living in atrocious conditions.
 
milano said:
Since you specifically referred to people "hiding" behind anonymity, I am merely reminding you that you do to. You are welcome to reveal your true identity :D
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Because I like you so much, i tell you what, you pop around to my place, and I'll introduce myself to you...

I choose to stay anonymous on this forum due to the fact that some people on here (no names mentioned) appear to be one step away from being stalkers...

I just told you why they are not credible. Besides their human rights record, they have a population in which millions of people are living in atrocious conditions.
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So how does that not make them credible to do business with?

Damn I hope you never run a business one day - "Sorry I can't sell that to you as you do not meet the criteria I strive for, oh and you, I don't like where you stay, I will only do business with you if you live in idyllic conditions"
 
LancelotSA said:
So how does that not make them credible to do business with?

Damn I hope you never run a business one day - "Sorry I can't sell that to you as you do not meet the criteria I strive for, oh and you, I don't like where you stay, I will only do business with you if you live in idyllic conditions"
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Well civilised people would not be happy to wear sport shoes which they knew
were made by 10 year olds. There may even be a backlash against a company doing business that way. However as Nike and other co's showed us
in the 90's there wasn't a terrible backlash, still it does drag your name down.
 
LancelotSA said:
So how does that not make them credible to do business with?
Damn I hope you never run a business one day - "Sorry I can't sell that to you as you do not meet the criteria I strive for, oh and you, I don't like where you stay, I will only do business with you if you live in idyllic conditions"
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People are not business. You should see people as more than numbers, profit, business. Credibility refers to more than business. Enriching a few will not enrich the millions of Africans living in poverty. Don't you get it? Or do you only care about the few? Besides, my business runs very successfully with a solid foundation based on ethics, honour and credibility.
 
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