More than a decade ago, a Congolese construction and housing minister told a French journalist how fascinated he was. Chinese was becoming mainstream engine of African developmentseducing the elite and overthrowing the old along the way colonial powers of the continent. “They built for us stadium Alphonse Massamba, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and television center. Now they’re building a building victim in Imboulou. They completely redone sewage from Brazzaville. they built us one airport. they are getting ready to build highway From Point-Noire to Brazzaville and build Apartments,” said the minister, “Foreign Policy” Claude Alphonse N’Silou. “This is a win-win situation. i feel sorry for you westernersThe Chinese are great.”
since that time Beijing’s footprint on the mainland It just increased. Passed Washington in 2009 Main trading partner of African countries In total, trade exceeding $250,000 million a year in 2021 is very similar to the volume they maintain with the European Union. China is also fighting with Europe for leadership. foreign direct investmentcreating hundreds of thousands of jobs and biggest lender from African countries. Meanwhile, Africa — was above Asia— the largest continental market for it Construction companiesa business that has thrived in the last ten years New Silk Roadone of the cornerstones of its foreign policy. Xi Jinpinginvolving major infrastructure projects in 150 countries around the world.
While it is true that China already has a certain presence in Africa, The Cold War, when he supported various Marxist national liberation movements, challenging search for raw materials well-behaved, who have advanced his ubiquitous presence now on the continent bilateral trade agreements with 40 of 54 countries. Inside Angola And Sudan gets Oil; inside Eritreacopper and zincinside Democratic Republic of the Congo, cobalt; inside Zimbabwe, tobacco; inside Sierra Leoneiron and titanium, to give some examples. On the other hand, state and private companies build roads, portsreservoirs, railway lines, buildings or power stations, Much needed infrastructure for an African takeoff.
Internalization for domestic reasons
“ Chinese internationalization must be read in a local key, unspoken agreement between chinese communist party and its population: the society does not question its monopoly of power and in return gets prosperity”, explains Juan Pablo Cardenal, author of several books on China’s expansion in the world. This internationalization began in 1999. “Get Out” policy” and the market entry of the Asian giant World Trade Organization immediately after. China realized that urbanize And industrialize needed quickly strategic resources. He chose not to leave them at the mercy of the market, and that explains why he stepped into Africa with such force”. They are currently operating there 10,000 Chinese companiesand more, according to consulting firm McKinsey one million Chinese They have migrated to the continent since 2000.
Where others look at Africa through a prism humane aid or security cordon, China saw both job opportunity And geopolitical influence aspect lifeline for your economic model. “More than three-quarters of their investments are in mining projects. raw materials, but in return it leaves financing and infrastructures. It’s a winning bet,” says Cardenal. According to some experts, some of these infrastructures may be replicating the colonial model, as Chinese companies are designed to extract resources from the country of return rather than serve the local population. But unlike its western rivals, Beijing moral lessons. Works with any regimen and does not condition. No human rights, no transparency, no respect for the environment.
development model
This also means that some of their projects leave much to be desired due to their environmental impact. working conditions imposed by Chinese companies. Not surprisingly, in a recent survey, afrobarometer The majority of Africans surveyed in 34 countries, Chinese investmenthowever, 33% preferred: american development model Compared to 22% of those who chose Chinese. This suggests that while the African elites don’t have much trouble throwing themselves into Beijing’s arms, the population has more suspicion.
In any case, there is no doubt that China, the economic power to be defeated in Africa, has also opened its doors. first military base in 2017. DjiboutiJust a few miles from where the USA belongs, and anti-piracy as an excuse. But experts believe this is just the beginning. In 2021, US intelligence leaked to the press that China had reached a secret agreement with China. Equatorial Guinea Establishing the continent’s first base on the Atlantic coast is a project that has progressed ever since.
In any case, its military organization is far from Washington’s, and few believe that African elites are interested in once again becoming the US military playground. pulse between superpowers. “Someone reigns pragmatic vision: We will have a very good economic relationship with China, but that does not mean a turbulent relationship with the United States,” says Cardenal.