China in Africa

China in Africa

• 1.
  China in Africa Is Chinese investment in Africa an example of neo-colonial erosion of sovereignty?
• 2.
  Ok.. let’s Breakit down Is Chinese investment - i.e. money from government of China or Chinese Transnational corporations going into industry, mining an agriculture in Africa.. an example of neo-colonial - like colonialism in the past when Britain went to Africa, obtained cheap resources from them for little money. however it is new.. often big TNC’s who move into countries and overuse their power are accused of being neo-colonial. erosion of sovereignty? - and they lost their political independence to choose their countries path.
• 3.
  Task: You area researcher for the Minister of Finance in a small African Country who has had long term political and economic ties with Taiwan. You have recently been approached by a mainland Chinese delegation who have asked you to support them in exchange for a lot of Chinese investment in Agriculture and some mining as well as helping develop some transport.. You have been asked to create 6 slides to explain.. a) what is China doing in Africa b) give examples of where Chinese help is really helping any specific countries in Africa to develop. (use Angola is best) c) Give examples of what problems may occur by allowing Chinese investment. d) Give a short recommendation based on specific facts and figures. You should be able to give an opinion based on your research to tell the Minister whether you think China’s goals are aimed at helping you or whether you should fear a neo-colonial erosion of sovereignty.
• 4.
  2 covers -10 years difference
• 5.
  The same voicesthat once proclaimed the continent dead are now predicting a rebirth for Africa, the awakened giant with nearly incalculable natural resources (around 40 percent of the world's raw materials and 60 percent of its uncultivated arable land), fast-growing markets and a young, highly motivated population. No other continent has developed as rapidly in the last decade as Africa, where real economic growth was between 5 and 10 percent annually. In oil-rich countries, such as Angola, it was a possibly record-breaking 22.6 percent in 2007. A World Bank study shows that 17 of the 50 national economies currently displaying the greatest economic progress are in Africa. The gross domestic product of the continent as a whole -- over $1.7 trillion (€1.3 trillion) -- is nearly equal to that of Russia. The German magazine Der Spiegel describes three forces driving Africa's boom: China's economic offensive, the digital revolution and African women's fight for a better future. source: Der Spiegel
• 6.
  Up and ComingAfrican States
• 8.
  China’s involvement inAfrica has been since the 50s, when as part of the Cold war they were involved in help to countries that were more left leaning. An example of Chinas aid was in the development of the Tanzam railway, linking copper mines in Zambia to the East African port of Dar Es Salaam. China's recent economic offensive in Africa began before the turn of the millennium. At first, it was very gradual and inconspicuous. But, since 2000, trade volumes between China and Africa have grown twentyfold, reaching $200 billion in 2012. China has surged ahead of the old major powers - France, the United Kingdom and the United States -- to become Africa's most important trading partner. The Washington-based Center for Global Development estimates that, between 2000 and 2011, China provided about €75 billion in aid to Africa for a total of 1,673 projects, or roughly as much as the United States did in the same period. However, it is sometimes hard to tell where profitable investment ends and altruistic initiatives begin. In return for developing the infrastructure, the Chinese receive lucrative licenses to exploit natural resources and fossil fuels. For instance, Angola, a war-torn and marginalized country until not too long ago, has become one of China's key oil suppliers, competing with Saudi Arabia for the top position. However is China merely undermining nations sovereign rights?
• 9.
  Aid from Chinaor the West? China attaches no political conditions to economic cooperation, unlike the West, which, at least on paper, demands good governance, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures and protections for human rights. With Chinese economic dominance, the West's political influence is gradually being eroded. In authoritarian countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda, the model of the Chinese development dictatorship, which prioritizes growth over freedom, has long been a welcome alternative to liberal democracy. So in this case Aid from China and investment is not attached with these provisos, and therefore not affecting the sovereign right of the govements Much of Western Aid is aimed at issues relating to the Millenium Development Goals China’s aid aims at infrastructure
• 10.
  Growing Resentment andViolence Nevertheless, there is growing resentment in South Africa, where there are reportedly already 250,000 Chinese. In the townships, the new immigrants are berated as "yellow masters." Among South Africans, the Chinese are often seen as greedy, ruthless and racist, as people who are exploiting Africa, flooding its markets with cheap products and ruining an already weak domestic industry. Union leaders in Angola complain that Chinese companies are creating too few jobs for local workers. There are rumors in the capital, Luanda, that the Chinese are using prisoners as forced laborers on construction sites. In Zambia, there are frequent protests against the starvation wages and inhuman working conditions in Chinese-run coal and copper mines. Chinese guards have repeatedly fired on striking miners in recent years, causing bloodbaths. One of the miners, after being struck by a bullet in July 2006, said: "They simply don't see us as human beings." Angry workers killed a Chinese manager during a wage dispute in August 2012. In Zimbabwe, Chinese products are called zhing-zhong, or junk products that don't last. Chinese vendors were recently attacked in the Kariakoo market in Dar es Salaam. "They undercut every price and are spoiling our business," says a woman who runs a shop at the market.
• 11.
  Some Africans havebecome resentful, though, unhappy with unbalanced relationships in which China has taken proprietorship of African natural resources using Chinese labor and equipment without transferring skills and technology. “China takes our primary goods and sells us manufactured ones. This was also the essence of colonialism,” Lamido Sanusi, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, wrote in the Financial Times earlier this year. source: The New Yorker Article - The New Imperialists
• 13.
  Note - althoughChina’s outward FDI has increased rapidly it is least in Africa compared to other areas, and is in fact declining. Most FDI is related to State linked TNC’s like Sinopec (oil) What this does not show however is Chinas financial flows in terms of aid and loans, often which are low interest, and have no “links”. They are often for infrastructural programmes and in some cases have been wiped out. Guardian - China offers $20 bn in loans to African nations What is the Reality - China in Africa - Think again - Read and try and come up with 5 points the author uses to say that Western common opinion is not correct.
• 14.
  So. Which ofthe following is true
• 15.
  A reminder Youhave been asked to create 6 slides to explain.. a) what is China doing in Africa? b) give examples of where Chinese help is really helping any specific countries in Africa to develop. (use Angola) c) Give examples of what problems may occur by allowing Chinese investment. d) Give a short recommendation based on specific facts and figures. You can also listen to the podcast on.. Some bbc articles e.g Link This article - “Is China good or bad for Africa?”
• 16.
  Add this websiteto your bookmarks