African governments should study Communist China
MUCH has been- written about China’s burgeoning global influence and pervasiveness as well as its seemingly insatiable desire to establish and maintain strong economic ties with several African countries. Some top-notch analysts have also described Beijing as a new Mecca for global trotting- cap
By Dr. Kiggundu Amin Tamale
MUCH has been- written about China’s burgeoning global influence and pervasiveness as well as its seemingly insatiable desire to establish and maintain strong economic ties with several African countries. Some top-notch analysts have also described Beijing as a new Mecca for global trotting- cap in hand African leaders.
However, before declaring China as a close and dependable friend, African policymakers need to ask themselves one important and valid question, that is, does Africa understand communist China well? If the answer is no, then, Africans need to find a way of understanding this hitherto insular emerging Asian economic giant.
Understanding China
As an emerging power, with the potential to lead the world, China has increasingly become a major focus of global attention. China’s rapid rise has also heightened the need to understand its national character as well as the way it conducts its global diplomacy.
Compared to Africa, the West has a better understanding of China and the features that defines its national character and identity. The West also seems to be well prepared to deal with the challenges posed by the rise of China.
Further, recent diplomatic battles and trade disputes between China and the West (especially the US and European Union) seems to indicate a deliberate attempt by the West to emasculate China’s growing global influence and pervasiveness.
To understand China, Africa will have to abandon its non-confrontation stance and pressurise its new communist friend to change her behaviour. Africa will also have to learn the Chinese culture. Learning the Chinese culture is important because cultures tend to contour the way individuals think, behave and deal with strangers.
A key element of the Chinese culture is the widespread belief in superstition. The Chinese for instance appends great importance to the colour of things, be it the clothes they wear, the cars they drive or the sofas in their houses.
The red colour according to the Chinese culture represents good luck while the black colour (especially black cats) is associated with bad luck and mourning. Another key element of the Chinese culture is the tradition of taking tea, which is also–called Chinese tea. Chinese tea is usually -served at weddings and to visitors. Chinese tea is also -used as herbal medicine in China.
The above two hallmarks of the Chinese culture have been singled out by the writer in part because of their importance in establishing a meaningful and mutually beneficial trade relationship between Africa and China. The two cultural features can also serve as non-tariff barriers, affecting African exports to the emerging Asian giant. For instance, for African countries intending to export goods like coffee to China, it is important to know that China is not a coffee consuming country.
African exporters also need to know that goods bearing black labels may not sell in China for the reasons stated above. Of equal importance, to establish a balanced economic relationship with China, Africa will have to understand the trade policies and practices of its new Asian friend as well as to establish whether the emerging Asian giant is either a competitor or a friend.
BROADLY, China’s global diplomacy aims to isolate Taiwan, protect its economic interests and advance its worldly political ambitions. To achieve these goals, China has adopted three viable approaches----that is, to befriend poor countries especially in Africa, use its increasing global economic influence and apply its veto powers in the United Nations Security Council.
Since it became a permanent member of the UP Security Council in the 1970s, China has used its veto only five times, of which four- wereaimed at punishing countries that had diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Examples of countries once affected by the UP Security Council resolutions vetoed by China include: Haiti in 1996, Guatemala in 1997, and Macedonia in 1999. With regard to China-Taiwan conflict and its resolution, African policy makers have only two options.
Chinese aid and crumbs
To strengthen its relationship with Africa, China has been extending both financial and technical assistance to impoverished countries on the continent. At the 2006 China-Africa Summit, Beijing promised to double its level of development aid to Africa by 2009. It also promised Africa US$5billion in loans and credit.
The problem with the Chinese aid, however, is that it is too small to make a reasonable impact in Africa. In addition, most of the Chinese aid programmes are- focused at establishing social infrastructure such as sports stadiums, which are located in capital cities and have little relevance to the poor people in Africa.
Despite its usual rhetoric about not attaching political strings to its aid, China is using its assistance to Africa to isolate Taiwan, access unprotected markets and secure the supply of badly needed raw materials. Also important, China is using its aid to fortify regimes in Africa with questionable human rights record.
China’s total development aid to Africa is mere bukunkumuka (crumbs) compared to its massive foreign currency reserves of 1.160 trillion dollars and huge foreign investment capital inflows of more than 45 billion dollars each year.
Crumbs however, are not all that bad especially for African dictators who may want to overstay in power and continue a bogus relationship with an opaque government in Beijing.
Learning to say the hardest words
Due to Africa’s lack of understanding of the character and real intentions of China, its relationship with the emerging Asian giant remains largely unbalanced and unfavourable to the interests of the African people.
With numerous muddled aid programmes and growing global influence, China has been able to befriend African dictators and to get raw materials needed to support its industrial revolution.
Sudan, which supplies two thirds of China’s oil needs, is being blamed for violating human rights in areas blessed with natural resources such as oil such as Darfur.
The writer is a development expert as well as an urban planner
MUCH has been- written about China’s burgeoning global influence and pervasiveness as well as its seemingly insatiable desire to establish and maintain strong economic ties with several African countries. Some top-notch analysts have also described Beijing as a new Mecca for global trotting- cap in hand African leaders.
However, before declaring China as a close and dependable friend, African policymakers need to ask themselves one important and valid question, that is, does Africa understand communist China well? If the answer is no, then, Africans need to find a way of understanding this hitherto insular emerging Asian economic giant.
Understanding China
As an emerging power, with the potential to lead the world, China has increasingly become a major focus of global attention. China’s rapid rise has also heightened the need to understand its national character as well as the way it conducts its global diplomacy.
Compared to Africa, the West has a better understanding of China and the features that defines its national character and identity. The West also seems to be well prepared to deal with the challenges posed by the rise of China.
Further, recent diplomatic battles and trade disputes between China and the West (especially the US and European Union) seems to indicate a deliberate attempt by the West to emasculate China’s growing global influence and pervasiveness.
To understand China, Africa will have to abandon its non-confrontation stance and pressurise its new communist friend to change her behaviour. Africa will also have to learn the Chinese culture. Learning the Chinese culture is important because cultures tend to contour the way individuals think, behave and deal with strangers.
A key element of the Chinese culture is the widespread belief in superstition. The Chinese for instance appends great importance to the colour of things, be it the clothes they wear, the cars they drive or the sofas in their houses.
The red colour according to the Chinese culture represents good luck while the black colour (especially black cats) is associated with bad luck and mourning. Another key element of the Chinese culture is the tradition of taking tea, which is also–called Chinese tea. Chinese tea is usually -served at weddings and to visitors. Chinese tea is also -used as herbal medicine in China.
The above two hallmarks of the Chinese culture have been singled out by the writer in part because of their importance in establishing a meaningful and mutually beneficial trade relationship between Africa and China. The two cultural features can also serve as non-tariff barriers, affecting African exports to the emerging Asian giant. For instance, for African countries intending to export goods like coffee to China, it is important to know that China is not a coffee consuming country.
African exporters also need to know that goods bearing black labels may not sell in China for the reasons stated above. Of equal importance, to establish a balanced economic relationship with China, Africa will have to understand the trade policies and practices of its new Asian friend as well as to establish whether the emerging Asian giant is either a competitor or a friend.
BROADLY, China’s global diplomacy aims to isolate Taiwan, protect its economic interests and advance its worldly political ambitions. To achieve these goals, China has adopted three viable approaches----that is, to befriend poor countries especially in Africa, use its increasing global economic influence and apply its veto powers in the United Nations Security Council.
Since it became a permanent member of the UP Security Council in the 1970s, China has used its veto only five times, of which four- wereaimed at punishing countries that had diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Examples of countries once affected by the UP Security Council resolutions vetoed by China include: Haiti in 1996, Guatemala in 1997, and Macedonia in 1999. With regard to China-Taiwan conflict and its resolution, African policy makers have only two options.
Chinese aid and crumbs
To strengthen its relationship with Africa, China has been extending both financial and technical assistance to impoverished countries on the continent. At the 2006 China-Africa Summit, Beijing promised to double its level of development aid to Africa by 2009. It also promised Africa US$5billion in loans and credit.
The problem with the Chinese aid, however, is that it is too small to make a reasonable impact in Africa. In addition, most of the Chinese aid programmes are- focused at establishing social infrastructure such as sports stadiums, which are located in capital cities and have little relevance to the poor people in Africa.
Despite its usual rhetoric about not attaching political strings to its aid, China is using its assistance to Africa to isolate Taiwan, access unprotected markets and secure the supply of badly needed raw materials. Also important, China is using its aid to fortify regimes in Africa with questionable human rights record.
China’s total development aid to Africa is mere bukunkumuka (crumbs) compared to its massive foreign currency reserves of 1.160 trillion dollars and huge foreign investment capital inflows of more than 45 billion dollars each year.
Crumbs however, are not all that bad especially for African dictators who may want to overstay in power and continue a bogus relationship with an opaque government in Beijing.
Learning to say the hardest words
Due to Africa’s lack of understanding of the character and real intentions of China, its relationship with the emerging Asian giant remains largely unbalanced and unfavourable to the interests of the African people.
With numerous muddled aid programmes and growing global influence, China has been able to befriend African dictators and to get raw materials needed to support its industrial revolution.
Sudan, which supplies two thirds of China’s oil needs, is being blamed for violating human rights in areas blessed with natural resources such as oil such as Darfur.
The writer is a development expert as well as an urban planner