China Africa_Reading Memo

China's growing interest in African countries during the past decade has raised countless debates. Indeed, China is frequently accused of taking advantage of African markets because of their accessibility and the alleged superiority that it can exerce on them. Some also claim that China's interference have a negative influence on African societies, preventing it from proper development and increasing social inequalities. On the other hand, China is often presented as a more emancipating developmental alternative compared to Western countries as it maintains with African countries more balanced economic and diplomatic relationships from which all parties benefit equally. Either way, the relations between China and Africa are shrouded in ambiguity and while African countries do benefit from China's presence, one cannot ignore the social damages and the progressive economic dependence that come from it. This is why we are going to ask ourselves to what extent China's influence on African countries is a key factor in their economic and social development. Over a first phase, one can argue that China's growing interest in African markets allows African countries one on hand to stimulate their own development and on the other hand to free themselves from Western hegemony. As the readings highlight it, the value of Sino-African exchanges skyrocketed during the past decade, although a significative decrease in African exports has been recorded as Ian Taylor's article notes it. Nevertheless, one can qualify the relations between China and Africa as being symbiotic. Indeed, as Hany Besada and Ben O'Bright's article highlights it, China-Africa relations, which were roughly based on a cash-for-resources policy, did have a positive effect on African countries' economies at it stimulated the manufacturing sector, leading to a raise of raw materials' prices and a boost of average earnings. For China, these exchanges also helped sustain its development. However, these relations remain globally asymetric and more beneficial for China. Indeed, Africa remains almost exclusively confined in a role of raw materials supplier which reinforces its unfavourable position in the international division of labour. One can also argue that Sino-African relations, as things stand, cause Africa to be economically dependent from China. Indeed, as Ian Taylor's article highlights it, African exports to China have decreased by 38% in 2015 following the Chinese investments' decrease, which led to a degradation of African economies. Moreover, one can also accuse China of using African countries as its factory. Indeed, as Chinese workers' wages keep increasing, China becomes less competitive, leading it to turn to African markets, as they appear to be more promising, and to relocate its factories there. It is not necessarily unfavourable for African countries but it does stresses the need from them to take over their industrial sector. Indeed, African economies need to diversify themselves and invest more in human resources rather in natural resources in order to allow Chinese factories to produce directly on the continent. As Besada and O'Bright's article highlights it, African countries need to focus on long-term development rather on short-term profit as the example of Angola shows it. This will lead to the creation of more jobs and consequently, to the rejuvenation of African economies. However, even though China's influence might be perceived as being positive on African economies, when we look at its social impacts, they are mostly negative. Many argue that African workers' rights are poorly recognized as well as environmental norms that are said to be ignored by Chinese factories. Gregor Dobler's article also highlights the increase of social inequalities in Namibia as the relations between Chinese investors and Namibian elites keep getting stronger. This may remind us of the situation of local African bourgeoisie during colonial times, a model which African country are precisely trying to break with. Some even accuse China to have brought corruption within the Namibian government as well as increasing inflation rate, leading consequently to an explosion of poverty. On the diplomatic level, the readings highlight a strong implication from China in developmental projects, such as the Agenda 63. On this particular note, two visions seem to clash : on one hand, some argue that China undertakes these diplomatic endeavors mainly to widen its political sphere of influence and to increase its diplomatic recognition. On the other hand, some argue that the Chinese diplomatic commitment is driven by the idea that Africa and China have shared destinies and interests. Either way, China's diplomatic initiatives may have positive impacts on African countries. In South Sudan for instance, China deployed armed troops and invested almost half a million dollars in the Southern Sudanese government as a support to it. However, it is not an altruistic initiative as it is mostly economically driven. Indeed, the Sudanese conflict hinders oil exportations, which are crucial for China as 5% of Chinese oil importations came from South Sudan. Nevertheless, China does play an important peace-keeping role in that region. All in all, China's presence in Africa must not be demonized nor idealized. To some extent, China's influence on African countries is a better option than Western countries' interference as the relationships between Africa and China are more complementary than competitive. Moreover, on a symbolical level, one can argue that the Chinese have less prejudices towards Africa than Western investors. However, in order to efficiently put these relations to use, African countries need to make some adjusments, especially regarding their industrial sectors and African workers' rights, in order to ensure that they do not become a territory domain for China.