China in Africa: Neo-Colonial Power or “Win-Win” Strategy?

Abstract

The article deals with China’s policy in Africa in the last decade. As the analysis shows, China is increasing steadily its presence in Africa, not only in the countries rich in resources, although the resources, especially oil, remain of particular importance for the Chinese economy, but also in the poor in natural resources and little attractive from the strategic point of view states. The author analyzes the features of China’s diplomacy on the continent, China-Africa trade relations, the activities of Beijing as a donor and investor in Africa. Special attention is paid to “One belt – one road” initiative, which takes the important place in today’s China strategy, and to role, which African countries, located on the crossroads of the land and sea “silk roads”, play in this initiative. The Chinese strategy envisages the implementation of infrastructure projects, including the construction of railways and highways, aviation communications, energy projects, industrial parks, and construction of seaports in coastal countries. The growth of Beijing’s investments in African economy and the expansion of the spheres of its influence on the continent are the subjects of close attention of politicians, scientists and media. On the one hand, they link with China’s policy the economic growth of African countries, some of which have entered into the ranks of the fastest growing states of the world. On the other hand, they accuse Beijing in “neo-colonial policy”, claiming that China is guided by its own interests, far from the African interests, and violates human rights and environmental standards in struggle for resources. The author concludes that an objective analysis of the various aspects of Beijing’s activities in Africa in the last decade, as well as the assessment of this activity by Africans in the course of interviews, may allow to establish the truth.