Chinese Corporate Diplomacy: Huawei’s CSR Discourse in Africa

Abstract

Africa is now dubbed as “China’ s new frontier.”1 In 2007, China’s investment in Africa reached US$1.57 billion, a whopping 202 percent increase from 2006, and an estimated 900 Chinese companies were operating in 49 African countries.2 In the same year, the trade between China and Africa reached $73 billion.3 The presence of China and Chinese companies in Africa has been the target of intense international curiosity and scrutiny. Although enthusiasts marvel at Chinese companies’ success in Africa, more critics have emerged. Human rights groups and activists condemn China for providing arms to the Sudanese government in exchange for access to Sudan’s oil and criticize Chinese companies for their continuing operation there despite the dismal human rights condition in the country. They also accuse Chinese companies of dangling on the skirts of unpopular dictators in Africa such as Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Environmentalists criticize Chinese construction companies for starting large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, such as building dams and railways, without thoroughly evaluating the environmental and ecological impacts of these projects. African consumers and local business owners accuse Chinese companies of flooding the African market with low-quality, cheap Chinese imports.4