Sino-Africa Relations Research Articles

Sino-Africa Relations Post-Covid-19: Issues for Consideration

Sino-Africa relations have been periodised into three phases. The first phase (1950s–1970s) includes the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 and the decolonisation of African states. The second phase (1971–1990s) includes the drift of Sino-Soviet relations, the admission of China into the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as well as the end of the Cold War. The third phase (2000s–2020) covers the inclusion of China into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001, as well as the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2010. This article considers the fourth phase of Sino-Africa relations, argued to have begun in 2020 post-Covid-19, taking place at a time of de-globalisation, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the US-China trade war. We assert that the latter changing global dynamics must be considered in making sense of Sino-Africa relations today. The article argues that despite such a changing global political order, there have been continuities and changes in China’s relations with the African continent. This is evident in the tightening of its relations with Africa, irrespective of ongoing dynamics in global affairs. Despite concerns about the USA’s reprioritisation of Africa, the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), vaccine diplomacy, and China and African States’ “neutrality” stance on various ongoing conflicts, it is safe to say that Sino-Africa relations will triumph even in this new phase.

Sino-Africa Relations and Implications for Neo-colonialism: a Case of China’s Involvement in Ghana’s Textiles and Mining Industries and its Implications in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Ghana

China’s progressive assumption as a major actor on the African scene needs critical academic attention and examination. Although there are undoubtedly varied benefits, there are also concerns about whether China’s win-win rhetoric is sincere or just empty propaganda. This paper contributes to the debate by examining the relationship between China and Africa through the lens of neo-colonialism. In this regard, the paper examines China’s involvement in the tex-tiles and mining industries of Ghana as a case study to argue whether the partnership between China and Africa is one that actually promotes development or engenders a new trend of neo-colonialism. Since this research focuses on areas such as partnership (i.e., between Ghana and China) and illegal mining with its effects, it intersects four of the SDGs (clean water and sanitation [SDG 6]; sustainable cities and com-munities [SDG 11]; life below water [SDG 14]; and partnership for the goals [SDG 17].

The geostrategy of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) and third parties: a focus on China

The primary objective of this article is to interrogate Sino-Africa Relations and questions if Africa a passive receiver of both Chinese and Western influence? This paper is divided into four sections. The first section of the paper outlines the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. It is followed by a discussion of the political factors, driving Africa's desire for greater integration. The second section explains the potential trade impacts of the AfCFTA on African states and illustrates the rationale and appetite for the AfCFTA. Section three examines bilateral relations with third-parties, with a focus on China, speculating about the future of Sino-African trade relations and the AfCFTA. Finally, section four concludes the study. The discussion and findings suggest the following. Firstly, that African officials perceive the role of China in a positive light, and China is seen as a fellow developing country. Secondly, African leaders laud China for its contribution to the growth of African nations. Thirdly, however, China is criticized for poor working conditions, China is seen to negotiate unfair deals and for some scholars China perpetuates the neo-colonial relationship and, in some countries, there have been violent protests against China. This study encompassed a qualitative, exploratory approach, which relied heavily on both primary and secondary sources of data.

CHINA’S GROWING INFLUENCE IN AFRICA: ASSESSING ITS CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS TO AFRICAN STATES

For the past 35 years or so, China’s economy has metamorphosed from a centrally planned and closed system to a more market driven, and prosperous economy. The resultant phenomenal increase in its economic, financial and industrial outputs has made China not only a major player in the global economy but also a country in search of external markets outlets as well as natural resources and inputs to feed its ever-expanding industries. Given the continent’s enormous natural resource endowments, China's participation in the African region throughout the years has phenomenally increased in scope, significance and consequences. It is in light of this that the research is carried out to principally examine the opportunities, benefits and challenges of this ever-expanding Chinese influence and impact on Africa. This paper posits that China's distinctive economic strategy towards Africa satisfies the funding and infrastructure requirements of African nations. But the partnership framework has been criticised heavily, especially when it comes to China's loans backed by natural resources, which have caused people to worry about the future of the continent and its policy for sustainable development. As a result, the discourse proposed that concerted efforts are needed at the national, regional and continental levels in order to surmount these challenges and make the expanding Sino-Africa relations more beneficial to African states.

Foreign Direct Investment for Construction: The Scope Under Sino-African Relations

Over the years, China has taken a decisive lead in partnering with Africa, especially in the construction industry. This study explores the scope of Sino-Africa relations in the Nigerian construction industry. In line with a descriptive nature, data was obtained from building professionals within Nigeria by means of a survey and analysed quantitatively using multivariate analysis. The study found that China’s involvement in the Nigerian construction industry executes project in four main categories viz land transportation; public facilities; water transportation; and building construction. It was established that China is an essential player in the Nigerian construction industry especially in infrastructure development. Hence there is a need to redefine the Sino-African partnership to focus on local capacity development while delivering optimum infrastructural development in African countries.

Sino-Africa relations: Gradual changes in Chinese foreign strategy towards African countries

China is one of the world's foremost economic powers, affecting many countries' economies and political issues. China standing by the five principles of peaceful coexistence, is ready to cultivate friendly cooperation and ties with all countries that contribute to international peace, security, and mutual prosperity. Africa is an important factor for global stability and prosperity with the highest number of developing countries. Africa is still of considerable significance to the Chinese Government. Therefore, the Chinese government wishes to present China's African strategy and its action to implement them and its plans for cooperation in different areas to facilitate the steady development of China-Africa ties in the long period. However, China's foreign policies are changing and developing recently. This study utilized qualitative analysis to identify the collaboration and relations between African countries and China to know how Chinese foreign strategy changes Africa's strategic ramifications and repercussions. The findings showed that the partnership between China and Africa by win-win strategy, from moral emphasis throughout the colonial phase to tactical considerations and non-intervention to constructive involvement on the continent, are three strands of foreign strategy shifts.

REINSERTING AFRICAN AGENCY INTO SINO-AFRICA RELATIONS

The Second Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit held in December 2015 marked the significance and extent to which China's relationship with Africa is changing. China's tripling of its financing commitment to US$60 billion signalled its confidence in the economic transformation prospects of the African continent. The changing Sino-Africa relationship is underpinned by a shift towards a more balanced partnership that recognises Africa's socio-economic and political priorities, beyond the demand for its natural resources. This paper seeks to help unpack the different dimensions of the links between Africa and China including the "untold story" of the relationship. A story about the significant number of Africans who live in or frequently visit China, and the increasing flow of African investments and tourists into China. Sino-Africa relations have evolved to the extent that African countries are taking a more assertive role when it comes to investment and signing trade deals, ensuring that their interests are protected.

The Economic Implications of Belt and Road Initiative in the Development of Railway Transport Infrastructure in Africa: The Case of the Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential economic benefits the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project under Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may bring to Kenya. This will contribute to the ongoing debate on whether Chinese investments on BRI infrastructure projects in Africa are mutually beneficial or not. The key issues discussed include the economic benefits of SGR in Kenya, the economic risks or challenges of SGR given the emergent issues of debt burden in Kenya and how China and Kenya would engage in the future to deepen Sino-Africa relations in BRI projects especially transport infrastructure. The paper relies on secondary information from available published literature on railway transport infrastructure in Africa with specific reference to SGR in Kenya. Information from key informants drawn from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the United States University based in Nairobi was used to enrich literature review. The main findings of the paper are: (1) SGR will lead to socio-economic development of the country (2) it will contribute revenue to the Government through the railway development levy levied on containerized transportation from the port of Mombasa, and (3) will boost trade and regional integration through better rail connectivity. To make BRI projects more transparent, it is recommended that there is need for more stakeholder engagement in these projects. It is also recommended that the funding mechanism should be reviewed to make borrowing more affordable.

An Analysis of China and Africa Relations with Special Focus on ‘One Belt and One Road’

China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) initiative has been billed as its most ambitious project ever in trying to shape and influence behaviour in the international system in line with her growing stature. At the same time, growing Sino-Africa relations have been the subject of scholarly debate with supporters taking an optimistic view, also presented by China itself, of this relationship being a win-win partnership. Critics led by the United States argue China is just using Africa to extract resources for its use, an allegation it refutes. The authors therefore sought to look at Sino-African relations but focussing on the implementation of OBOR in the African continent. Being the centrepiece of China’s foreign policy since 2013, a study on OBOR in Africa will give an understanding and hopefully answer some questions surrounding these relations. The lack of official bilateral agreements between China and some African countries has been examined, together with the possibility of expansion of the OBOR initiative to cover more African states.

How Is the Performance of Chinese News Media in Kenya? An Analysis of Perceived Audience Reception and Motivation

In the past decade, Chinese national news media have stepped up their efforts to spread their influence across the globe, including in Africa. This study sought to explore the extent to which these media were able to satisfy the needs of their target audience in Kenya. Based on a cross-sectional survey in Nairobi (N=355), the results showed that the audience reception of China’s media was fairly satisfactory, with CCTV Africa being touted as the most commonly accessible Chinese media by the respondents. Although there was statistically significant difference in the audience motivations for their perceived use of Chinese media contents, and their level of education, the final result suggested that the audience perceptions of China’s media coverage of African issues was relatively adequate. This study concluded that though their consumption was limited, these media were able to contribute to some knowledge on Sino-Africa relations. Keywords: Audience; China’s news media; coverage; gratifications; Kenya DOI : 10.7176/NMMC/79-06 Publication date : April 30 th 2019

Technological progress, worker efficiency, and growth in Africa: Does China's economy matter?

In the 21st century, the Sino–Africa relations are characterized by increasing levels of trade and investment. Additionally, African governments consider China a vital stakeholder in their plans to transform their economies through technology. This study empirically examines whether China's exports of information and communication technology and high-technology goods and foreign direct investment outflows stimulate growth in Africa. The results demonstrate that China's engagement in trade could lead to a positive and negative shift of steady-state position of real gross domestic product and technological progress, respectively, in Africa. These results predict that China's engagement will contribute to economic growth in African countries through increasing capital per worker efficiency but cause stagnation in their technological progress. Finally, one of the choices that African countries could make as they create policies to increase their technological progress is discussed.

African Drives in Snowballing Engagement with the Chinese: The Case of Nigeria

China’s increasing engagement in Africa is not without controversy. While many pundits have seen China as a genuine partner to Africa and its development, others believe its engagement is largely exploitative – a parasitic relationship driven primarily by China’s interest in Africa’s resources. However, few analyses have approached Sino-Africa relations as a vibrant, two-way dynamic in which both sides adjust to policy initiatives and popular perceptions emanating from each other. This paper contradicts the assumption of most literature to date that seems to borrow from the logic of dependency theory and present African economic as pawns, subject to the demands of a dominant and exploitative China, who is benefiting at Africa expenses. Arguably, Africans are willing partners of the Chinese, driven by their state-centric belief that engagement with the Chinese is in their national interest. For Nigerians, they are engaging with China because it is in their best interest and as the relationship continues to grow, it will need to be managed in order to maximize the benefit to Nigeria.

Maturing Sino–Africa relations

It is argued that China’s relationship with Africa has transformed into one defined by a dynamism and African agency, thereby lessening the hold the former previously had on Africa in the early days of this evolving alliance. First, the authors will conduct a literature review of historical Sino–African relations, from the early Han dynasty to its contemporary manifestations. The second section will continue with this analysis by focusing exclusively on the status quo of the Sino–African economic relationship, including analysis of trade flows, investments, development, economic cooperation, and Chinese support for regional integration. Finally, this paper will conclude with an elaboration of some key, emerging relationship areas, such as opportunities for China and Africa to collaborate on the achievement of the latter’s Agenda 2063 and African Mining Vision.

Contextualizing Sino–Africa relations

China’s relationship with Africa is changing. From what was once a narrative built on the sale of primary commodities, to fuel China’s booming economic growth, it is increasingly being defined by an emerging, confident Africa with its own socio-economic and political priorities. Many African countries now want tangible and credible benefits beyond the revenues from natural resource exports. In short, China’s relationship with Africa has transformed into one defined by dynamism and African agency, lessening the hold the former previously had.

China-Africa Trade and Investment Relations: Whither South-South Cooperation?

This paper aims to examine the dynamics that lie behind Sino-Africa relations through trade and investment channels and provides a comprehensive understanding on the determinants and interactions of these two modalities of cooperation in the Sino-African case. The paper further identifies if the same patterns prevail in China’s relationships with her other Southern counterparts by analyzing the interactions between China with Latin America and the Middle East. The results consistently suggest that market potentials and similar distribution of FDI stocks not only matter for Sino-Africa trade ties but also in trade cooperation between China and the other southern regions. However, strategic interaction between exports and FDI do not drive China’s strategic move into Africa and the other Southern regions. China’s trading and investment roles in Africa are therefore a reflection of South-South economic order that responds to the market. In short, Africa does not present a unique case in China’s South-South strategy.

Will Africa Feed China? by Deborah Brautigam

Reviewed by: Will Africa Feed China? by Deborah Brautigam Donovan Chau (bio) Deborah Brautigam. Will Africa Feed China? New York: Oxford University Press, 2015. xvii, 164 pp. Hardcover $27.95, isbn 978-0-19-939685-6. The Sixth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held December 4–5, 2015, in South Africa. This was the fifteenth anniversary of FOCAC and, therefore, an important occasion to highlight progress in Sino-Africa relations as well as chart a course for the following three years before the next FOCAC meeting. In his speech, President Xi Jinping announced a tripling of China’s financial commitment to Africa, from $20 billion in loans in 2012 to $60 billion in investment. Furthermore, Xi proposed ten diverse areas for continued Sino-African cooperation: industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure development, finance, environment, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction, public health, cultural diplomacy, and peace and security. Xi made clear the intimacy of Sino-Africa relations when he said: “China and Africa share a common future. We Chinese and African have forged profound friendship through our common historical experience in our common struggles.”1 As the FOCAC meeting illustrated, by all accounts China is firmly ensconced on the African continent—politically, economically, and strategically—and there is little indication this position will wane. Indeed, since 2001 China’s activities on the continent have garnered widespread international attention. But over the past decade, China in Africa has been in the central spotlight of policy makers, researchers, and journalists around the world. Someone who had been following the Chinese in Africa for decades prior is Deborah Brautigam. Presently Bernard L. Schwartz Professor of International Political Economy and Director of the International Development Program as well as the China Africa Research Initiative [End Page 118] at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, Brautigam studied Chinese in Hong Kong and Taiwan and conducted fieldwork in West Africa in the late 1970s and 1980s for her doctoral dissertation on Chinese agricultural aid.2 Brautigam, perhaps more than any other contemporary scholar, has the knowledge, skills, and experience to analyze China in Africa, which she does in her latest book, Will Africa Feed China? A slim, densely packed volume, Will Africa Feed China? is about aid and development as well as China’s rise and its implications for the “poorer regions” of the world, including Africa (p. 10). On the one hand, it is an encapsulation of Brautigam’s previous book-length works (Chinese Aid and African Development and The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa3). On the other hand, it is a unique stand-alone work, as she reveals the “ground truth” about China in Africa, attempting to distinguish between fact and fiction—realities and myths—being portrayed by both the media and think tank community. In particular, Brautigam takes direct aim at four “widespread beliefs”: (1) the Chinese have acquired large areas of farmland, (2) the Chinese government is leading this effort through its state-owned firms and sovereign wealth funds, (3) the Chinese are growing grain in Africa for export to China, and (4) the Chinese have sent (or plan to send) large numbers of Chinese farmers to settle on the African continent (pp. 1–2, 152–159). Tangentially, and to a lesser extent, Will Africa Feed China? is a critique of recent works that reinforce these “widespread beliefs,” for example Howard French’s China’s Second Continent: How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa.4 In eight concise chapters, we learn that “The Chinese are not building a new empire on the continent” (p. 151). Brautigam makes five key arguments to support her claim: (1) Chinese agribusiness has pursued investments in Africa, but this has not translated to significant land acquisitions; (2) Chinese investments often, but do not always, display an active Chinese government role; (3) all actual and planned Chinese agricultural investments are focused on food production for either local or global markets, including, but not exclusively, China; (4) there is no evidence of an organized plan to export Chinese settlers to farm in Africa; and (5) Africans play key roles in Sino-African agricultural relations, whether as...

Off and On: China’s Principle of Non-Interference in Africa

The entry point for this paper is the premise that China’s principle of non-interference is one current debated issue in China’s contemporary engagement with Africa. Scholars have argued on the implications of this principle for consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in Africa. Others have pointed on the good of the principle, asserting that it has become an alternative for African governments to avert the Western imposition of conditionalities and their long procedural routine. The purpose of this paper is not to reiterate the well known gospel on the implications (positive or negative) of the principle but to examine the origin of this principle, particularly in Sino-Africa relations and the consistency or otherwise of China’s application of this principle in Africa. This paper with specific reference to Sudan and Zimbabwe seeks to examine the ‘off’ and ‘on’ of this principle in China’s contemporary relations with Africa. Making use of both primary (interview) and secondary (journals, books, internet materials, memos etc) sources of data, this paper analysed what caused the shift (off) and what caused the maintenance of the stance (on) in China’s application of this principle in Africa.The study revealed that China’s application of non-interference principle in Africa has not been consistent. China’s insisting (switching on) or non- insisting (switching off) on non-interference policy is dictated by its primal national interest. For instance, China’s shifting of its stance on non-interference and persuading Sudan to accept the UN force has to do with its overriding interests at the time- hosting of the Olympics. Generally, non-interference principle apart from being a principle established in international law also serves as a tool that China sometimes employs to pursue its interests in its relations with Africa. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n3p225

Taking the Road Less Travelled

Sino-Africa relations are criticized as a form of neo-colonialism on one hand and commended for their investment in African economies on the other. This article provides analyses of artwork featured in the ‘Making Way’ exhibition, which, by bringing together a combination of Chinese and South African artists, seeks to forge new paths in conceptualizations of migration, diaspora and identity. The intricate identities of Chinese communities who reside in contemporary South Africa are often overlooked. The geo-political similarities between these two nations form the basis of the curatorial thematic links. Artists such as Chen Qiulin, Hua Jiming, Maleonn, Lebogang Rasethaba, Kudzanai Chiurai, Athi Patra-Ruga, Gerald Machona and Doung Anwar Jahangeer reveal that seeing ‘makes way for a discursive window to the world’ and that notions of socio-cultural identities are constructed through modes of perception.

The politicisation of the Beijing Olympics

The politicisation of the Beijing Olympics

Weapons for Oil: An Analysis of Contemporary Chinese Weapons Sales to Africa in Exchange for Oil

Since 1949, China has gradually increased the scope of its weapons sales overseas to include 40 countries, 23 of which are located in Africa. With Chinese weapons sales in 2009 reaching 946 million U.S. dollars, the global community cannot help but pay attention to China‘s overseas weapons sales model. Over the past few years, resource-rich African nations have become the center of China‘s new geopolitical strategies and the starting point for oil development and extraction programs. With decades of cooperative experience in the energy sector, Africa has become an important area through which China is able to further diversify its energy resources. While China helped Africa develop an oil market, many other forms of aid and investment were also necessary. The most important form of aid can be best seen through "goods for goods" bartering transactions, especially in the form of Chinese weapons for African oil. This article will examine the realities of weapons-for-oil transactions as well as other Chinese involvement in Africa‘s natural resources and domestic economies, paying particular attention to how China is defining its interactions with African nations as those of a socialist leader. Through research and analysis of both historical and contemporary Sino-African relations, this article will illustrate the implications continued weapons-for-oil exchanges have for the future of Sino-Africa relations as well as for the international community.