Unlike Europe, China helps Africa in economic partnerships

A+Chinese+talks+to+a+co-worker+at+an+oil+production+facility+in+Southern+Sudans+Melut+County.+China+has+strengthened+its+relations+with+Southern+Sudan+ahead+of+a+key+secession+vote+next+month+which+could+transfer+control+of+the+oil+fields.

A Chinese talks to a co-worker at an oil production facility in Southern Sudan’s Melut County. China has strengthened its relations with Southern Sudan ahead of a key secession vote next month which could transfer control of the oil fields.

In a turn of events reminiscent of the early 20th century, the natural resources in Africa are being siphoned off and delivered on a silver platter to a new colonial elite — or at least that’s the picture painted by the Western press.

The Christian Science Monitor reviewed a book on the topic by Howard W. French which cited the Chinese reasons for expansion into Africa as “wider economic opportunity, improved quality of life, and comparatively less corruption chief among them.”

I find it difficult to believe that “comparatively less corruption” is the chief reason for China’s turn to Africa, however. Actually, it’s absurd: Robert Mugabe is still in power, which points to all things corruption and despair.

If anything, China’s pivot to Africa is based on their need to sustain historic economic growth.  The Telegraph noted that China’s oil consumption is “forecast to grow by at least 10 percent every year for the foreseeable future.  At this level of demand, its domestic reserves will vanish within 20 years.”

It’s as simple as that: Beijing covets the natural resources in Africa because without them, their trajectory for the world’s largest economy may just fall short.

Indeed, the International Business Times reported on information from Aid Data and Center for Global Development which found that China invested more than $73 billion in Africa’s natural resources between 2000 and 2011. Of the projects invested in, oil wells were often the largest and most important. 

For example, one project in Nigeria, with a price tag of $5.38 billion, exchanged the improvement of African infrastructure for preferential rights when it came to oil bidding. In Mauritania, $4.04 billion was spent for oil exploration, as well as similar infrastructure improvements in roads and sewage systems.

Perhaps the relationship between China and African nations has been a little unbalanced, and the governments of countries like South Sudan and Congo are beginning to take notice. In the former, the local head of a Chinese oil company was expelled for oil theft; in the latter, two “rogue commodities traders” were kicked out, as told by the BBC.

But it’s not all exploitation, and summing it up as so would be disingenuous. China has not seen the same boom from a Shale Oil Revolution that the United States has, and must continue to search abroad for new trade partners to satisfy the needs of their growing economy.

Furthermore, Beijing has seen to it that over 100 schools, 30 hospitals, 20 agriculture technology centers, and 20 anti-malaria centers have been built in Africa.  Not only that, the Chinese provided over 20,000 government scholarships to Africans, and trained nearly 40,000. 

Unlike the European nations which once steamrolled their way through the continent, pillaging anything and everything, China has sought to create a new partnership with Africa in which both parties benefit. In some cases, Africa stands to benefit even more, as nothing may be guaranteed for Beijing, as is the case in their “preferred treatment” circumstance in Nigeria.

There is no new colonization ongoing in Africa: there are two parties consenting to a strategic relationship, who both stand to benefit from improving infrastructure on a continent home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies.

If American investors are so concerned about Chinese economic activity in Africa, then they should have followed Beyoncé’s advice: “If you like it then you should have put a ring on it.”