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From: awetnayu@hotmail.com
Date: Fri Jul 01 2011 - 13:08:49 EDT
Is China Really a Friend to Africans?
Amanuel Biedemariam
Over the last decade China has received a
favorable PR on the way that it deals with Africa. The perception is
that China’s a-political approach of engaging Africa is good for Africa.
It is also deemed that China’s economic investments are positive
for Africa. The low bid contracts by Chinese companies are seen to be good
alternative from the West that traditionally strangulated Africa with
debt. China is helping African countries develop some capacities in
various fields. These are amongst some of the
advantages China provides African countries.
In November of 2006, China organized probably the
largest gathering of African countries outside Africa a “China Africa
Summit”. The gathering was hailed by African leaders because they believed it
to be a good sign for future China-Africa relations. There were press accounts
detailing satisfaction of African countries because they perceived
that China was looking to partner with African countries. The very
fact that China held the gathering was a big deal, a-first
for Africa and, a knock at Western nations that treated Africans with
utter disrespect for generations.
China’s involvement with Africa has its critics and
supporters. The most glaring objection is that China is dealings with countries
that the West claims-have bad human rights records. China is accused
of encouraging corruption and corrupt leaders. China is criticized for not
focusing on governance and human right issues. And for systematic denial of
African countries from manufacturing their own products because of China’s
insistence on selling products produced by China. In a nut shell this is the
extent of the critical view China gets from the West.
China is the “anti West” in the way that it deals with
African countries. For example in Ghana, a $270 million loan
facility to carry out expansion works at the Kpong Water Project was agreed
upon between the government of Ghana and China. What is different
about the loans China provides Africa is the fact that these
countries can use their resources, in effect bartering in exchange for
projects, goods and services that these African countries need in this case,
water. The Chinese have a lot of dollars that they must dump. This is leverage
that Africa never had with the West.
What does it mean when we say is China a friend
of Africa? How should friendship between China and Africa
be defined? How deep of a friendship is China cultivating
in Africa? How good of a friend is China to Africa? What
does China’s friendship mean to African countries? And the main question;
is China a friend of Africa?
For a layman and according to various dictionaries, a
friend is: a person whom one knows, likes, and trusts; an acquaintance; an ally
in a struggle or cause; a comrade; one who supports, sympathizes with, or
patronizes a group, cause, or movement and, a member of the Society of Friends.
Using the basic understanding of the meaning of friendship,
can Africa trust China; consider China as an ally and be confident that China
is a comrade in the struggle towards economic emancipation and
development? Can Africa
“trust” China to support and be the party that stands for the security of
Africa?
The attention China received for her dealing with Africa
collectively was partly accentuated by China Africa Summit in other words self
made. One thing that needs to be clear however, Africa is not one nation.
Therefore, it is impossible to paint China-Africa relations with one brush and
as such; fair to ask some basic questions in order to have a common-basic
understanding of what China means to Africa. It is also important to look at
history of relations of other nations for example, Great Britain and the US as
a standard. It is important to see the historic interaction of UK and US in the
realms of economic cooperation, cultural relations, friendly ties,
political/diplomatic co-ordinations and importantly on national and global
security matters as a guide…
Is there a country in Africa that has ties with China that
remotely resembles the example above? Does China have allied countries in
Africa? During the Cold War, the alliances were almost clearly defined. The
countries that were pro-West received support from the West led by the US, and
vice versa. Can African countries count on that type of support from China?
While the author is not an advocate of Africa divided based on the interests of
super powers; it is important to note that countries enjoyed qualified
diplomatic and military support during that era from one side or the other.
However, while the current world is considered to be multi-polar, the main
powers are the US and China. These are veto wielding powers capable to impose
their will on any nation around the world. Ironically, while the US is clear on
whom their friends are and her interests; it is extremely difficult to gauge
China’s intentions. And absent of any pronounced friendship with any country in
Africa it is nearly impossible to say where China stands with any nation.
It is important to ask these questions of China considering
the extent of China interaction with Africa over the last thirty years. It is
even more crucial in light of the resolutions United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) produced over the last ten years that profoundly impacted many countries
in Africa. In 2005 alone, nearly 80% of the 70 deliberations and decisions the
UNSC made were related to matters in African countries with the Middle East
coming far-second and Third World countries such as Haiti and Bosnia Herzegovina
filling-in the blanks. The reality is 2005 is not an aberration it is the
annual reality in the UNSC. And the problem is the fact that the UNSC is making
all these decisions without the affected parties having a say and a fighting
chance against decisions that are affecting these nations in some cases
altering the social landscapes violently. Moreover, the role China played or
lack thereof is by far the most perplexing.
One needs to look at some of the recent developments in
Africa pertaining to Libya, Sudan, Eritrea and others vis-à-vis Security
Council decisions that the West and particularly the US perused in the
region. China went along with decisions
when it seemingly could impact its national interests. These decisions raise
some serious questions about Chinese intentions and dealings in Africa.
China has been in Sudan for decades and it is one of the
reasons why Sudan remained viable. China
has heavy investments in Sudan primarily in the oil sector. China imports an
estimated 7% of its oil from Sudan. Moreover, China has a sizeable
human-resources invested in various sectors. In other words China’s investments
in Sudan are numerous, extensive and took decades for China to build it that
level. Yet, when we look at the future security and stability of Sudan, the
West led by the US appears to be on the driver’s seat basically dictating terms
while weakening Sudan and nailing wedges designed to fragment the nation into
pieces. It is ironic because the US pushed measure after measure using the UNSC
that China can stop using its veto power.
Moreover, if one is to add Eritrea into the mix it makes
one wonder what China’s underlined interests are. Nearly all of China’s goods
from Sudan are channeled through the Red Sea. Eritrea owns a large and strategic
lane on the Red Sea. Eritrea is also bordered by Sudan. If Eritrea is to be
what Ethiopia and the US wanted to be (an entity under their control in
whatever shape or form); then Sudan would be encircled by countries that are
propped by the US and, the US would have assumed control over the entire
eastern part, the Horn, and the Northern parts of Africa.
The US is in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South
Sudan, Rwanda and Egypt. The only countries left are Sudan and Eritrea. If the
US is to succeed by accomplishing what they planned for Eritrea after World War
II, then Sudan would have no fighting chance because it will be encircled.
Moreover, US and her allies would have controlled the entire Red Sea
territories namely Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti on one side and, Saudi
Arabia, Yemen on the other. They will have the chokehold for any shipment that
sails through that area. A good example to glean from is the Suez Canal and
Iran. Eritrea controlled by the US can potentially limit China’s access to the
area and give US the upper hand in the region.
It is with this background in mind that the author
questions China’s role. Why is China allowing the US to pass measure after
measure to pressure Sudan and Eritrea?
The US, on Xmas Eve of 2009 imposed a sanction measure, by concocting
lies and fabrications in the most brazen way that disregarded the existence of
the people of Eritrea. They used a mechanism and methodology that denies
Eritrea a say and moved along with a sanction.
In Libya when the UNSC authorized the No Fly Zone, this is
the statement by China’s Ambassador to the UN LI BAODONG:
“The continuing deterioration of the situation
in Libya was of great concern to China. However, the
United Nations Charter must be respected and the current crisis must be ended
through peaceful means. China was always against the use of
force when those means were not exhausted. His delegation had asked
specific questions that failed to be answered and, therefore, it had serious
difficulty with the resolution. It had not blocked the passage of the
resolution, however, because it attached great importance to the requests of
the Arab League and the African Union. At the same time, he supported the
efforts of the Secretary-General’s Envoy to resolve the situation by peaceful
means.”
“The
UN adopted Resolution
1973 (2011) by a vote of 10 in favor
to none against, with 5 abstentions (Brazil, China, Germany, India, Russian
Federation), the Council authorized Member States, acting nationally or through
regional organizations or arrangements, to take all necessary measures to
protect civilians under threat of attack in the country, including Benghazi,
while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan
territory — requesting them to immediately inform the Secretary-General of such
measures, to establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians.”
LI BAODONG statements are very troubling. Firstly, he
stated that China wants the situation to have a peaceful end. And secondly
China is against use of force. He continues, his delegation had asked specific
questions that failed to be answered and, therefore, it had serious difficulty with the resolution. The
most troubling statement however is, “It had not blocked the passage of the
resolution, however, because it attached great importance to the requests of the Arab League and the
African Union,” and passed a resolution with a vague and open-ended
language that allowed NATO to destroy Libya in the name of protecting
civilians.
The Irony, first of, the African Union was disregarded. And
secondly, this was taking place in the most turbulent times in the history of
the Middle East when countries were embroiled on their internal civil
struggles. China passed the resolution not to protect the best interest of the
people of Libya but to satisfy a nonexistent or a nominal Arab League and
African Union. It is even more perplexing considering the number of Chinese
that worked in Libya and the amount of investment that China had in Libya.
This begs the question; why is
China allowing punitive measures against nations that are friendly; nations
that are doing business and, nations that have accepted not only the diplomatic
core but the Chinese people all around Africa? Why is China allowing the US and
Western nations to take advantage of UNSC resolutions for their hegemonic
objectives. The No Fly resolution was just a hook because soon after the
decisions were made the French, UK and US did bait-and- switch, called for a
regime change and escalated the operations including sending advisors into a
civil war. The people of Libya are being terrorized by the most intensive
bombing campaign the continent of Africa has ever seen. The people of Libya are
being exposed to depleted uranium; Libyans are suffering and not better off.
And contrary to China’s wish of peace, Libya is ensnared by violence of the
brutish NATO forces. In short, China’s repeated abstentions do not
absolve it from the responsibilities.
Conclusion
Dambisa Moyo and others have said a great deal of good about
China’s economic programs in Africa. However, no-economic success means
a-whole-lot unless coupled by peace. Africa’s problems are chronic by design
and they continue because the West is intent on keeping Africa crippled. China
was Africa’s first and best hope to counterbalance the negative role the West
continues to play in Africa. Instead, China is tacitly accepting the label of
new colonizer of Africa. On a setting that resembles a Hollywood’s scary
witch-movie, Secretary Hillary Clinton stood on a dark room on a podium in
Ethiopia and warned Africans to beware of the new colonizers that do not care
about Africa. Her statements are evidence that Africa has effectively turned in
the dinner table of hyenas and lions fighting for a carcass only this time; it
is with the impending holocaust of the African continent.
The question is what can Africans do? The UN/UNSC is an
organization designed to benefit the five permanent members at the expense of
the world. The UNSC has literally turned the international order into that of
the Jim-Crow laws that punishes without representation, due process and to send
a message. They have established systems they can manipulate as they wish like
the ICC that they are using to petrify leaders such as Beshir to get what they
want. They are penalizing the people of entire regions based on their national
interest-considerations and denying them the right to live in peace. Moreover,
these are people that have never been able to establish institutions that can
sustain them in bad times such as draught. The continuation of this holocaust
is reaching biblical proportions. Yet, they are escalating these strategies.
The reality is there is no recourse for these transgressions
and deliberate injustices. Therefore, the responsibility befalls on those
countries that are being negatively affected by the injustices. Hence, the only
solution is for nations to abandon the defunct UN and disqualify its purpose
and create a mechanism to deal with world matters. Moreover, united vigilance
of the people is far more important than ever because they are openly returning
Africa back to the colonial era. China could also assume the just role of
defending African because ultimately that will serve its interests in the right
way.
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