Economic and Political Situations in Africa and its Natural Resources - Essay Example

?Chinas role in Africa Introduction Since the late 1950s china has considered Africa as being an important continent. This was the period when Chinese diplomacy emerged. In the early times of their relations, China proved its motivation to help Africa. They were greatly involved in pushing for liberations of different African countries. As compared to the United States, China had come up with different projects to help Africa in the mid 1970s. Since the end of the cold war, China has actively been involved in Africa politically and economically. The People’s Republic of China is considered the second trading partner with Africa. It comes after the United States and has overtaken the United Kingdom. The growing relationship between China and Africa has been highlighted in two different events. First it took place in November 2006 in Beijing where the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held. The Second one took place in May 2007 in Shanghai. This was known as the annual meeting of the African Development Bank (ADB). This came immediately after the official release of the white paper by Beijing in early 2006 titled China’s Africa policy. It contained the contours of the China’s official policies directed towards the African countries. During the two events, China announced its engagement with Africa. China also made public the relationship which it considers to have mutual benefits basis and that it results in a win -win situation. However, critics have argued that China is taking advantage of the African exports which consists of oil and different raw materials. In return the imports to Africa consist of Chinese goods which are cheaply manufactured. In fact, critics associate this to the earlier colonial era. It is considered that China’s desire to help Africa stems from their objective of obtaining raw materials and different sources of energy in Africa. According to Dillon (2009), the major objective behind this trade is to improve China’s current economic growth and its new markets of export. The existing trade is of importance to various actors and different African economies. However, proper discussion concerning the consequences of this kind of trade should be put in place. The relations between some African countries and China are deeply developing. China’s successive foreign ministers have visited the African continent yearly in the past 20 years. This frequent high level of exchanges portrays how important the relation between China and Africa is to the Chinese government. China as a country treasure face to face communication especially with the African leaders because it enables individuals to have the deepest understanding. There is existence of mutual support between China and African countries on several issues both international and regionally. According to Gries and Rosen (2010), most African countries have been committed in supporting China in different issues. From Africa, China is able to obtain raw materials and in exchange, China offer Africa some full support in various issues including peace, development and trade. In addition, China supports Africa in UN Security Council discussions because it perceives different opinions of the African countries to be of great importance. First, China assists Africa in times of adversity. History helps people know of the past, foresee the future and understand the present. From history, Africa just like the People’s Republic of China has been excluded from the international community. However, China considers Africa its ally and has always come out to support some African countries to solve its problems such as war and piracy. This is because of many reasons. First, some African countries supported China to restore its seat at the UN Security Council, which was delayed up to 1971, even though it was a member state that founded the UN. Consequently, African countries voted along with China in the 26th UN general assembly regarding resolution on whether to award PRC or not with the China’s lawful seat in the UN. Therefore, China and some African countries supported and sympathized with one another during difficult the times. In bilateral meetings, Nelson Mandela pointed out to the Chinese leaders that he was aware that South Africa got full support from China in the fight against apartheid. Because of China’s assistance to fight apartheid in South Africa, Mandela celebrated China’s Independence Day on 1st October with fellow prisoners when he was still imprisoned at Robben Island. Secondly, China fully supports Africa’s development. Development assistance for the African continent is known to be among the enduring part of Beijing strategy. China attained its economic power and transformation after developing for 30 years. According to the Chinese community, the transformation of Africa to development and sovereign independence is critical for its strengthening relations. Therefore, People’s Republic of China’s focus is for Africa to attain social modernization and progress economically. This is because most African countries are still struggling with development of their economies since their independence many years ago. China considers this to be its opportunity to contribute to the international community. According to Hao et al. (2009), China has been keen to open to the world and help part of the world develop as it pursue its policy reform. It wants to help African countries develop using its proven ways of development as it has transformed itself from its isolated state. Though in difficult situation, China was able to develop itself and gained economic, cultural and social progress. This is evident as most livelihoods of the Chinese have had tremendous improvement. China wants to replicates its development strategies in Africa because African countries seem contented with allowing China assist them develop. Roy (1998) revealed that China aims to gain mutual benefit and ability to attain common development with the African countries. To achieve this they have to come up with partnership which is constructive and strategic. Through this, common prosperity and world peace is attained. In 2006, China made public its African policy. The establishment and the Development of a new strategic partnership with the African countries were proposed in the policy. This is because China wishes to attain mutual trust politically and mutual economical benefit with African countries by cooperating and learning from each other. According to Lanteigne (2009), the following points highlight clearly the various principles and the aims that exist in the policy. First, China wants to maintain sincerity, friendship and equality with African countries. China is known to observe carefully the existing five principles which highlights peaceful coexistence, respects different independent choices of the African countries concerning development. In addition, it supports fully the efforts of the African countries to attain growth by uniting. The second point concerns the mutual benefit, common prosperity and reciprocity. Different economic developments and the efforts for national building of all the African countries are supported by China. As a country, they also conduct various forms of social and economical development cooperation. In addition they focus on advancing common prosperity for China and countries in Africa. Thirdly, Chian wishes to achieve close coordination and mutual support with African countries. Gittings (2006) stated that China focuses mainly on improving its cooperation and that of the African countries in the UN and other various multilateral systems. This is possible through China and Africa supporting themselves in different propositions and proper demands. China is also committed to bring more African issues regarding peace and even development to the attention of the international community. The forth point involves China and Africa being able to learn from one another and striving to attain common development. In different fields, which include educational, scientific, culture and healthcare, China and Africa aims to improve on the exchange and the cooperation. With regard to governance and development, the main focus is to be able to utilize each other’s experience by learning from it. China is committed to join with the African countries in search of the sustainable development path. Thirdly, China supports Africa’s peace. This is because African countries are among those forming foundation of diplomacy in china. The international community benefits from great opportunities, which results from Africa’s prosperity and development. Some countries in Africa have internal conflicts. The people in some African countries are fighting against each for resources especially water, land and minerals. War in some African countries has hampered social and economic development in Africa as a whole. China wishes to help some fighting African countries attain peaceful coexistence. According to Saich (2004), China assumes that the key to succeed is for African countries to attain an international environment which is peaceful. Through this they will attain self –development. Through peace, China remains convinced that Africa has the potential to provide adequate space and resources, which will enable her and the whole world to develop. China has also played a key role in ensuring African countries get security assistance from the international community. This is in order to solve various problems and be able to gain appropriate treatment since they are in equal and cooperative partnership. According to Deng (2008), China is known to have defended African countries from other countries’ unnecessary Security Council pressure, which include imposition of inappropriate ideas and approaches. Furthermore, concerning the African UN peace keeping missions, China has been well known for its active participation. Since 2000, China’s contribution in the UN peace keeping missions has increased tremendously. They have sent a large number of their troops and most of them are based in the African countries. They have also played a key role in suppressing pirates in the Gulf of Eden under multilateral anti piracy strategy. In addition, China through its own economic engagement has a critical role to play in the post- conflict reconstruction. Currently, in six different African UN peacekeeping missions, the number of Chinese soldiers and the civilian police is over one thousand six hundred. China is also remembered for contribution to the end of conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region. The African continent is able to adequately support 53 nations and a population of close to 1 billion. As compared to China, USA and Europe combined, geographically Africa continent is larger. Africa is also well known to be rich in natural resources and that it has adequate labour and markets for consumption. Thus, by utilizing the elements of pro-development properly, Africa will be able to contribute to global economy. Therefore, in the 21st century proper peace in African continent is more likely to contribute to global prosperity and development, especially to China. Fourth, China helps Africa to trade. Trade between China and Africa has increased significantly in the recent years. Economic ties between African countries and China has been strengthened over time. Improved economic reforms programs in Africa in 1990 are believed to have strengthened the relations of China and Africa. From the keen observations of Africa’s macroeconomic situations, Beijing officials concluded that it was a favorable turn which could enable the Chinese commerce to have appropriate opportunities. China was mainly concern with privatization in Africa, which opened doors for international trade. Beijing is known to have utilized Africa developments. Most manufacturers and entrepreneurs in china believes that in Africa, their various products finds immense value. This is because in Africa the development of economy is lower, compared to the western countries Where China cheap products does not penetrate to the market with ease. China also perceives that most African countries have domestic markets which are fairly small. Hence, they will face little competition and be able to establish a big market share. In 2000, China and Africa had over $ 10 billion trade volume, while in 2008 trade volume increased significantly to about be $106.8 billion. The yearly increase amounted to over 33.5 percent. The export of China to Africa in 2008 was noted to be $50.8 billion while the import amounted to $56 billion. The foreign direct investment at the end of 2008 from China to Africa was estimated to be over $7.8 billion. China and Africa’s trade is known to be somehow even. However, African is known to benefit more from favorable balance to a given extend. In addition, in the recent years, the margin of China‘s investment in Africa has increased even though the earlier format established in the China-Africa economic cooperation was the bilateral trade (Mitter, 2008). This shows China’s economic power is expanding and that it has been welcomed in Africa. Most countries in Africa seriously need China’s knowhow and machinery to develop its infrastructure in large scale. Regarding this China is willing to contribute to African. Fifth, China has helped some African countries develop a rich culture. This could be attributed to the fact that archeological findings points Africa as cradle for mankind. Therefore, it ought to be developed and assisted because African people, while utilizing their own excellent ancient culture were able to contribute positively to the civilization worldwide. Consequently, there is deep cultural exchanges and person to person cooperation between the Chinese and Africans. Several scholarships have been given to many African students by China. It approximated that over 20,000 students have benefit from this. In the African countries, China has also come up with twenty three Confucius Institutes and sixteen other Confucius classrooms. A total of 13, 307 proffesionals from Africa has been trained by China. In addition, over two hundred and nine Chinese volunteers have been sent to work in some African countries. China is also committed in organizing several trips for five hundred African youths to China. Sixth, China is also known for supplying arms to some African countries. China is the main supplier for conventional arms to the African states. United States congregational research service revealed that in the Sub-Saharan Africa, China was the outstanding supplier of arms between 2006 and 2009. This was largely due to the trade agreements between Sub-Saharan African countries and China. In the trade agreements, China agreed to sell arms worth $600 million to Sub-Saharan Africa. According to critics, some of these weapons have been misused in committing violations against the humanity. They also insist that they have ended up being in the wrong hands in different African countries which include Sudan, Zimbabwe and the democratic Republic of Congo. Conclusion China, just like any other international community feel obligated to assist African countries deal with own internal affairs in a productive way. It abides by the principle of non interference of countries’ domestic affairs even with the existing bilateral relations with African countries. China has been helpful to African countries because it has helped African countries to solve their own internal conflicts, supported Africa’s development and peace. In addition, China trades with some African countries and has helped them get access to conventional weapons. China has also helped African countries developed their rich culture. China, if it continues with its help to the African countries, African countries are likely to realize some form of economic and social transformation. Africa is also likely to gain some long term peace with China’s assistance because economic and social development is foundations of peace. On the other hand, china has been blamed for worsening conflicts situations in some African countries. This is because some of the weapons that have been supplied by China have gotten into the wrong hands and have fueled conflicts. In addition, China continued influence in Africa’s economic and political situations is perceived as a bid to gain access to Africa’s rich natural resources that are likely to be transported to China. Bibliography Deng, Y 2008, China’s Struggle for Status: The Realignment of International Relations, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Dillon, M 2009, Contemporary China: An Introduction, Routledge, London. Gittings, J 2006, The Changing Face of China, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Gries P.H. & Rosen, S 2010, Chinese Politics. Routledge, London. Hao,Y & Dittmer, L 2009, Challenges to Chinese Foreign Policy, University of Kentucky, Kentucky. Jacques, M 2009, When China Rules the World, Penguin Books, London. Roy, D 1998, China’s Foreign Relations, Macmillan, Basingstoke. Terrill, R 2003, The New Chinese Empire, Basic Books, New York. Saich, T 2004, Governance and Politics of China, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke. Mitter, R 2008, Modern China: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Lanteigne, M 2009, Chinese Foreign Policy, Routledge, London. Read More