Chinese Influence in Gabon - Essay Example

12/17/07 Chinese Influence in Gabon This year, a large Chinese Envoy went on a tour of Africa. The Envoy visited multiple nations, and attempted to negotiate many serious deals with all of them. China is increasing its investments and diplomatic efforts throughout the continent, as it sees Africa as a vital source of raw materials and an important market for finished goods in the future. China currently has good diplomatic relations and a large amount of influence in many African countries. China has historically had a large level of influence in Gabon, and retains a high level of influence today. Gabon has deposits of oil and other natural resources that are needed by the booming Chinese economy, and the country is a good market for Chinese manufactured goods. China has aided Gabon by giving it debt relief and Chinese engineers and technicians have explored and developed the oil fields in Gabon. In the last quarter of the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century, Chinese envoys have made multiple visits to the nation. Diplomatic Relations between Gabon and China began in 1974. This is when Gabon ended its foreign relations with Taiwan, which the communist government of China considers to be a requirement for friendly foreign relations. The Joint Communique on the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations Between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Gabon establishes relations between the two nations at the ambassador level and pledges that the Chinese government will provide friendly and cooperative relations with Gabon on the principles of mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence. This treaty is similar to most of the other diplomatic treaties signed between China and other African nations. After this, the Chinese government has helped Gabon in the fields of medicine, science, and technology; and they have also cooperated with Gabon on economic, political, diplomatic, and cultural issues. The two nations have had good diplomatic relations throughout this time. It is reported by the Chinese foreign ministry that “Chinese leaders and officials who paid visits to Gabon include: Chen Muhua, vice premier of the State Council (August 1978), Gong Dafei, vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (October 1981), Zhao Ziyang, premier of the State Council (January 1983), Wu Xueqian, vice premier of the State Council (March 1990), Qian Qichen, member of the State Council and minister of foreign affairs (January 1993), Li Lanqing, vice premier of the State Council (November 1995), Tian Cengpei, vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (April 1996), Li Peng, premier of the State Council (May 1997), Chen Jinhua, vice chairman of the NPPCC (July 2000), Tang Jiaxuan, minister of foreign affairs (January 2001), and Wei Jianxing, member of the Central CPC Standing Committee, etc” (Chinese Foreign Ministry, 2006). China began sending teachers to Gabon and giving scholarships to Chinese Universities to Gabonese students in 1975. A Chinese medical team was also sent to the country at around the same time period. Chinese military delegations visited Gabon in 1979, 1993, 1997, 1999, and 2002. In 2001, the Gabonese minister of national defense, Ali Bongo, visited the Peoples Republic of China. The Chinese minister of science and technology visited in 2002, and several ministers from Gabon that were in charge of assembly and anti-corruption measures traveled to Gabon. The Chinese government does not become involved in the internal politics of Gabon. While the current government of Gabon is corrupt and has questions regarding its legitimacy, it is not a major human rights violator. China has built, or helped the government of Gabon build, many projects. These include a health-work center, many primary schools, and a new building for the national assembly of Gabon. The fishing, pharmacy, forestry, and development industries in the two nations have both collaborated with each other. China signed an agreement with Gabon in 2002 that allowed Gabon to receive interest-free loans from China. Multiple Chinese companies are currently involved in Gabon. These companies include China Construction, China Broadcasting, and many other companies. Trade between the two countries is rising. It was reported that “The year of 2002 witnessed a bilateral trade value to reach US$237 million between the two countries, of which the Chinese exports occupied US$4.7 million. The major exports from China to Gabon are: textile, mechanic and electric products, while the imports mainly include timbers, petroleum and manganese ores. The two countries signed an Agreement on Investment Protection Between the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Gabon” (Chinese Foreign Ministry, 2006). Gabon began to develop its oil reserves in the 1980s. Some Chinese help has been provided in the process, but all of the wells are owned by the state-owned oil company. The oil originally made Gabon a relatively wealthy nation, but it has also caused problems. Other domestic industries and agriculture have gone into decline, as it is now usually easier to import goods from foreign countries. There is also a large amount of corruption in the government. The oil wealth made Gabon a great market for Chinese exports and a source of oil that was desperately needed by a rapidly growing Chinese economy. However, Gabon’s oil production peaked in 1996, and declined sharply thereafter. Proven reserves doubled, but production is declining due to the fact that the newly-discovered oil is more difficult to extract. Although China has sent engineers and technicians to Gabon in recent years in order to increase production from the remaining reserves in the country, the attempts have been relatively unsuccessful, and Gabon does not provide anywhere near the level of Chinese oil imports as it did before. However, Chinese involvement in Gabon has intensified as the government of Gabon is looking for help in developing new industries. Some of the new industries planned for Gabon include eco-tourism, forestry, mining and agriculture (Denwood, 2004). In 2006, the Chinese government produced a white paper for planned future involvement in Africa. This paper planned for increasing levels of investment in Africa and trade with Africa, and stresses that China would continue with the policies of mutual benefit, non-intervention, and peaceful coexistence. Communist Party senior official Wu Guanzheng claimed that “China and Gabon are entering a new stage of all-round development of bilateral relations, he said. The Chinese side appreciates the efforts made by Gabon in developing the Sino-Gabonese relations and is willing to further consolidate friendly cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual-benefit, so as to realize common development and push forward bilateral relations. Wu stressed that the CPC values relations with the DPG, saying that exchanges and cooperation between the two ruling parties are an important part of the state-to-state relations. In the new international situation, the two parties should continue to maintain communication and reinforce exchanges, he said, adding that the CPC will continue to develop exchange and cooperation with the DPG and help promote a comprehensive, stable and healthy development of the Sino-Gabonese relations” (People’s Daily Online, 2006). Currently, China and Gabon have great relations. The two nations work closely together on many economic and political projects, and China does not interfere in Gabon’s government. Just this year some Chinese companies were involved in the process of developing an iron mine in Gabon. The mine will provide raw iron ore for Chinese industry. The relations are entirely peaceful, and there are no wars that either country are cooperating in. There relations will probably remain good in the future. Works Cited “China, Gabon vow to further expand cooperation”. People’s Daily Online. 08 Sept. 2006. 18 Dec. 2007. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200609/08/eng20060908_300977.html. “China’s growing influence in Africa”. Nigerian Tribune. 2004-2007. 17 December. 2007. http://www.tribune.com.ng/19122007/Midweek.html. Chinese Foreign Ministry. “Gabon” China.org.cn. 10 Oct. 2006. 17 Dec. 2007. http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/focac/183529.htm. Denwood, Andy. “Gabons oil boom hangover” BBC News. 11 October. 2004. 18 Dec. 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3733578.stm. Kurlantzick, Joshua. “Beijing Envy”. London Review of Books. 5 July 2007: 11 Lawson, Antoine. “Gabonese hope for windfall as Chinese develop iron ore deposit”. International Herald Tribune. 26 Feb. 2007. 18 Dec. 2007. http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/26/business/gabon.php. Read More