Sino-African Relations; Fair Trade Indeed

- Meghan Lenchyshyn

We live in a society based on the rule of law. Since its inception, the United Nations has been committed to promoting and ensuring human rights all across the globe. What happens, then, when a permanent member of the UN blatantly flaunts its responsibilities by choosing to ignore human rights standards? UN member countries should be expected to foster equality and freedom, and not to enable those who hinder it. China’s actions in many African nations serves as a prime example of this problem, and its policy of “non-interference” towards Africa’s internal affairs is acting to strengthen the repressive dictatorial regimes present.

China’s entrance onto the world stage has been gaining more and more attention from the Western nations. Over the past several decades, we have witnessed the expansion of China both economically and politically, and have seen China explode onto the international arena.

However, one must concede that much of the apprehension on the part of Western nations is due to China’s choice of allies. China is increasingly forming new, controversial trading partners. Alliances with countries such as Russia and Iran have been mutually prosperous, with many weapons deals occurring under the radar. China is, to date, the largest purchaser of Russian arms, and non-military trade between these two countries is increasing at a rate of 20% per year.

However, of China’s newly-warming alliances, perhaps that which causes the greatest consternation is its relationship with Africa, which is being met with both optimism and overt cynicism from the international community.

Bilateral trade between China and Africa has quadrupled within the last five years. Access to crude oil is, for China, what this budding relationship is founded upon. However China is also investing billions of dollars into the construction of much needed infrastructure. Capacity building is an important element of Africa’s goal to modernize. The question arises though, as to whether this is a fair trade or if the investments being made are helping China gain access to Africa’s resources more than they are helping Africa itself.

To date, China has invested predominantly in the construction of railways and pipelines. In 1999, the Chinese government invested three billion dollars towards the construction of a pipeline in Sudan. 2004 saw China sign a two billion dollar deal with Angola in exchange for ten thousand barrels of crude oil per day. As well, in 2005 Petro-China signed an eight hundred million dollar deal with Nigeria to purchase thirty thousand barrels of crude oil per day for one year. These figures are only a drop in the bucket and are merely a few instances of Chinese investment in the resource-rich continent.

Africa is of interest to China solely because of its abundance of raw materials, its export market, and its potential source of cheap labour. It seems abundantly clear that China is engaging in neocolonialism. Africa is still largely recovering from its colonial past, and China is doing nothing but taking advantage in this very much one-sided relationship. Granted Africa is gaining more from this relationship than it has with its previous colonizers, but the fact remains that exploitation is exploitation - there is no in-between.

Currently, the relationship between Chinese and African leaders is one of mutual, deliberate ignorance and lack of accountability. The abhorrent Chinese human rights record is nothing new and comes as no surprise to its many international critics. China is blissfully turning a blind eye to the plethora of unethical practices of various African governments and stands accused of supporting corrupt African regimes in order to facilitate its stronghold over African oil and raw materials.

In addition to overlooking its own human rights violations in terms of producing consumer goods, China is also turning a blind eye to the atrocities and genocide currently underway in Darfur. At the same time, African governments also choose to ignore Chinese labour abuses.

African dictatorships such as that of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, whom purchase Chinese-made weapons and military equipment do so in direct defiance of international law. Aside from China’s relationship with Zimbabwe, weapons have also been illegally smuggled into Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. Chinese influence in Africa is further enabling corrupt regimes to continue practicing and usurp UN sanctions in the process.

In response to criticism regarding China’s decision to ignore political corruption in Africa, Chinese President Hu Jintao stated “China is adhering to its policy of non-interference in Africa’s internal affairs”. He also accuses his critics of adopting what he refers to as a “Cold War mentality”, stating that China wishes nothing more than to be an equal trading “partner” to Africa - all of which is mere rhetoric.

China also defends its presence in Africa by stating that Chinese investment is modernizing Africa and bringing in much needed trade and revenue, and it simply wishes to engage Africa in a mutually respectful relationship. Additionally, China claims the resulting commodity prices have been beneficial for the majority of Africa and have improved local economies.

China’s attempt at modernizing Africa, for the good of Africa, and paving the way for Africa to make its anticipated entrance onto the world stage is, as was previously stated, obvious rhetoric. China’s policy of “non-interference” in African affairs is nothing more than a transparent cop-out and a way to avoid accountability.

This unbridled colonial expansionism is overlooking human rights and further escalating the degree of corruption already apparent, thus providing dictators such as Mugabe with the tools to continue their repressive rule.

All in all, Chinese influence and investment in Africa may very well be bringing in trade and establishing the potential for an export market, however the fact remains that the development occurring is not being done in a mutually beneficial way. China gains and Africa remains stuck in a mire, always below China and a slave to its market.

Background & Research