China and Africa: Colonialism without responsibility?

Since Sierra Leone’s eleven year civil war officially came to an end in 2002 it has been struggling to rebuild both a traumatised nation and to change perceptions of it as a land of drug crazed rebels, child soldiers and blood diamonds. The story of the small West African country is a familiar one, a tale of aid dependency, hollow promises and rampant corruption. Once the spotlight of the world’s media moved on to yet another scene of trouble, the ordinary people had to make the best of what they were left with. Whilst others paid the price for bringing the conflict to an end it has been China that has largely reaped the benefits through a combination of deep penetration, generous funding mechanisms and a desire to see beyond the traditional narrative. The last twelve years has seen some progress, although in common with most of the rest of the continent a new style of imperialism has emerged on the scene, Sino-Imperialism – a form of indirect colonialism - a colonialism without responsibility. Sino-Imperialism, whilst seemingly subtle and benign in nature, is seeing African nations or those who lead them, sell off fishing rights, precious mineral resources, agricultural land, forests and in effect the birthright of future generations for the here and now. Such is the spending power of twentieth first century China that few of Africa’s leaders can resist what is dangled before them, but unlike European colonialism this time there will be no future lowering of flags, no independence or manumission – Africa and vulnerable states such as Sierra Leone are being locked into a capricious embrace from which there would appear to be no escape.  

As the Chinese dragon has awoken in recent years it has worked assiduously to court the nations of the African continent. It has recognised that not only can it have access and influence in Africa more effectively than any other region on earth, but it has sought to fill the vacuum left by the USA and Russia following the ending of the Cold War. European nations such as Britain have in essence all but retreated and been pre-occupied with other foreign policy issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the threat of international terrorism. America’s failed intervention in Mogadishu, Somalia (3rd – 4th October 1993) has ensured that officials at the State Department have become wary and ill at ease about active engagement with Africa. Of the former colonial powers only France has endeavoured to exert influence, invariably in the form of a substantial military presence in its former colonies. The likes of Chad, Mali, Niger and most notably Ivory Coast have all been the victim of continued French meddling. Policy makers in Paris like America have had their fingers burnt, as in the case of the fall-out from what happened in Rwanda and estrangement of Rwanda from the Francophone community. 

Of the nations with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council only China has invested time and energy in seeking to gain leverage and influence throughout the continent. China has come to realise that Africa possesses vast mineral deposits, but that through bi-lateral trade agreements it can also garner support in the UN relating for its stance on Taiwan. To the despots and kleptomaniacs that rule various African states the potential future plight of Taiwan is of little or no importance, they rarely care about their own people, so why should they give a damn about what may or

may not happen to the inhabitants of a faraway island. Thus far the clauses related to Taiwan have gone unnoticed by policy makers in Washington, London, Paris and Moscow, but the Chinese intentions are clear. When the time is right Taiwan will be ‘absorbed’ and in the UN the courted African nations will side with China whilst the other powers will be left with little option but to wring their hands.

Signage at Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Photograph by Mark T Jones

China’s systematic African charm offensive, especially via the innocuous sounding Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, has been an object lesson in statecraft and self-interest. Many African leaders have enjoyed being courted by the world’s most powerful one party state. For the Chinese there is no danger of the likes of Eritrea or Zimbabwe raising the issue of Tibet or the systematic persecution of the Falun Gong or the Uighurs. Beijing’s high sounding pronouncements may flatter to deceive, but are motivated by harsh economic realities, if China’s economic growth is to be maintained and the democratic voice of the Chinese people to be stifled it is essential that China finds the raw materials and food stuffs that it will required to sustain its incredible growth rate and placate its peoples. There is no doubting that China has become an economic powerhouse of the first order and what is more is playing a pivotal role especially in regard to certain key infrastructure projects. The facts and statistics related to such expansion are impressive on the surface, so much so that that Jim O’Neal, Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management waxed lyrical in an article in the London-based Evening Standard (We need to be part of the great Chinese march – 15/2/2011) in which he stated that; “Contrary to many perceptions China is not achieving this growth at everyone’s else’s expense.” – such

Sinobabble would appear to suggest that Mr O’Neal has made little or no study of the realities of what is going on throughout the continent of Africa.

Evidence of Chinese investment is everywhere, and it would appear that the more unsavoury the regime the larger the investment. China’s gilded cheque book has certainly bought solace and time for Robert Mugabe and has enabled vast swathes of Joseph Kabila’s Congo to be opened up for exploitation redolent of the era of King Leopold II of the Belgians. Capital projects such as roads, bridges, sports stadia and hospitals have also been paid for by Chinese investment or designed and built by the Chinese. Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture, China's largest hybrid rice seed producer has muscled into Nigeria, and the likes of Liberia and Mali are already finding their food production systems are being influenced, not always positively by China.

In East Africa a shortage of ports may well be somewhat alleviated by the Lamu Port Development, but again, at what cost when a UNESCO World Heritage site is directly threatened by such a project. Sadly, all too often investment and the work it generates rarely go to local firms or workers, but stays almost wholly in the hands of the Chinese themselves. There is even anecdotal evidence coming out of countries such as Algeria of China shipping over its prisoners to work in 8 hours shifts day and night on major construction projects, thus effectively ensuring wage bills are near zero and so through the use of such slave labour it can ruthlessly undercut competitors and ensure that projects are completed in record time.

Inevitably China rebuffs any criticism of its motives or conduct. It will not tolerate criticism from its own people let alone censure from the outside world. There are of course leaders in Africa happy to rally to China’s defence, it is worth noting that Colonel Gaddafi of Libya chose to speak admiringly of China’s handing of protesters in Tiananmen Square during his rambling and bellicose rant (22nd February 2011) Whilst undoubtedly some good has been done by China in Africa, it is clear that from illegal logging in Mozambique to the succour China routinely gives to Africa’s tyrants the peoples’ of Africa have good reason to fear being absorbed into a new Chinese Empire.  

It would be wrong to demonise all Chinese activity in Africa as some Communist plot; there is evidence of benign and positive activity, much of it truly welcomed by locals. China has provided scholarships and some capacity building schemes and these are likely to prove beneficial. Western policy makers, business analysts and financial planners routinely treat the continent of Africa as a monolithic entity and furthermore allow confirmation bias to cloud their judgement. The Chinese have at least been prepared to visit countries and unlike their Western counterparts are prepared to go up-country and see things for themselves. Many Chinese entrepreneurs have seen real potential and are settling and beginning to put down local roots.

China itself is undergoing a period of transition, with the Communist Party currently undergoing one of its periodic ‘blood changes’. Certainly when it comes to trade with Africa it is China that can claim the credit for changing much of the trading dynamic. That said, what alarms many in Africa’s 54 countries is the apparent lack of choice that they are being offered. They feel it is China or nothing. If that is the case the solution lies in a reappraisal of attitudes, a greater engagement and a concerted

effort to provide the finance mechanisms that support sustained economic development. Like all powers China’s mission has primarily been one of self interest, but rather than standing on the margins and criticising it would be far better if China’s competitors sought to engage and demonstrate an equal commitment, one not hell bent on domination, but mutually beneficial partnership with one of the world’s most dynamic continents.

Mark T Jones

London-based writer and commentator on International Affairs

www.marktjones.com