CM ST: China's Investment and Trade with Africa

source: http://myafricatoday.blogspot.com/2007/08/china-over-africa.html

This recent uproar about the Chinese leaders meeting with the leaders from the African countries should not be disturbing for the Western countries. Though as the article “Into Africa” by Michel Cormier did comment that it sent alarm bells ringing in Washington. Most of the trade between China and the African countries are based on oil and other natural resources which China needs to support its industries. The African countries on the other hand, import textiles, clothing, footwear, machinery and other heavy equipment. The reason why the Western countries should not over-react and fear this situation is because China and Africa trade did not start overnight. The earliest accounts of trade activities that occurred between the two date back to the 12th century. Further information about this trade history between China and Africa can be viewed in the video below.

Starting in the early 1960s, China also invested to help the African countries to develop and provide them with the means to self-sustain themselves. China constructed a major railway system connecting Tanzania and Zambia, an international standard sports stadium in Kenya, developed telecommunication links and helped the African countries to become technologically advanced in their agriculture sector. The meeting of the Chinese leaders with the leaders of the African countries is an annual and regular event that goes back almost half a century. Further information about China’s investment in Africa can viewed in the video below.

The major threat to Washington is that China is getting its oil supply and other ores and metals from the African continent rich in natural resources. While U.S. itself has its interests in oil when it goes to war in foreign countries. The Western countries complain that China is the biggest abuser of human rights and the general working conditions in the country are not good and if they go into Africa they will do the same there. Though the majority of the products in every imaginable sector is produced in China and shipped off to the Western countries. If the Western leaders care so much about human rights and the working conditions, they should not have gone into China to set up production plants there while trying to cash in on the cheap labour. After viewing the videos below, it can be noted that China has been investing and trading in Africa a very long time. If they had to go and put up permanent manufacturing facilities and other industrial bases they would have already done so.

Africa-China Trade: A History Part 1