AFRICA NEEDS TO RE-THINK ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA

AFRICA NEEDS TO RE-THINK ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA

My sibling lived and worked in China with her husband for almost 8 years. She worked, she paid her taxes, she complied with the law but never found stability. When she finally returned in 2014, I went from being thrilled to being shocked over all the things she wasn’t. No permanent residency, No MBA degree and bitter still, could not speak a word in Mandarin beyond hello. Her response when I asked why was straightforward: “China doesn’t really see my existence, so I didn’t feel the need to be seen there anymore”

This story resonates with many Africans in China. They live in China, contribute economically to China, yet they are never really seen in China

As far back as 2012, as many as 100,000 Sub-Saharan Africans had flocked to Guangzhou, according to Professor Adams Bodomo's book "Africans in China" all chasing the same dream of getting rich in China. Over the past years thousands are believed to have exited Guangzhou. China did not turn out to be as promising as they thought. Its hostile immigration policies, widespread racism means more and more Africans are losing faith with a society that was once perceived to be an alternative to an American or European dream.

Compared to Europe and America, China perhaps gets the best from Africa in terms of human and economic capital. Accordingly, roughly 40% of African migrants surveyed for "Africans in China" had received at least a college degree. Some even held a PhD. A larger percentage of immigrants who had no college degree were mostly traders and small business owners. Generally speaking, no one goes to China to do laborious work that’s far worse than what they would do at home.  

China on the other hand has courted Africa and its leaders and has been rewarded with trade and human capital export. As at 2019, there were approximately one million Chinese citizens living legally in Africa. Formal trade has also grown to approximately $210billion. Beijing has used Africa to cushion some the impact of its trade war with the United States.

So, if all of these looks good, what then is the problem with this relationship?

Most experts have questioned China’s coziness to Africa since the early fifties starting with the Sino-African relation. A closer scrutiny at China’s overall relationship with Africa reveals the one-sidedness in its affair with the continent starting with trade which is still at $20bn deficit. From the wasteful contracting of major infrastructural projects such as roads and telecoms to unqualified Chinese contractors, to being a dumping ground for substandard products, Africa continues to sell itself short at the behest of China. China compels any investor as a competitive alternative to US and Europe but the reasons for its competitiveness remains its ability to Rob, Replicate and Replace everything. That tactics is a conversation for another day.

Further, the economics between Africa and China has also infiltrated politics. It is no surprise this comes in line with Beijing’s agenda to gain global influence and promote autocratic regimes in vulnerable states while showcasing its success as proof the system works. President Trump has not helped this course in so many respects. Although, his approval rating across Africa has remained high for reasons other than policy, the same cannot be said of the leadership Africa expects of America on issues on international policies and bi-lateral relations.

As Africa’s trade numbers with China have grown (and European and the US trade dwindled), so have its International influence and policies. Most Africans now see China as a partner and the latter as former colonial masters, which itself can be true in some respect. Given this situation, one would think that in the face of COVID-19, this budding friendship between Africa and China would be a unifying factor over the narratives that has been propagated to isolate it from the shackles of its colonial masters.

Rather it has been the opposite, China’s unchecked records as a global power on Human rights issues have been laid bare for everyone to see. Suddenly, Africans are no longer seen in the light of a partnership rather most are now being meted with treatments only synonymous to what reeks of colonialism. There have been reports of hundreds if not thousands of Africans being harassed, beaten in public, forced into detention and rendered homelessness in the face of being accused as carriers of a new wave of COVID-19. So, what have we learned? Aside, the fact that China has used Africa in its quest to become a force on the global stage, it has also shown time and time again it is more than willing to discard it if the need arises. It’s courting Africa was simply for influence.

Africa is a friend of China until it is no longer a friend of China, but the more gruesome reality is that you never really know China until you live in China.