Posted on 10/16/2021 10:48:24 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A few years ago, I found myself on the platform of a train station in Tanzania. There under the ubiquitous photograph of the country's then president were two fading portraits of two statesmen from an earlier time, Chairman Mao Zedong and Julius Nyerere, first president of independent Tanzania.
These two political giants were the main architects of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA), which was completed in 1976. The Chinese-built railway allowed Zambia to circumvent apartheid South Africa and white minority ruled Rhodesia and export its copper out of the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam.
The 1,860-kilometer-long railway remains an enduring symbol of Chinese solidarity with Africa. It also serves to emphasize that China's much-debated arrival on African soil is nothing new.
An important trivia: when Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the starting point of the torch relay in Tanzania was the grand terminal of the TAZARA.
In recent months, riots, coups and elections across Africa have once again put the spotlight on China's role on the continent where it has accumulative investments of about $120 billion. Which has prompted some commentators and politicians to say the Sino-African relationship is too one-sided and needs rebalancing to assuage public fears, fuelled by Western misinformation campaigns, that China's strategy is a new form of colonialism aimed at gaining control of Africa's rich mineral resources.
Regional analysts and China experts dismiss this view, because it misrepresents Beijing's political, historical and economic approach to the developing world.
Since the 2000s, China's trade with Africa has multiplied by 20－it exceeded $200 billion in 2019. And its investment is estimated to account for 20 percent of Africa's economic growth.
"China plays a long game. Beijing is not looking for immediate results or to own infrastructure; it is looking at trade flows as far away as 2045," said Henry Tillman of China Investment Research.
Today, there is barely an African country where China has not invested heavily, partly but not solely as a result of the Belt and Road Initiative. Admittedly, much of this has taken the form of loans for infrastructure projects－deep-water ports, roads, railways and dams. But there is no evidence that this is a wily scheme to try to "buy" the continent.
Since July 2020, even a number of Western institutions, SAIS-CARI(Johns Hopkins University), Chatham House and the Brookings Institute, have undertaken research showing no evidence at all of the much-touted "debt trap" scenario－an allegation started in India in 2017.
"Hard facts debunk that argument totally; the debt trap fear simply does not exist. There has not been one case of that, not one single case," Tillman added.
China's aim remains primarily development without which Africa cannot play the role it should in the global trading system－a point not lost on many of Africa's leaders.
Last month, a hotly contested election in Zambia saw an incumbent president toppled. During the campaign, China was repeatedly targeted for "acquiescing in high-level corruption".
Incoming President Hakainde Hichilema lost no time in saying that he intended to restructure Zambia's external debt－officially pegged at some $13 billion with the bulk of it owed to China. He has signalled that he intends also to open a new dialogue with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Some argue that given the "opaque nature of debt contraction" under the previous government, the figure owed to China could actually be higher. Hichilema will need to have a frank discussion with Beijing on how to tackle this thorny issue.
"China's commitment to Africa has been long-lasting… The trick is to create a partnership of equals and Africa has an important (role) to play in that," said respected Zambian political commentator Buchizya Mseteka. "Africans need to grow up and stop blaming China for their own inadequacies. China wants reliable and honest partners," he added.
According to Mseteka, Zambia, Africa's second-largest exporter of copper, should avoid the trap of feeling it has to choose between the West and China. Instead, the new president, a businessman, needs to do what is best for his country.
"The fault lies with Zambia itself and particularly the previous regime. Why is it that the same Chinese State-owned and private companies operate above board when working in countries such as Botswana, South Africa, Mauritius or Rwanda? It is because these countries have prioritized national interests above personal ones, and have invested in institutional capacity," Mseteka told China Daily in an interview.
China, however, must play its part in changing perceptions that it is only motivated by narrow self-interest. It must make more efforts to make its dealings with African governments more transparent and better explain its presence on the continent to the young local populations, eager for economic growth and employment.
The author is a political analyst who focuses on Africa and the developing world. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
Not defending China here, but I remember when Central and
South American Nations wanted to borrow from the U. S. The
U. S. gave them the loans, and then those nations trashed us
for asking to be paid back.
China won’t put up with that for long.
Tokyo Rose lives on!
As far as whether the BRI projects in Africa are debt traps, I suggest you ask Sri Lanka:
Oops.
But in that case, it was commercial banks making the loans.
This is a case of sovereign-to-sovereign lending. In this balance of power, China will have many apologists and supporters. If Zambia makes a stink, the only one who will care is Bono.
The views don’t necessarily reflect those of China Daily.LOL!
Can’t read the article, paywall.
Also China Daily; “China is NOT ASSHOE!”
While Russia and then the United States got played in Afghanistan now it it China’s turn. I do not think the Chi-coms will put up with too much nonsense there and will put down any and all dissent after they they invest there.
Notice the byline. Propaganda piece
China, however, must play its part in changing perceptions that it is only motivated by narrow self-interest.
—
Sounds like he is one of the army of CCP paid ‘influencers’.
Yeah... The capper on this joke.
Julius Nyerere. The article does not mention the Nyerere kicked the Chinese out after completion of the railroad.
I have been a journalist, foreign correspondent, writer and editor for more than 40 years.From the screedwriter’s LinkedIn page. Self-explanatory.
I ran Reuters East Africa bureau during the wild 1990s and was Africa correspondent for The Times of London from 2002-14. From the field, I reported on the ill-fated US intervention in Somalia (Black Hawk Down), the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the ‘Blood Diamond’ wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Balkan civil wars, and Nelson Mandela’s liberation in post-apartheid South Africa and figured in several books concerning those events.
More recentIy, I reported on the 2015 refugee influx into Europe and directed coverage of the first-ever team of refugees to compete in the Rio Olympics in 2016 on behalf of the UN Refugee Agency.
I was founding Editor in Chief of the award-winning humanitarian information service, the New Humanitarian and recently set up a new reporting network focusing on emerging Jihadist and other threats to Africa. I also advise several private sector companies, think tanks, NGOs and UN organizations on their media strategies.
I am a passionate environmentalist and involved in several conservation projects around the world.
“Not defending China here, but I remember when Central and
South American Nations wanted to borrow from the U. S.....”
Don’t worry, the World Bank has circumvented U.S. loans...
$10 Billion dollar “SGR” program under way now; graft and
corruption included in the price.
Check the “modern” Chinese built rail system in place now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5vjfJym7yo
Yeah, I believe you’re right there.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see that.
It will be interesting.
Nice rail system.
Our media will report it as on time, modern, clean, restful...
Walter Duranty lives...
The Chinese call them "White Monkeys".
If you give them enough 'bananas' they'll say anything you want.
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