Africa & China

There has been significant investments from China to the African nations. In this article outlining the effects and impacts that Chinese investments have had, it has struck me that China is taking a much more global role. Whilst the majority of the efforts are for profit, much like the United States, it seeks to influence in other geographical and political areas outside of its direct control.

Where the difference lies is the lack of transparency and lack of accountability in the way these things are done, on both sides of the world. In China, the driving motive of profit has led to a very "no meddling" policy for the money that China provides, in return for the raw materials. This in turn has allowed many African rulers to funnel this money for their own uses, or to ignore rules placed on them from other Western donors.

It is like colonialism, but a much more hands-off model. Will China be able to influence the direction and course of Africa this way? In the global arena, having allies in the form of African nation votes would definitely balance out the US and European voting block.

But will this new type of "colonialism" be workable? I think the memories of previous colonists are still there in the minds of those people. Nothing comes for free...

It would be surprising if the African nations let it happen again.