Is the Dragon Threatening the Eagle's Lunch in Africa? America of China: Who Wins the Scramble for Africa?
The growing influence of China in Africa poses significant threats to United States’ interests on the continent. Unless the U.S. moves fast, it will lose the influence war in Africa to the Chinese
China’s burgeoning influence on the continent comes with serious consequences for America’s interests in Africa. National security, rule of law, human rights and democratic governance interests are at risk.
Undoubtedly, China is not new to Africa. However, it is evident today that China has made a strategic move to prioritize trade and foreign direct investments on the continent.
Since the mid 1990s, China’s influence in Africa has
exponentially grown. In 2009 China surpassed the United States
as Africa’s leading trading partner. China-Africa (exports and
imports) totaled $127 billion dollars in 2010. This is in
comparison to the U.S.-Africa trade value of $113 billion
dollars during the same time period. While there are huge trade
deficits between the U.S. and Africa, China’s trade balances
with most African countries are virtually deficits free.
The simple explanation for the notable trade deficits between
the U.S. and Africa can be attributed to the huge oil imports
from Africa, while there are hardly any considerable exports
from Africa into American markets. For example, in 2010, the
U.S. imported about $85 billion worth of oil from African
markets, while the U.S.’s total exports to the continent
amounted to a mere $28 billion dollars.
The opposite is true with Sino-Africa trade and diplomatic
relations. While America has trade deficit with Africa, China,
had trade surpluses with most African countries. In Africa,
China is not just interested in the extractive sector.
Contrarily, Sino-Africa investments have extended to apparel,
textile, food and agro processing, retail ventures, fisheries,
sea food farming, commercial real estate, transportation,
construction, tourism, power plants, banking and financial
services, telecommunications, higher education, to name but a
few.
Of course, the two countries approach Africa differently. China
sees Africa as a strategic interest for raw materials to fuel
its manufacturing industries as well as for hydrocarbon fuels
for its growing energy needs. The US is interested in issues of
good governance and democracy. The U.S. believes that a
prosperous Africa will encourage open market policies. This is
all about ensuring that freedom and democracy flourish on the
continent.
China adopts a policy of non- interference in which it does not
attach any strings to its development aid or investment packages
as long as African governments embrace China’s “one-China”
policy. For instance, China does business with countries like
Zimbabwe and the Sudan (despite human rights violations in
Darfur, and Mugabe’s oppression of his people).
Furthermore, the Chinese practice of staffing infrastructure and
construction projects with Chinese labor not only does not spur
local capacity building but also drives local industries out of
business.
In sum, China has encroached upon traditional areas of economic
and diplomatic cooperation once coveted purviews of OECD
(Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development)
countries, including the United States.
For America, one of its recent strategies had centered on
security for Africa: the so-called Africa Command (AFRICOM) was
initiated to serve as a multifaceted initiative. AFRICOM had
been designed as a conglomerate of military, security and
humanitarian coordination unit solely for Africa from the United
States. Aside from Liberia, however, no other African countries
had been willing to host this U.S. military base, which was also
meant to serve as counter to the war on terror in the region.
AFRICOM is currently based in Stuttgart, Germany instead of in
Africa. It coordinates a number of U.S. interests in Africa,
including U.N. peacekeeping operations, civilian and State
Department projects, drones and counter terrorism operations on
the continent. Drone operations in East Africa are a prime
example.
Unless the United States moves quickly and adopts policies that
would stop the rapid growth of China’s influence, it risks
losing its influence in Africa. Losing influence in an
increasingly critical region is tantamount to losing access to
strategic interests in that part of the world.
Editor's Note: Sirleaf
is an independent Africa policy and conflict analyst, who holds
an MA in International Law and a MPA in Public Leadership and
International Policy Analysis from the University for Peace and
the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
He can be reached at: sirleafak@gmail.com or
(651) 208-0463.
Connect With Us
For Information, Please Contact The FELMAUSA PRO at (267)702-8982