David H. Shinn

China and Africa

Since the turn of the century China has constructed a foreign policy toward Africa designed to secure natural resources, future markets, opportunities for its construction firms, and its position as leader of the developing world. To realize these goals, Beijing has employed approaches that address African nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security needs, while ensuring China’s continued ability to influence the political and commercial landscape of this resource-rich continent. China’s increasingly proactive foreign policymakers have taken advantage of a void left by an indifferent USSR, a preoccupied USA, and a divided Europe to create fresh opportunities and pursue new bilateral and multilateral dialogues. For the USA, China’s strategy in African affairs has unique implications. Washington (preoccupied by the Middle East and the South China Sea) has allowed Africa to remain low on its foreign-policy priority list. As a result, until recently Beijing has pursued its strategy in Africa without drawing much attention and has expanded the depth and breadth of its political, economic, diplomatic, and military relationships on the continent. This chapter will begin with a brief historical overview of Sino-African relations. It will explore the development of Beijing’s strategy, with particular attention to China’s contemporary objectives and methods.