China and Africa: What kind of relationship?

Robert, the gentleman who commented on my post about Zimbabwe, beat me to the punch. Well, at least on the issue of China and its political, environment, and economical impact on Africa. Personally, I view anyone, western or eastern, who comes to Africa with so-called "development projects" with skepticism. History has proven time and time again that Africa is probably the easiest place to exploit. Why? We are technologically inferior. We were at the arrival of the Europeans and we still are at this particular moment in time. What baffles my mind is that eastern powers such as China, India, and Japan are legitimate challengers to the US in terms of military and economic hegemony. These, like most african countries today, were colonies of European powers in the last century. Why don't we see African countries do the same?

Recently China has stepped up its efforts on befriending African countries in the name of helping them develop. Now, it is true China helped some African countries with building infrastructure during the Cold War when most of these newly-independent countries sought a non-aligned stance in the US-Soviet union squabble. Some African writers have remarked that there are vast differences in the ideologies of China then and China now. Whatever the case, China is using its past in Africa to shore up supply of valuable raw resources, oil included, in order to bolster its growing economy. In return, China promises aid, monetary and expertise. As Robert pointed out in his comment to my earlier post on Mugabe's genius plan, this "aid" comes at a greater cost to the African country's economy and the environment. There are examples of this in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, as Robert mentioned, not to mention several others.

I believe we are witnessing a former colony become an empire, at least in economic terms. As China's hegemony in Africa solidifies and continue to grow, we will see a new species of cold wars that will rival or surpass THE Cold War. China has recently stepped up diplomatic efforts to alienate Taiwan and divert resources meant for markets in Europe and America to its own markets. It might be doing this in fear that should it fail to do so now, the future might not be bright for its economy if a re-emerging Russia beats it to those African resources. That would only mean both Russia and the West would have a leg-up on China in the pursuit of African resources. Therefore, as the West is losing support among African leaders with its promotion of democracy, and Russia is busy straightening its in-house and regional affairs, China's moment to court African leaders and gain the resources needed to sustain its economy is now.

Well, as long as the West's call for democracy continues to alienate African leaders, China will find a welcoming house in Africa. These leaders know that the fact that they are now, or in the past, supported by the West is no guarantee that they will be helped stay in power when their use to them is no more. Mobutu, and many others, found this out the hard way. China is pushing itself as an alternative to self-righteous bigots whose loyalties shift on a whim. As long as these dictators or corrupt regimes continue to see China's support as insurance against their ouster, they will continue to flock to it and its developmental aid delusion.