There are an estimated 750,000 Chinese settlers in Africa, and one Chinese expert has suggested that China will need to send 300 million people to Africa (UK’s Sunday Times, China’s New Frontier). Very few of the 750,000 Chinese already in Africa speak English or any African language.
In June, and again in November, 2007, I wrote about how China and Islam are ‘eating up’ Africa. I pointed out that Africa is a cornucopia of natural resources; chock full of strategic metals and minerals. The continent can no longer feed its own population, but China will soon put that right. We former African settlers know that Africa has the means by which to feed itself and even export food… It need not be a “basket-case” continent.
I forecast that, untrammelled by western liberals, Chinese settlers will simply do what white settlers used to do – restore Africa as a thriving source of natural resources. Trouble is that the Chinese will be much tougher on the indigenous population than 20th century European settlers ever were. They will work with whatever unpleasant African regime happens to be in power at the time – see Darfur and Sudan below – so long as that regime allows China to exploit the country’s resources. Many Chinese projects already employ only Chinese, so ordinary Africans don’t benefit.
It’s worth the West taking note of what’s happening in Africa. Perhaps that’s why President Bush visited Africa last week and made so many statements on the benighted continent; he even had something to say about Zimbabwe. Meanwhile Steven Spielberg has withdrawn from his role as an artistic adviser to China for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing (BBC). Spielberg has done that as a protest against China failing to intervene over genocide in the Darfur Region of Sudan. But Sudan is a major supplier of oil to China, and the horror of Darfur is part of the creeping conquest of Africa by Islam. I doubt if Spielberg’s protest will influence China, Islam, or the (Islamic) Sudanese government.
China is encouraging its citizens to settle in Africa for two reasons: The first is that China needs Chinese enterprise and labour to extract Africa’s resources; the second is to ease overpopulation and pollution in China itself. “We have 600 rivers in China, 400 of which have been killed by pollution…” a Chinese scientist who wishes to remain anonymous said. “We will have to send 300 million people to Africa before we can begin to see the end of our problems.” (Sunday Times report by Jon Swain).
The United States of America have never been colonialists, but are hated by much of the world for their power and success. Is the old British Empire being replaced by a new, much harsher Chinese Empire, and what will that mean to the USA?
END
Author, Peter Davies was a soldier in Rhodesia from 1963 to 1975, where he took part in the capture and interrogation of terrorists. His novel, Scatterlings of Africa, is based on his own experience during Rhodesia’s war on terror, and personal observations of how terrorist activities impacted Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and its people.
Readers who would like to make a contribution to help innocent pensioners, who are unable to buy food and other basic necessities in Zimbabwe, should please contact Patricia Williams by email patashnix@btinternet.com.
Loading ...
4 users commented in " Peter Davies on China in Africa - Is China the new colonial power in Africa? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThe West has been “aiding” Africa the dark continent for over 400 years. At the end of that, Africans are poorer, sicker, and less able to support themselves then ever before.
In the short few years that China has been active in Africa, if anything, the competition alone has brought much better terms of trade and investments to the Africans, marshalling in a new era of hope, with improved economic growth rates (as high as 7 or 8% in certain areas) all over the continent.
It is irrefutable that the efforts of the Chinese have improved the conditions for the Africans. Goods are more available and cheaper. Export markets have grown by leaps and bounds - where the Chinese went, the Indians were afraid to be left out, and other nations’ infrastructure investments also went in to take advantage of the Asian demands for natural resources. So the Chinese leverage has greatly tipped the balance in favor of the Africans.
All the “good” things mentioned by Luren Tong since China entered Africa are similar to what happened all those years ago when the West first entered Africa - especially when settlers started arriving. You only have to look at the economic strength and standards of health in Zimbabwe (where life expectancy exceeded 60 years) in the 1970s compared with life expectancy in Zimbabwe now - 34 years for women, and 37 for men. Is Lauren Tong suggesting that Africa flourishes under colonial rule - whether by the West or by China?
Are you joking, Mr. Davies? The ” good ” of Western colonialism was the slave ships, machine guns, mass killings, kidnappings, gunship policies, lootings… the lists go on and on … who told you that China is practicing colonialism… Did China overthrow any African Government? Did China use so called humanitarian intervention to practice imperialism?… what a joke… Even during the era of Cold War, African countries could pick and choice and bargain, after that they lose all the bargain powers and were treated ruthlessly by the West… now China just started to enter the picture and African countries are regaining their bargaining power and leverage… look how the West is afraid of the competition and the whining is simply sickening…
Isha
there are only two response of three except for author, which is against author’s view. But I still like to stand with the author, apparently beloning to white race. I have to appoint out that China will be a real giant, if it is so sensible to the world like white now.
Leave A Reply