For thousands of years China remained a relatively stable empire in respect of its existence as a political entity. Different dynasties and periods with unique features and developments shaped the empire; however, the Chinese civilization remained in place. Like all other civilizations, wars and diplomacy were integral to the evolution of Chinese society.
This notwithstanding, the experience China had with European powers and Japan, especially in the 19th century, was akin to what Africa experienced with Europe around the same period. The difference, however, is that in the case of Africa, colonialism had mostly meant total domination of all spheres of life. Most European states altered and sometimes discarded the traditional political and cultural institutions of their African colonies. China, though dominated and exploited, had its traditional authority and institutions intact. Regardless, the Chinese like Africans suffered under external domination.
European imperial control had been in three main forms: colonies, protectorates; and spheres of influence. China experienced the last form.
After the Opium Wars between European powers and China, the former was able to impose terms that gave them access to Chinese territories to trade. The huge population of China together with political stability and the industriousness of its population made it an important destination of European trade and Euro-Asian expansionism. Russia and Japan were expanding their influence by taking more territories—China lost vast territories.
Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Russia took parts of the country and puts them under their respective “spheres of influence”. The exploitation that followed and the reaction of the Chinese to it culminated chain of events that shaped what became modern-day China.
China’s relationship with Africa despite some pre-colonial traces, became more consequential after the communists won the civil war and took power in 1949. Even though the nationalists and the Mao-led communists saw reason in fighting Japan together during the Second World War, their expected differences have emerged after the final defeat of Japan. With the communists in charge, Beijing (Peking) began to pursue independent foreign policy. Africa, with colonies fighting for their independence, became a natural target.
After independence and even before, African states were supported by China against colonialism and Western influence. The Chinese Premier, Zhou Enlai engaged in a shuttle diplomacy to 10 states in the 1960s. Ghana, Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia were among them. Egypt was the first to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1956.
China supported African countries economically and technically. From the 1950s to the 1970s the Asian country supported Africa with over $3 billion. Engineers, doctors and other technical support teams were dispatched to Africa to support the building of critical infrastructure and render other services, especially in Southern Africa. Tanzania and Zambia benefited from China’s role in building railways and other critical infrastructure. This was very necessary to isolate the apartheid regime in South Africa.
When China shifted away from the Soviet Union during the Cold War, it supported rival groups and interests within Africa. In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe received Chinese support when the Soviets chose to support Joshua Nkomo against white minority rule. The current sway China has in Zimbabwe is partly because of the support it granted to the ruling party during the Cold War.
In the 1970s when the issue of admitting China into the United Nations came to the fore, over 20 African nations supported China in the international organization. With close ties and economic support over the years, these states recognized the need bring China into the mainstream global politics and support its progress.
After China had liberalized its economy in the 1980s, the economic expansion that resulted meant the search for more resources and markets for goods and services. With African states holding huge reserves of critical and strategic resources, relations between the continent and China deepened. Consequently, Sino-African trade increased unprecedentedly fast.
Thousands of Chinese firms are operating in various sectors of the continent. China has sponsored infrastructural projects in many countries. Countries in East Africa have benefited from what is termed the “Belt and Roads Initiative” of China. Billions of Chinese loans have entered Africa. China remains the number one trading partner to Africa. These merchandises have, however, included goods and services that are not for civilian purposes.
Despite this, the volume of aid, especially that related to loans has had some observers talk about a “debt trap” for the economies of the continent. Issues related to environmental degradation and the possible propping up of authoritarian leaders have been raised by sceptics of Sino-African relations. China denies all such allegations of trying to dominate and exploit Africa.
Security:
China is among the top three arms sellers in Africa. The list of arms sold to the continent by Beijing ranges from small arms to sophisticated and modern war equipment. In recent times, China has sold armed drones to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
China has also established its military presence in the continent. It maintains a major military base in the Horn of Africa—Djibouti. Very recently, their Chinese warships docked in a port in Lagos, Nigeria to signal closer military cooperation between China and Africa’s most populous and largest economy in the continent. Many have pointed out that the supply of these arms tends to over-militarize conflicts and creates "better" alternatives to peaceful settlements for belligerents.
Verdict:
The relations between China and African states have been longstanding and were built on south-south cooperation and the principles of liberation from colonialism and foreign domination. In the process, China has supported African states in many ways since the 1950s. In return, Africa has traded with China and granted it diplomatic support.
With the growing economic and military power of China, however, it is no more a near-equal partner to individual African states. It is more powerful and finds itself in a sophisticated great power competition. This means that China’s interest has changed in the past decades. Just as they are supposed to be vigilant and purposeful in their dealings with other powers around the world, African states must be conscious and deliberate with their engagements with China in other to maximize economic and security benefits. China just like all other powerful states puts its interest first in every endeavor.
