“China’s Strategic Foray into Africa – How do Economic Investments strengthen China’s Sphere of Influence, thus Overcoming its Historical Humiliation.”
Key Research Question:
What are the strategic motivations and benefits behind China’s investments in Africa, and what are the implications of these investments for the African continent and the broader global order?
Project Description:
In the modern world of international relations and globalization, the strategic expansion of China into Africa stands out as a unique and intriguing topic to be researched. It is interesting because oftentimes, Europe, the U.S., and other developed countries have not been putting enough effort into Africa. China’s effort in Africa is a very strategic and effective way to challenge the U.S.-led power structure, which is one of the most crucial aspects of China’s foreign policy agenda that will be constantly talked about in this research project.
Throughout history, Soviet-Cuban relations have been similar to the current Sino-African relations because, in the past, there have been many Cubans studying and working in the Soviet Union, and bringing knowledge back to Cuba, just like what many Africans are doing now. This research explores China’s multifaceted engagement with African countries, emphasizing both public and private economic investments in infrastructure and industry—ultimately contributing to the culmination of China’s sphere of influence.
Furthermore, observing and analyzing the deeper meaning behind China’s actions in Africa is interesting and important because it helps to see the complex context of overcoming a historical narrative of humiliation.
Strategic Motivations:
One of the most important reasons behind China’s increasing involvement in Africa is its desire to overcome its Century of Humiliation—a period of Western domination and humiliation placed on the Qing Dynasty throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. In order to study the current Sino-African relationship and the importance of economic investment in this dynamic, it is necessary to consider and research the historical events and significant individuals that shaped the modern-day Chinese foreign policy strategies and their motivations.
When examining and analyzing the causes of China’s actions in Africa, it is more than crucial to look at the foundation of modern-day China’s foreign policy and diplomacy, which was possible because of the initiatives and work of generations of Chinese people who saw the future and benefit of opening up the country and globalization. The ambitious global strategy that supports China’s investments in Africa would not have been possible without the fundamental economic and diplomatic reforms initiated by figures like Deng Xiaoping in the late 20th century. Deng’s opening-up policy transformed China into an economic power, able to compete with the American sphere of influence today. As such, he laid the groundwork for a more assertive Chinese foreign policy that seeks to expand its hegemon through economic domination.
The investments in Africa are a direct continuation of this vision, as shown in China’s cooperation and trade with other countries in the famous One-Belt-One Road Initiative, which leverages economic power to build firm political ties.
Benefits for China and African countries:
China’s investments in Africa also serve other purposes. Economically, they secure critical access to natural resources that greatly benefit China’s domestic development and make China more competitive in its strong infrastructure and industrial sector. For instance, Chinese entities own stakes in many cobalt industries in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which supplies the vast majority of the world’s cobalt. There are many similar examples in other African countries like Mali and Zimbabwe, where China is gaining control of their mining and natural resources production. In addition, an increasing amount of Chinese goods has entered the African market, fostering trade relationships that further lean in China’s favor. Meanwhile, it is also critical to examine and highlight possible shortcomings behind China’s investment in Africa, including the lack of emphasis on environmental protection, workers’ safety, and the unequal return to the African countries.
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