the China dilemma
How China bought Africa
China’s trade-and-investment march across the globe may be a neo-imperialist campaign to reshape the world, extract Africa’s natural resources, and become a leading global power. But it is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve common development — something neither SA nor the region can afford to miss out on
China’s 21st-century Silk Road, a giant circle of influence that spreads from Asia across the Middle East through Africa and Europe back to China, may be the most ambitious global investment drive in history. It may also be the best thing that has happened to Africa, or the worst. Also known as One Belt, One Road or the Belt and Road Initiative, this $1.6 trillion endeavour forms a core part of President Xi Jinping’s grand plan for China to be a "leading global power" by 2050. This colossal spending spree, which is slated to include an $8bn high-speed railway through Nigeria and a $50bn canal across Nicaragua, would dwarf the Marshall Plan that reconstructed Europe after World War 2. But whether it is an imperialist plot to reshape the world or just a mercantilist endeavour to feed an economy of 1.3bn people, from Africa’s perspective it is hardly new. Belt and Road gives a name to the latest leg of China’s investment strategy on the continent, which has been evolving steadily for t...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.