The Gambia – China Relations and Its Strategies to Restrain the Western Influences in the Gambia
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THE GAMBIA – CHINA RELATIONS AND ITS STRATEGIES TO RESTRAIN THE WESTERN INFLUENCES IN THE GAMBIA Thesis This is submitted to meet the requirements of obtaining a Bachelor degree in Social Sciences By: Fanna Conteh 11161130000125 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA 2020 PANEL OF EXAMINERS APPROVAL SHEET THESIS THE GAMBIA – CHINA RELATIONS AND ITS STRATEGIES TO RESTRAIN WESTERN INFLUENCES IN THE GAMBIA By: Fanna Conteh 11161130000125 Has done her thesis defense oral examination at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah UIN Jakarta on 30th June 2020. This thesis was assessed and approved as partial fulfillment of the requirement for Bachelor of Sciences in International Relations. Head, Secretary, Muhammad Adian Firnas, M.Si Irfan R.Hutagulung,LLM NIP. NIP. Examiner I Examiner II Khoirun Nisa, MA., Pol Teguh Santosa, MA NIP. NIP. PREFACE The basis for this research is to earn myself an undergraduate degree in international relations with research topic on the Gambia and China relations, its strategies to gain influence in the Gambia and counter the western presence. As we live in a globalised world, where countries cooperate with each other for the benefit of its people and for the development of its economies. China, as a growing super power enforces strategic measures and policies with the aims of achieving its long term goals. Therefore, writing this research project comes with better knowledge and benefits as it will enlighten readers about the presence of China and other western countries in the Gambia. Furthermore, I would like to give special thanks to all the people that supported me and gave me advises throughout the work and most importantly, my supervisor who helped me through the process and it could not have come to this realisation without his guidance. Moreover, I thank each and every one for the consistent love and support. ABSTRACT This thesis analyses the strategies the Chinese government uses in the Gambia in order to strengthen the bilateral ties, increase its influences and counter the Western presence in the country. As international relations research is carried out through the study of literatures and interviews, many researchers have written papers on the relationship of China and Africa as a whole with the motives behind its presence relating to its economy and its political ambitions. Moreover, the bilateral relations between the Gambia and China has seen a rapid growth and in depth in recent years, with Chinese aid, grants and infrastructural projects which is said to assist the development process of the country. The Gambia government adheres to the ‗One China Policy‘ and promises its support to China in International forums and meetings which China appreciates a lot. Therefore, China as a growing super power, has cultivated its soft power in the course of developing its foreign agendas both bilaterally and multilaterally. Its main driving force is seen to happen through the use of diplomatic efforts, development assistance, institutional support and the state owned enterprises that operate in energy and natural resource sectors. This has made more economic engagements possible for China and as a result, its government is more willing to use development aid and concessionary loans to help its state owned enterprises to secure business deals in the Gambia and other parts of the continent. The China Exim bank has facilitated the credits and funds for the business transactions and infrastructural projects involved. However, the Chinese diplomacy goes with a careful constructed foreign policy and a comprehensive approach that places the country on a part with the long established Western powers for the competition and influence with the aims of securing its national interests in the Gambia and all around the world. Keywords: The Gambia, China, Taiwan, Policy, Western powers, One China policy, Africa, diplomacy, Infrastructure, national interest, competition, influence,economy, soft power , aid, forums, development ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all the people who have supported me during the process of writing this research project. I particularly give a special thanks to the Islamic State University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta for giving me the opportunity to study and earn myself an undergraduate degree in the International Relations field with all the opportunities that comes with it. I also want to express my sincere and distinct appreciation to my supervisor, Ahmad Alfajri MA., who has the strength of a genius and has convincingly, guided and encouraged me to do the right thing even though the road got tough. Without his persistent help, the goal of this project would not have been realised. Moreover, my respect and appreciation goes to all my university lecturers who have always taken their time to teach to the best of their abilities and make the class as conducive as possible. Most importantly, being an international student, they have showed me much love and support and have always been welcoming. I am extremely grateful to my wonderful parents and my beloved aunt Haddy for their love, support, prayers, and sacrifices for educating and preparing me for my future. I also appreciate the people that have helped me greatly like Madam Fatou kinneh Jobe, Deputy Head of mission of the Gambia in Beijing, Ebrima J. Barry at MoFA Gambia, Mr Cherno Jallow, Professor Gomez, Mr Amadou Jallow, Mr Ousman Sanyang and Momodou Barry. I would want to thank all my friendly and amazing classmates that have been supportive and so nice to me all the time of our study. Finally, i thank all the people who have helped me to complete this research work directly or indirectly for their constant encouragements. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AU African Union EU European Union UN United Nations UK United Kingdom USA United States of America GDP Gross Domestic Product PRC People‘s Republic Chins ROC Republic of China SDG Sustainable Development Goal IUU Illegal Unreported Unregulated NIA National Intelligence Agency ICC International Criminal Court EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone NDP National Development Plan HRM Human Resource Management IEC Independent Electoral Commission FDI Foreign Direct Investment LGA Local Government Area DPP Democratic People‘s Party ITC International Trade Centre TTM Taiwanese Technical Mission CPC Communist Party of China AFD Agence Francaise de Development OBOR One Belt One Road FOCAC Forum on China Africa Cooperation DFID Department for International Development ICDF International Cooperation Development Fund NAWEC National Water and Electrical Company MSME Micro, Small Medium Enterprises UNGA United Nations General Assembly UNSC United Nations Security Council SFPA Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement YALI Young African Leadership Initiative CSIS Centre for Strategic International Studies ICAO International Civil Aviation Organisation AERC African Economic Research Consortium AGOA Africa Growth Opportunity Act CIIE China International Import Expo CAADP Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Process NEPAD New Partnership for Africa‘s Development GAMTEL Gambia Telecommunication ASTAGAM Agricultural Science Teachers Association Gambia LIST OF PICTURES (A) 1.1 The Gambia Map (B) 1.2 Basse – Wulli Bridge and Fatoto – Passamass bridge (C) 1.3 Basse – Fatoto – Koina road (D) 1.4 International Conference Centre in the Gambia TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ................................................................ I THESIS SUPERVISOR APPROVAL ................................................................ II PREFACE ............................................................................................................ III ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. V LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................ VI LIST OF PICTURES ......................................................................................... VII CHAPTER I ........................................................................................................... 1 A. PROBLEM STATEMENT .......................................................................... 1 B. RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................................ 3 C. RESEARCH PURPOSES AND BENEFITS ............................................... 3 D. LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................. 4 E. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................... 8 F. RESEARCH METHOD ............................................................................. 12 CHAPTER II ....................................................................................................... 15 THE GAMBIA AND CHINA BILATERAL RELATIONS ................................ 15 A. Historical Relationship between the Gambia and China............................ 15 B. Diplomatic Shifts of the Gambia from Taiwan to Mainland China ........... 18 C. Current Relations between Gambia and China .......................................... 23 CHAPTER III ..................................................................................................... 32 THE GAMBIA RELATIONS