Parameters of China's African Policy

28 March 2019 Parameters of China’s African Policy Opinion BOSPHORUS CENTER FOR ASIAN STUDIES Parameters of China’s African Policy 1 2019©All Rights Reserved. No part of this piece may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or printed, without the permission of BAAM. The views expressed in this piece are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect our stance or policy. 2019©Tüm Hakları Saklıdır. BAAM’ın izni alınmadan kısmen veya tamamen elektronik veya basılı olarak çoğaltılamaz, dağıtılamaz ve yayınlanamaz. Yazıda belirtilen görüşler yazara aittir ve BAAM’ın görüşlerini yansıtmak zorunda değildir. Website: bogaziciasya.com / en.bogaziciasya.com E-Mail: [email protected] Twitter: @bogaziciasya / @bogaziciasya_en Bosphorus Center for Asian Studies the window of Turkey opening to Asia Parameters of China’s African Policy 2 Parameters of China’s African Policy Gözde Söğütlü Researcher, BAAM BAAM Belt and Road Program Ankara 2019 Bosphorus Center for Asian Studies the window of Turkey opening to Asia Parameters of China’s African Policy 3 Introduction After the Cold War, the African continent, which has emerged as a partner and investment / trade partner, has continued to maintain its strategic importance in the global power struggle. With the increasing importance of the African continent, the People's Republic of China, which wants to establish itself as a new global power in parallel with its economic growth, has also started to expand its sphere of influence in the continent. China's policies in the political and economic spheres of African countries in a short period of time have been effective. China has also avoided colonial activities that would lead to anger and mistrust by the continental countries in the historical context, and also avoided pursuing a policy of internal affairs in the continental countries. However, the People's Republic of China, which has been established with the struggle for liberation against imperialism like many African countries, has been the supporter of the independence movements in the continent. Therefore, China has historically had a positive image in the eyes of African peoples, making it easier for China to channel to the continent. The bilateral relations developed in line with China's geopolitical interest have made significant progress especially since the 2000s. Behind these relationships, which are critical for China's international effectiveness, there are different components behind each other. These components that we can summarize in the form of supplying food and raw materials for the rapidly growing population and economy, being a market for the goods and services it produces, ratcheting up its diplomatic power in international platforms, creating an alternative model for the Western development model and finally building the super power status. The main motivations of China’s interest in the continent are supply of food and raw materials for rapidly growing Chinese population and economy; increasing its diplomatic power in international platforms; presenting an alternative model for the Western development model and finally building its super power status. Bosphorus Center for Asian Studies the window of Turkey opening to Asia Parameters of China’s African Policy 4 Anti-Westernism Component in the Post-Colonial Period Although the history of Chinese-African relations go back a long way, the apparent rapprochement in relations goes back to the 1950s. In this period of national liberation movements in Africa, China's emphasis was on the solidarity of the poor world against imperialism. China, provided money and weapons to the independence movements in many African countries, and tried to establish an alliance relationship with the support of infrastructure. The Bandung Conference, held in 1955, formed the basis of the diplomatic relations with African countries struggling with the destructive effects of colonialism. The main agenda item of the conference, which aimed to promote the economic and cultural relations between the two sides, was the strengthening of the cooperation of the Asian-African countries in support of anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggles. Ultimately, China's foreign policy of anti-hegemony has been seen as a positive approach by African leaders. Economy Component China has become a visible force in the African continent, and it has been the first to provide an increasing energy and raw material need in the last 20 years due to an average annual growth rate of 10 percent. In this context, African countries, rich in minerals and metals with 30% of global energy reserves, are indispensable for China. When China’s active policy on the continent is examined, the continent as an energy sphere, gifted with its vast natural – namely oil natural gas, uranium- and renewable resources , is of primary importance. China has begun to produce action outside the ideological axis in foreign policy by achieving rapid economic growth and development thanks to the strategic reforms implemented in domestic politics. Hence in order to maintain its position as he world's second-largest global economic power and achieve higher targets, the Beijing administration has signed a series of political,technical and economic cooperation agreements with African countries in the form of a pragmatic relationship. China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), first held in Beijing in 2000 to promote and develop Chinese-African economic and commercial cooperation, has become a tool in terms of ensuring long-term, stable and mutual benefit of both sides. Bosphorus Center for Asian Studies the window of Turkey opening to Asia Parameters of China’s African Policy 5 Diplomacy Component Despite the fact that China builds its visibility on the continent through economic activities, the considerable number of African states in the UN, by means of securing larger diplomatic support, constitutes the second component of China's policy towards the African continent. We can also say that Taiwan's diplomatic marginalization in Africa, which has the potential to stave off a great power status as a projection of China's political and cultural support for African countries, which account for about one-third of the UN General Assembly members. In the UN vote in 1971, many African countries followed policies in favor of China, and the end of Taiwan's UN membership has been one of the factors determining China's diplomatic and military steps towards African countries. While countries of the continent have not recognized the Taiwanese government, but increased their economic assistance to support China's position, and countries such as South Africa stated that they would support Single China Policy. However, it is not accidental that China, which is an important source of capital and technology for developing countries, has chosen the continent of Africa to maintain its economic growth model. China is the biggest energy consumer in the World and it aims to reach the sources of energy and raw metarials thorough its relations with African countries. At the same time, it aims to make a profit in diplomatic sense with the it’s investments in this continent where the reaction against the apartheid-like racist imperialist policies applied by Western countries. China, which is the biggest energy consumer in the world, aims to gain energy in the diplomatic through relations with African countries, as well as access to energy and raw material resources, investments of Western countries in the past where apartheid-like racist, reaction to imperialist policies is intense. In this sense, the Beijing government finances important and symbolically valuable infrastructure projects such as government buildings, stadiums, housing and ports in Angola, Botswana, Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo Democratic Republic, Zambia, Zimbabwe and many other African countries. Bosphorus Center for Asian Studies the window of Turkey opening to Asia Parameters of China’s African Policy 6 Global Power Component China, which has become a rising power with its growing economy, population and military investments, increases its effectiveness in the African continent. The fact that China has become a visible actor in the African continent can be explained by the expectation that the international system will evolve from polarity to polarity in the context of consolidating its own power. The fact that African countries think that the international system is not fair and therefore cannot benefit from the political economic order at the desired level is effective in acting in accordance with Chinese policies. The similarity of administrative identities the African countries, which have not yet been institutionalized, and the of China governed by the authoritarian one-party system, are another important factor driving China to the African continent. This raises the internationalization of domestic policy issues, such as human rights violations in the country. Consequently, China's supportive policy monitoring of the 54 African countries in the UN General Assembly and commissions, which account for 28 percent of UN members, is important for China in terms of preventing a permanent front against them. “Chinese Dream“ According to China, which acts in peaceful coexistence and seeking win-win policies, Africa is not only a target representing the future of the world economy but also a unique tool to achieve the goals of Chinese Dream. China, one of the most influential actors of the African continent, acts with

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