Name: malika dand

Matriculation no: U2031642K

MIDTERM ASSIGNMENT

QUESTION: Discuss China’s foreign policy towards Africa in the second half of the 20th century
highlighting relevant shifts, constants and contradictions. (100 marks)

ANSWER:

China’s interest in africa is not a novelty, instead we can see its roots ever since the existence of silk
route and before the advent of colonialism. However china’s grasp on the African continent only
grew stronger in the midst of the 20th century.

During the 1950’s Chinese engagement in africa was limited due to the onset of the cold war and
the ideological struggle between communist china and soviet union and the western powers. How-
ever during this phase africa was still under metropolised by the western countries. It was the colo-
nial past shared between these countries that made china and africa natural allies against the west.
This shared past between the two countries brought them definitively closer, and helped form strong
diplomatic ties with one another. Which intern was more than helpful for the newly formed PCR to
gain wider recognition in the realm of international politics. One of the key factors that shaped the
foreign policy of China in Africa was the Bandung conference in 1955 (El-Khawas, 1973) through
this conference minister Zhou Enlai brought into attention the “five principles of peaceful coexis-
tence” which was a model of self reliance and partnership in the anti colonial struggle. The five
principles were mainly catering to the sovereignty, integrity and mutual cooperation and non-ag-
gression. This helped china garner support from the newly independent states. Which could be seen
with newly formed diplomatic relations in 1956 with Egypt being the first African country to form
ties with China and later with Morocco and Algeria in 1958 and Sudan and guinea in 1959.
( Alden&Alves, 2008)

Chinese active involvement in africa started only in the 1960’s when the former had an ideological
drift with the soviet union. This Sino-soviet split lead to a substantial increase in the importance of
political ties with africa mainly for two reasons; first to lead the worlds socialist reform competing
against soviet union and second for wider international recognition and respect in the global poli-
tics. Beijing's new strategy of touring Africa was one of the key reasons for its heightened political
and economic relations with africa. Zhou Enlai toured 10 African countries in the span of 7
weeks during 1963 and 1964 (Alden&Alves, 2008) this aggressive marketing of Chinese ideals in
africa was well received by the new formed and rural countries of africa. Beijing actively engaged
in supporting the liberation struggles and assisting the newly independent countries through vari-
ous formal and informal structures.
The formal policy instruments included the formation of diplomatic ties, signing and maintaining
co-operation agreements between the states , signing of several interest free or low interest loans for
the infrastructural and socioeconomic development of the newly formed states. Technical assis-
tance was provided to African industries during this time and economic aid was issued by being for
many underdeveloped and developing countries in Africa. Medical and agricultural experts were
sent to various countries to train and further develop their terrains. This accounted for increased
Chinese influence on the African continent. By the end of 1965, 14 new African countries had
formed diplomatic relations with china.
Few of the informal structures in chinas foreign policy during this time were firstly overt propa-
ganda through radio broadcasts and news letters and direct interaction with people which brought
about a significant impact on the ideologies of the people in the day to day life. Covertly china fo-
cused on monetary and economic assistance via payments to African leaders and other technical as-
sistance required for the liberation movements. (Alden&Alves, 2008) The main reasons for these
active initiatives in africa were to create a favourable image of community china and to promote the
maoist doctrine compelling soviet union to be the official enemy on the continent.

By 1960’s however china was involved in many violent liberation movements , struggles and
coups in the newly formed African states. Such as in the democratic republic of Congo, Angola,
Niger and Burundi. China tried to impend these con trues to follow the communist and mainly
maoist ideologies; and blindly supported any group that pertained and supported their political ide-
ologies. China was accused of training troops in gorilla warfare and aiding various liberalisation
groups with approximately 142 million dollars worth of arms in 15 countries (Alden&Alves, 2008)
This aggressive participation in the African conflicts largely backfired on the Sino-African rela-
tions. The new African countries became distrust full of china and started expelling diplomats from
their countries mainly ivory coast, upper Volta, Madagascar and so on.

However this was Chinas main learning point and towards the end of the century china changed its
approach towards the African countries they, mainly normalised diplomatic relations with all
Africans countries regardless of their political and ideological orientation, they extended the eco-
nomic assistance to selected African countries and decided to support big projects especially those
that had been deserted by the western powers. One such example would be the Tanzam/ Tazara
railway built in the 1970-75 this project was the epitome of Sino-African friendship as china aided
africa with roughly 405 million dollar interest free loan. This lead to a wide spread support for Chi-
nese foreign investments and policy and helped them secure a seat in the united nations in 1971 by
the help of 26 African countries. Another major gain for china was the support africa gave in the
united nations with regards to the Taipei issue and conflict, during this voting china gained 20 more
votes siding towards them from the African countries. Chains active involvement during the 20th
century paved way to greater and smoother international relations between the two countries, and a
win-win situation for both African development and Chinese geopolitical and economic success.