Frogs in a Well: China's Invisible Grip on Africa

As a quickly rising economy in today's US-dominated world, China is taking a radical approach in securing its international status. Veering away from the traditional European & western markets, the country has been steadily building up its influence in the African continent. According to Reuters, trade between the two regions was $166 billion USD in 2011, with two-way trade increasing by 30% every year for the past decade.Today, it is Africa's largest trading partner, having surpassed the US in 2009. But Sino-African relations do not end with commerce. Last month, Chinese Premier Li embarked on a tour in Africa, and offered $12 million USD in developmental loans to countries including Kenya, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Additionally, he presented thousands of dollars to fund new infrastructure projects in the continent, including a high-speed railway in Nairobi. Considering African leaders' constant insistence that relations with China are not "a one-way street," what is China receiving from this partnership?

African exports of natural resources are almost entirely directed toward China.

Simply put: oil & new markets. Oil demands in China, needed to fuel its perpetually growing industry, are incredible, and the nation is able to meet many of these requirements through its advantageous relations with African countries. One-third of African raw materials(iron ore, coal, timber) are exported to China, according to Africa Renewal magazine. Cities such as Johannesburg or Cairo are also benefiting from the influx of cheap goods from the far-off nation. For its active role in the continent, Chinese influences can be seen in nearly every aspect of African society. Take for instance Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International airport, the African Union's sleek new headquarters (located in Ethiopia), or the Chinese merchants' brief stint at textile sales. (The low cost of Chinese textiles provoked a crash in local industries, prompting the Tanzanian government to ban Chinese companies from directly interfering within the country.) To accommodate for this foreign presence, many countries have begun incorporating Mandarin in their education curriculum (such as this South African school), and broadcasts from China Radio International & Xinhua News can be heard on all stations, offering positive reinforcements of current Sino-African ties and the Chinese government views. President Obama has responded to China's encroaching presence with the development of programs such as "Power Africa" (funding electric generation) and "Trade Africa" (increase US exports), but the lack of incentive and real action has aroused great suspicion on whether the government is sincere in its efforts.

The African Union headquarters at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The plaque is inscribed in both Mandarin & English, and designates the facility as a gift from the Chinese government.

What does this mean for the rest of the world? By capturing a new market in which most other countries were unable or uninterested in investing, China now has the means and allies to expand its markets and cultural presence. With many young students in South Africa studying Chinese at school, walking past China-funded infrastructure, and constantly learning the Chinese government's stance on such controversial issues as the Tibetan revolts, or its ruling Communist party, we may be looking at a generation of African youth growing up in a cocoon of Chinese influence. Having been surrounded by this reinforcement of Chinese political beliefs, perhaps these students will someday serve to strengthen China's voice in diplomatic proceedings, especially with its neighbors Korea and Japan. Whether or not this will put other world powers at a disadvantage in international gatherings such as the United Nations, we have yet to see. In the words of G. John Ikenberry, "The rise of China will undoubtedly be one of the greatest dramas of the twenty-first century."