Who wants to 'invade' Africa?
- By Han Zhen
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China.org.cn, August 2, 2011
On the last day of his Africa tour, UK Prime Minister David Cameron warned of the "Chinese invasion" of Africa at Nigeria's Lagos Business School.
As a Chinese I was greatly shocked by his concern about China's growing global influence. This old capitalist country, which built colonies around the world using its gunboats, now is criticizing another country for invasion. We cannot help asking who decides the definition of invasion.
Cameron likened China's investment in Africa to an invasion. According to his logic, China should not invest in any other countries and should not give support to other countries' development.
But the British once sold slaves in Africa, turned India and Malaysia into colonies and waged opium wars against China. These were their invasions around the world. But now providing financial aid to African countries is said to be invasion. What a ridiculous standard that is!
Western countries including the UK have been calling on China to shoulder international responsibilities. Currently China is undertaking its international responsibilities by developing trade relations with other countries, especially with developing countries, and by making investments in African countries and supporting their development.
Is Cameron really worried about Africa? He is actually more worried that his country's interests and influence in Africa will be weakened. He is worried that China's development and increased clout will reduce Western countries' traditional sphere of influence. He is worried that China's financial aid without any conditions will threaten Western countries' dominant role in Africa.
So it is not hard to understand why Cameron warned Africa about China's development model, claiming that it is unsustainable in the long term.
Cameron said that China's investment is invasion. Does this mean that the UK will not seek development ties with Africa? No. Cameron made it quite clear that he desired to develop stronger trade relations with the fast-growing economy.
But for Cameron, the key is that China should not develop trade ties with Africa because it will prevent the UK from dominating Africa according to its own interests.
Han Zhen is the director of Value and Culture Research Center of Beijing Normal University.
(This article is published in Chinese and translated by Zhang Ming'ai.)
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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