(Updated: Originally published November 4, 2006)
I know the communist government in China isn't the greatest of guys; however, in comparing their actions in a neglected part of the world with our own, it is obvious that the Western powers failed in Africa, and that the Chinese -- no matter what you think of them -- seem to exhibit the altruistic behavior that has been characterized as uniquely American.
As long as they aren't poisoning them with tainted products.
"China Courts Africa, Angling for Strategic Gains" By JOSEPH KAHN
BEIJING, Nov. 2 — Billboards here show elephants and giraffes roaming the savanna. Traffic has been curtailed, construction sites shut down and even the sky has been tantalizingly, if temporarily, blue.
Beijing has put on its best face to court Africa, “the land of myth and miracles,” as official posters call it. Political leaders of 48 of the 53 African countries, including 40 heads of state, are to arrive this weekend for a huge diplomatic event, the China-Africa forum.
The official purposes of the three-day event are to expand trade, to allow China to secure the oil and ore it needs for its booming economy and to offer aid to help African nations improve roads, railways and schools.
I applaud China for attempting to "help African nations improve roads, railways and schools." More than the West has ever done.
Hell, WE ENSLAVED THEM, for God's sake!!
Of course, America never tries to "secure the oil."
"Oil was the main reason for military action against Iraq, a leading White House hawk has claimed, confirming the worst fears of those opposed to the US-led war.
The US deputy defense secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, in an address to delegates at an Asian security summit in Singapore at the weekend, and reported today by German newspapers Der Tagesspiegel and Die Welt:
"Let's look at it simply. The most important difference between North Korea and Iraq is that economically, we just had no choice in Iraq. The country swims on a sea of oil."
That was June 4, 2003, folks!!!!!!!! Had you forgotten?
'Course, Wolfie didn't mention the AIPAC/Clean Break/PNAC plans.
China knows.
The unofficial purpose is to redraw the world’s strategic map by forming tighter political ties between China, which has the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and Africa, a continent whose leaders often complain about being neglected by the United States and Europe.
Yes, the "unofficial" nefarious purposes that everyone harbors -- except USrael!
Wenran Jiang, a political scientist at the University of Alberta who has studied Chinese-African ties:
“African leaders see China as a new kind of global partner that has lots of money but treats them as equals. Chinese leaders see Africa, in a strategic sense, as up for grabs.”
Damn Chinese! Treating African's with respect and not White Man's Burden!
China does not follow the international lending standards intended to fight corruption in the region. It has embraced the leaders of Sudan and Zimbabwe, two countries that are under heavy pressure to improve their poor human rights records. Major oil companies have complained that China uses its influence to secure business opportunities for its state-owned companies.
Chinese officials say those concerns are overblown or hypocritical, and they deny that they have a grand scheme to create an exclusive sphere of influence in Africa. But China has nearly $1 trillion in foreign currency reserves, boundless entrepreneurial energy and a strong drive to compete there on its own terms.
Wang Hongyi, a leading specialist on Africa at the China Institute of International Studies:
“The Western approach of imposing its values and political system on other countries is not acceptable to China. We focus on mutual development, not promoting one country at the expense of another.”
Guess that's why AmeriKa will label China a problem soon. I mean, look at this!
Not a great bunch of guys, but China is trying to do good and right.
Who gives a shit about the reasons?
If the goal is mostly mercenary, not unlike European objectives in Africa 150 years ago, the method is avowedly anti-imperialist.
Sort of like China having the... MORAL SUPERIORITY?
The forum’s slogan — “Peace, Friendship, Cooperation, Development” — underscores China’s pledge not to discriminate or intervene. It even invited the five African countries — Burkina Faso, Malawi, Gambia, Swaziland and São Tomé and Príncipe — that still extend diplomatic recognition to its rival Taiwan, though none agreed to attend.
Damn unreasonable Chinese!
Moeletsi Mbeki, a South African businessman and political analyst:
“China has offered Africa a new model that focuses on straight commercial relations and fair market prices without the ideological agenda. They are not the first big foreign power to come to Africa, but they may be the first not to act as though they are some kind of patron or teacher or conqueror. In that sense, there is a meeting of the minds.”
Of course, the Times reporter has to slam the effort:
The event in Beijing, like most big political affairs in China, promises to be long on ceremony and propaganda and short on substance.
No way they could edge out the reigning champion for such tactics: Our lovely Fourth Reich... er, uh, our own lovely Bush administration and its slavish, shit-swilling MSM shit-spewers!
After criticizing China on its human rights records and policies (legitimate, it's just that as an aware American, I take a pot-kettle position) the writer notes that China's
"basic strategy of engaging African countries on their own terms remains the core of its foreign policy.... Beijing now had a commercial strategy as the developing world’s biggest beneficiary of globalization to unite with the region most conspicuously left behind."
It's called showing respect, so unlike US foreign policy, which is dictating to you, and if you don't do it you get the rod.
The Chinese altruism die hard or what?
Benefiters of globalization want to help a "region most conspicuously left behind."
