America vs China in Africa

[xchrom]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/ML07Ad03.html

China's imminent replacement of the West as the dominant international economic and political force in Africa epitomizes the most dramatic shift in geopolitics since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Yet the United States and Europe, Africa's traditional trading partners, seem incapable of responding to the challenge and retaking the initiative. Instead, their response has been to wring their hands in despair and make ineffectual noises about human rights and democracy.

A recent Senate hearing on the implications of China's role in Africa, for instance, concluded that the United States is ceding both its economic and political leadership in Africa. Led by Senator Chris Coons, the panel urged the United States to


respond by expanding trade and investments in Africa while defending its democratization agenda. This is a tall order, however, considering that the Obama administration's top foreign policy priority in Africa is counter terrorism - a policy that undermines both the trade and human rights agendas.

China has already overtaken the United States as the continent's main trading partner. According to David Shinn, a former US ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, China surpassed the United States as Africa's main trading partner in 2009. Testifying at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee on African Affairs meeting on November 1, Shinn estimated that China's trade with African totaled $127 billion in 2010, a 40% increase from the previous year, compared to $113 billion for the United States. Today, the energy sector accounts for over 70% of China's trade with Africa. China also imports 30% of its oil from African countries.

Senator Coons said at the hearing that China's rise in Africa is "truly staggering". Its trade and investment in Africa grew by 1,000% between 2000 and 2010, and its growth outpaced that of the United States by over 100% last year. The Chinese have focused on critical infrastructure projects such as building refineries, ports, roads, bridges, airports, and railroads.

[madrchsod]

1. the africans see china as just another colonial power.

the leadership will accept china`s bribes and the people will be subjected to the same punishment the european/american power inflicted on africa.

the rape of africa continues.....