Is China a Neo-Colonialist Power in Africa?

By Farid Omar

The western media, working in collusion with right wing political analysts, have embarked on a propaganda campaign to discredit the emergent Sino-African Strategic Partnership. They often present a distorted view based on a false premise that places China as a neocolonialist power eager to take effective control of Africa’s abundant natural resources and turn the African continent into a massive market for Chinese products at the expense of Africa.

But according to most Pan-African analysts, this baseless tirade is clearly the work of those who feel threatened by the prospect of a strong China-Africa strategic partnership that they fear would help Africa overcome development obstacles and end centuries of dependency on western economic systems.

African leaders have vigorously defended China-Africa relations. In a strongly worded statement, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa stated: “There are some in the world who fear this message of hope and the possibility it presents to define the process of globalization in a manner that benefits the poor of the world” noting that “They see the developments exemplified by the China-Africa Partnership as a threat to their selfish interests”.

President Mbeki’s position and that of all other African leaders who attended the November 2006 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing, the Chinese Capital, is echoed by China’s former ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Liu Guijin who said that in today’s world, “China is working hard to build a harmonious society domestically and is in favor of building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity”.

While responding to unfounded accusations that China will be a “neo-colonialist” power in Africa, Mr. Guijin provided an historical analysis on China’s long standing anti-colonial tendencies citing for example, the voyage of Zheng He, the famous navigator of China's Ming Dynasty, who 600 years ago, led the then largest fleet in the world and made seven voyages to the "Western Seas," reaching more than 30 countries and regions in Asia and Africa and in which even today, the relics of the crew of his fleet can still be found in Kenya and other countries.

Despite the fact that Zheng He’s fleet was the largest and most powerful in the world 600 years ago, he did not become a colonialist in Africa and beyond.

In providing a clear explanation on this, Mr. Guijin noted that China did not choose to colonize others because the pursuit of harmony is deeply rooted in Chinese traditions.

Further, Mr. Guijin said that more than 2,500 years ago, “The great Chinese philosopher Confucius already set the Golden Rule-what you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others”. This nurtured the mindset of the Chinese people for thousands of years.

Mr. Guijin adds that this concept of harmony “is actually a key theme of the Confucian thought. To colonize others is simply against Chinese traditions and values”.

The Zheng He analogy is a clear illustration that China will not and never had the intention to colonize others. Certainly, Zheng He’s voyage, which is virtually unknown to many in Africa and elsewhere, is one area that African scholars should conduct extensive research on.