This is so inspiring (see Trade Winds between China and Africa YouTube video link below). For centuries, Western imperialism has controlled and exploited Africa through maintaining poverty and under-development, and by fomenting divisions and violence among Africans. But in the 21st century, a new powerful foreign influence has arrived on the scene in Africa: China.
China has grown to have the largest economy in the world and has had the foresight to recognize that it needs to look to the future to find new markets for its businesses, and secure human and natural resources for its expansion. China has recognized Africa’s potential; however China has a distinctly different approach from the West when it comes to getting what it needs from Africa. China’s approach is founded in its belief that fruitful long-term foreign and business relations are rooted in cooperative initiatives which foster sustainable mutual prosperity for both China and the national societies with which it partners. That means investing in other countries and sharing risks with them in an effort to improve their economies as well as the overall living standards of their populations. This is markedly different from the West approach which has focused on keeping African countries poverty-bound and dependent on Western largesse.
Rather than simply installing and bribing the next dictator of a country, which the West has routinely done in Africa for generations, the Chinese seek to gain the trust and loyalty of the African people by demonstrating that they are sincerely committed to improving their countries and their lives. This approach is not rooted so much in Chinese altruism as it is in pragmatism and priorities -- it’s less expensive, more lucrative, and more sustainable in the long run to build relationships based upon mutual trust and benefit than it is to continually play dirty tricks, and engage in violence and thievery.
Naturally, the pursuit of this mutually beneficial approach throughout Africa for well over a decade has begun to bear fruit for both China and its African partners. While the West (and Washington especially) has continued applying its old imperial formula in Africa of fomenting division, violence and terrorism; staging coups/regime changes and installing corrupt puppets; and engaging in exploitative business practices that “take, take, take” from Africa while returning nothing except more weapons and U.S. military bases; the Chinese have been promoting viable businesses, building infrastructure, sponsoring cultural, technological and educational exchanges, and leaving local politics to the sovereign nations to decide for themselves.
The West is livid over China’s successes in Africa and has vowed to double-down to undermine China’s “win-win”, mutually beneficial initiatives there. A huge disinformation campaign is already underway suggesting that China is using its investment in Africa to lure nations into debt traps (this evidence-free accusation ironically being broadcast in the very nations which are homes to the most predatory, “debt slaver” lending institutions on the planet). Expansion of the deployment of “weaponized” Wahhabi terrorism into Africa is being used by the West to destabilize its countries, disrupt Sino-African economic initiatives, and provide the pretext for U.S. military basing and intervention. Covert efforts by Washington to undermine democracy and fix elections throughout Africa in order to install its political stooges are on an upswing. Eyewash initiative to throw more “aid” money at Africa are also being hastily prepared. In short, the West is doubling down using its old playbook.
But this time the outcome may be different. Africans (who are regarded through the racist lens of the West as ignorant and readily manipulated) have been treated with respect by China as equal partners in their economic development and as independent stakeholders in their own political affairs. Washington underestimates the power of an African populace that has tasted this kind of respect and benefited from it. Rather than securing the loyalty of bribed dictators and despots, the Chinese have secured the loyalty of many ordinary Africans who have experienced the real, tangible improvements brought to their lives through China’s foreign policy partnerships in Africa. The same old playbook isn’t going to be as effective as Washington and the rest of the West think.
YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k42eqzZWg5A
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