USA Africa Dialogue Series - Is China challenging traditional donors’ development policy?

A significant difference between China and 'traditional donors' appears in terms of the norm of non-interference and no political conditions. Chinese aid policies do not adopt the language of 'good governance' or 'failing vs. effective states', and in fact utilise the backlash against these (excessive) policy prescriptions by continually highlighting China's own policy of 'non-interference' in other countries' internal affairs. This is the element that Western donors are most critical of and that China (and many recipient governments) highlight to create a distinction between China and other donors. Of course, as China's engagement intensifies there is an increasing disjuncture between its rhetoric and practice – particularly when commercial and foreign policy objectives diverge. The Chinese insist that the difference is that they don't impose or require policy changes: "we're not trying to change the structures of recipient countries".

Western donors are also concerned that China may be undermining the aid effectiveness agenda and accepted 'best practice'. Because many DAC donors themselves don't necessarily follow the recommendations, one could argue that they are already weak and that China is no different in that regard – although it might slow down the process of adoption if other donors are disinclined to reform their practices if this means giving China a comparative advantage. Not being a DAC member, China is not required to be 'measured' against regime rules and expectations, nor has it agreed to be subjected to DAC reviews or comparisons.

http://www.whydev.org/is-china-challenging-traditional-donors-development-policy/ 

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