By Abdirahman Takhalatakhal
It has been known that Africa is this century's most visible economic battle ground for China and the West. But in recent years, this battle has been intensified so much so that it is being waged out in the open. Last year, Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State, visited 6 African countries in an effort, among others issue, to curb China's influence in this rising continent. This week, China's new President, Xi jinping, is in Africa visiting Tanzania and then South Africa where he will be joining his counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc. Mr. Jinping's African trip is to solidify China's economic interest in the continent, while reassuring the wary African population that China is here is to stay. So the question is: Which economic powerhouse is more beneficial to Africa's economic growth?
To address this question requires extensive research, which seasoned analysts on Africa agreed is not yet conclusive. But probably the short answer is both.
Africa_ChinaFirst, let us glance what the competing parties are alluding against each other. The West, for example, is accusing China of taking advantage of Africa's rich natural resources without regards to Africa's long-term development. Furthermore, the West charges China's activities in Africa undermine the realization of good governance, which is an element that is needed in the continent much more than anywhere in the globe. As part of her 11-day tour of Africa in August of 2012, Hillary Clinton, then the U.S. Secretary of State, told a university audience in Senegal that the US was committed to "a model of sustainable partnership that adds value, rather than extracts it from Africa". In a statement, which was widely interpreted was aimed at China's "disregard" of promotion of good governance, Clinton said, "America will stand up for democracy and universal human rights even when it might be easier to look the other way and keep resources flowing." Read More
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
No comments:
Post a Comment