China's Foreign Policy Towards Africa Since 1990's: Economic Implications For The West

The recent china's economic inroads in Africa have generated a lot of controversy and analysis from different circles. While some analysts have expressed optimism that China's presence will usher the continent into the committee of progressive nations; others have however dismissed China as another economic predator that will further complicate and deteriorate the economic situation of the continent. They went further to liken China to the Western countries that have exploited and underdeveloped Africa for decades.This work x-rayed China's economic activities in Africa since the era of rapprochement in the 1990s and its implications to the Western countries led by the United States. While acknowledging the fact that China's presence in Africa was mostly by the desire to secure the required natural resources that will sustain China's economic growth. We found out among other things that China has been widely accepted in Africa against all odds by the ruling elites and masses because they have proven to be a better alternative to the West. Such developments like giving aids without conditions, massive infrastructural developments even in places where the West have neglected, soaring trade, and investments though still at a marginal stage when compared with their investments in other third world countries have endeared them to the people.All these have several economic implications for the West because a place where they hitherto maintain monopolistic control is now been contested by this new 'economic superpower' China. No wonder Gernot and Abel 2007:22 noted that 'Western countries and the IFIs are losing some of their influence in those African countries in which China has become a significant player.' Thus they now spend more to secure such resources and have witnessed a sharp decline from their consumer goods because Chinese products have dominated African markets.On this premise we surmised that the ensued competition as a result of China's arrival spells economic fortune for Africa as it increased their bargaining power and the premium for their resources. And this will in turn engender development. China's mode of operation like using Chinese labor in the host country and China's support for some regimes has been detrimental to the socio-economic development in the continent. We went further to dismiss the accusation from the West that China has no ethical code to do business with Africa as we noted that even the West are more guilty than China. And we concluded that China's presence if well and tactfully managed will surely spell economic fortune and jump-start the much desired development in the continent. As evidence abound that China offers better opportunity to Africa than the Western capitalist nations.