China Hasn’t Given Up on the Belt and Road
Foreign AffairsNov 16, 2022
UK: Djibouti Allegedly Detained, Deported Tory Lawmaker
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Image copyright: UK Parliament via Wikimedia Commons
The Facts
Tim Loughton, a British member of parliament, was reportedly deported from Djibouti on April 8 after a 7-hour detention at the airport — allegedly due to the African nation's close ties with China.
Loughton, the Conservative lawmaker for East Worthing and Shoreham who has served since 1997, is among seven British parliamentarians under PRC sanctions since 2021.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
China's military power shift in Africa and its widening economic influence are altering global power dynamics. Beijing is not only propping up entire economies in the continent but also militaries. This aligns with China's broader aim of establishing a continent-wide security presence across Africa. The PRC's pursuit of a pan-Africa security architecture is an increasing geopolitical problem for the US and EU that the West must urgently address.
Pro-China narrative
The West has nothing to fear from China's growing ties with Africa. The affinity between Beijing and African nations includes cooperation on vital issues including development, communications, energy, infrastructure and regional integration. China is furthering innovation in sectors including agriculture and a burgeoning tech industry — Beijing's contribution to the African continent's development goals is a major achievement for the global community.
Establishment-critical narrative
Africa is increasingly prominent geopolitically, faced with Western ignorance, negative media portrayals, and external power struggles. China focuses on infrastructure, while the West attempts to impose hegemonic values. This risks a backlash against the West and highlights the need for the "rules-based order" to better respect local conditions and cultures across the continent.
