China Hasn’t Given Up on the Belt and Road
Foreign AffairsMAR 30 2023
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.
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.
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.