China’s Influence on Africa: A New Imperialism or an opportunity for African Countries?

China has reached the upper-limit of economic development. The Chinese population has reached 1.4 billion, and the population growth is approaching 0 in the country. The average per capita income is around $8,000, which is very low compared to that of the developed countries. The country has exhausted its national resources, and the population is larger than the natural production capacity of the country. Therefore, we can expect the Chinese population to start decreasing shortly. This downfall in economic growth rates has prompted China to invest in foreign countries like Africa in hopes of boosting economic growth while expanding the country’s global presence. 

Instead of investing in Asian or Western countries, China is increasingly investing in African countries for various reasons. China is a communist and semi-capitalist country, where the state is the main game-maker, and investing in Africa is a state policy. Increasing Chinese investments in Africa allows China to increase growth by receiving high returns from its investments. Africa also has a large population ready to be educated and hired in production. Considering that many of the African countries are less developed, the labor cost is relatively lower. Abundant natural resources and a large field to develop agricultural production are also additional benefits for investors.

Although it is easy to see that China is trying to benefit from Africa, the relations between the African countries and China are further than just production and trade relations. A large number of Chinese men have started marrying African women since Chinese men have difficulty forming a family life inside their national boundaries due to certain cultural codes. Therefore, marrying an African lady has become a preferable option for many. Moreover, many Chinese men have also been marrying African women to gain residency and continue their business operations in the country, leaving countries like Uganda highly worried. 

It is still a little early to discuss whether the Chinese influence on Africa is imperialism or an opportunity for African countries to develop faster. If the Chinese investments allow knowledge and technology to transfer to Africa, they might be able to develop faster and catch up with Western countries. However, if the Chinese investments provide limited opportunities, it could signal a downfall for Africa. Only the increasing number of studies on the relationship between China and Africa will enable us to make further analyses.

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