Imperialism, Sino-style
Kyle West
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Forum
Last year, the only thing on everybody's mind was the presidential nomination race, and now that the pot has mostly settled, we all get to just sit and wait for November. But the rest of the world hasn't really stopped boiling over, what with Putin embracing the good ol' battle days, and the media hurricane that was the Beijing Olympics. Looming on the horizon, however, are the repercussions of a post-Olympic China, fueled by Olympic success and brimming with national pride.
China has been pouring money into Nigeria and South Africa, among other developing countries, for years without any political demands. What started off as merely economic investments has increasingly become an imperialistic colonization and assimilation attempt by the Chinese.
With China winning the Olympics they themselves hosted, ousting America from its spot at the top, the country is poised to take full advantage of becoming a first-world power. But what comes next?
China has only recently become a major political and economic force, albeit one full of scandal. From human rights violations, to corruption scandals, Beijing's leaders present an enigmatic position, where morality and ethical behavior is not necessarily the order of business.
And with Africa, China has proven to be a morally disinterested party, giving aid to despots and so-called "democratically" elected presidents, without restriction or sanction.
Nigeria has been a focal point of Chinese investment and aid over the past two years, raking in almost $5 billion in infrastructure investment between April and May of 2006 alone, according to the BBC News. Oil and natural resources are being heavily invested in as well, with several state companies wielding sizeable stakes in the country's oil market.
Despite the fervor with which the Chinese are pouring money into the continent, many African nations are starting to grumble aloud. But it is in Nigeria that Africa is beginning to fight back against the Sino-assimilation. During the Olympics, Nigerians boycotted Chinese stores and products in Nigeria, while in Beijing protests broke out into anti-foreigner rallies, directed against both the French and the Nigerians living in the capital.
China has been pouring money into Nigeria and South Africa, among other developing countries, for years without any political demands. What started off as merely economic investments has increasingly become an imperialistic colonization and assimilation attempt by the Chinese.
With China winning the Olympics they themselves hosted, ousting America from its spot at the top, the country is poised to take full advantage of becoming a first-world power. But what comes next?
China has only recently become a major political and economic force, albeit one full of scandal. From human rights violations, to corruption scandals, Beijing's leaders present an enigmatic position, where morality and ethical behavior is not necessarily the order of business.
And with Africa, China has proven to be a morally disinterested party, giving aid to despots and so-called "democratically" elected presidents, without restriction or sanction.
Nigeria has been a focal point of Chinese investment and aid over the past two years, raking in almost $5 billion in infrastructure investment between April and May of 2006 alone, according to the BBC News. Oil and natural resources are being heavily invested in as well, with several state companies wielding sizeable stakes in the country's oil market.
Despite the fervor with which the Chinese are pouring money into the continent, many African nations are starting to grumble aloud. But it is in Nigeria that Africa is beginning to fight back against the Sino-assimilation. During the Olympics, Nigerians boycotted Chinese stores and products in Nigeria, while in Beijing protests broke out into anti-foreigner rallies, directed against both the French and the Nigerians living in the capital.
Be the first to comment on this story