China Safari

Sales of armament and the increasing Chinese dominion in the African market were also spotlighted. While the west riles against the implicit Chinese support of corrupt African regimes (China sold Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe US$240 million worth of weapons in 2004), the book notes that rebel groups have also benefited from Chinese imports of small arms and vehicles. Sure, their motivations could be war profiteering and exchanges that enable greater access to Africa's natural resources, yet the authors bring up a good point for the criticism on the part of Western nations: Pure competition. China's foothold as Africa's second largest business partner, edging out France and coming up close to the United States, has given many countries a reason to protest.

The sense of “why didn't we think of this first?” was never more apparent when it came to the Chinese industrialization of locations where they can also simultaneously drill for oil or mine for uranium. The American Enterprise Institute, for one, believed that the west, by placing humanitarian issues over business interests, has harmed and belittled Africa by viewing it as countries fit only for handouts. Where Americans saw AIDS and poverty, the Chinese saw opportunities, and the old strategy of control through foreign aid had ceased to be effective. The authors do conclude that much can be learned from China.

Whether the return for their industrial efforts was for economic or political purposes (severing diplomatic relationship with Taiwan in the cases of Chad and Senegal), it is clear that China is the only country with the ability and human resources to provide for Africa in the present manner. It is near impossible for a democratic country to compete with the unilateral decision-making process of a government that can swiftly dole out billions of dollars in aid without answering to the taxpayer.

Yet in spite of the double-edged sword of the situation, the authors never fail to point out that Africa has positively benefited and now stands a chance with China against the hegemony of western nations. A tantalizing analysis of the world's most dynamic geopolitical relationship, China Safari shows a shift in the global stage that alters the home of the “Heart of Darkness” as the world knows it.

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