Chinese railway workers flirt with a local Angolan woman during a lunch break.
To my suprise, Carolyn agreed with me, but she pointed out it's only half of the story. It's the half we Westerners tend to focus on. She told me that the Chinese were in Africa before, brought in by the British to work in the mines of South Africa around 1903. These Chinese were recruited from the poorest areas in China and we forced to work under the harshest of conditions. A high percentage of them lost their lives in the mines. The main reason was the British unrelenting search for cheap labour, i.e. for financial gain. In other words, who are we to judge whether China is doing right or wrong in Africa? Perhaps the Africans are better positioned to make that judgment.
Chinese miners in South Africa, first decade of the 20th century
Carolyn's second point was that many Africans, although wary of China, are starting to think of China as a role model. Just like many Africans, the Chinese have seen their country destroyed by colonial-style invasions. Many Africans sympathize with the Chinese pushing back and standing up for themselves. One example is the Chinese determination to retrieve art pieces from Western museums. "Abdullah the Butcher" recorded himself on video to make this interesting case:
Regardless of whether you believe Chinese investments on the African continent are a good or a bad thing, perhaps the fact that it does provide Africa with an alternative to the Western aid model may already be a benefit for the continent. And it may force us, the West, to review our own policies as well.
