We present the first part of the debate with the argument in favour of China’s involvement in Africa:

The West’s warnings over China’s involvement in Africa are growing in volume. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has described Chinese movements on the continent as a ‘new colonialism’, while David Cameron has denounced what he calls China’s ‘authoritarian capitalism’. Is this advice the good-natured warnings of a concerned friend? Or is the West worried that they’re now paying the price for neglecting investment opportunities in Africa and are scared of the rising Chinese Dragon?

It is true that there have been some localised criticisms of Chinese treatment of workers and worries over the long-term environmental effect of the extraction of Africa’s natural resources. However, many African countries still welcome Chinese investment as it is helping to bridge the infrastructure gap that has had a devastating effect on Africa’s economy:

To date, China has helped build more than:

• 2,000 km of railways
• 3,000 km of highways
• 100 schools and
• 60 hospitals
• reduced or remitted debt worth of more than 20 billion yuan ($3.08 billion)

China has also provided aid in the construction of:

• 20 agricultural demonstration centers
• 30 anti-malaria centers and
• 100 renewable energy projects since 2009

It is foolish to suggest that any country in dire need of new infrastructure would ever refuse such large investments. Equally, Chinese officials argue that China does not have a legacy of colonialism in Africa and as such are far more trusted as partners than Western countries could ever be.

All of this paints a more optimistic future for Africa than the warnings of Clinton and Cameron suggest, if a more uncertain one for Western countries.

These issues will be debated at the upcoming Intelligence2 debate on November 28th, 2011 “Beware of the dragon: Africa should not look to China”

Part two of the debate will be posted on Monday.