China’s leader Xi Jinping has made significant efforts to rally support from the Global South for his anti-West agenda. At the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, Xi promised nearly $51 billion in financing to African countries over the next three years and emphasized renewable energy as a priority. The event, attended by 50 African leaders, was described by the Chinese foreign ministry as “the largest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years.” In addition to strengthening trade and military ties with Africa, Xi also pledged to create one million jobs for Africa and provide military assistance grants.
However, behind these promises lies a deeper message of rallying against Western dominance. In private meetings with African leaders, Xi stressed the importance of Africa aligning with China against “Western hegemony.” This sentiment was echoed in a joint statement where Xi and African leaders agreed to work towards building an equal and orderly multipolar world.
China’s engagement with Africa has been primarily through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which involves massive infrastructure projects that have left many nations heavily indebted. Since 2000, China has loaned $182 billion to 49 African governments. However, as China’s economy slows down, it is demanding loan repayments that often result in cuts to vital public services.
Despite this criticism of China’s activities in Africa, there are signs that Beijing wants to move away from its previous approach. It is likely that future funding will be directed towards smaller projects such as urban beautification and poverty reduction.
China’s economic influence on sub-Saharan Africa cannot be ignored. It is now the region’s largest bilateral trading partner, accounting for around 20 percent of exports from sub-Saharan Africa and 16 percent of imports into the continent. Metals, mineral products, and fuel make up a significant portion of Africa’s exports to China while manufactured goods dominate imports.
Xi Jinping has recognized the strategic importance of minerals like cobalt and lithium found abundantly in sub-Saharan Africa for modern technologies such as computers and electric vehicles. By exploiting geopolitical frustrations among African countries regarding their exclusion from decision-making forums like the United Nations or unfair treatment by international financial institutions like IMF or World Bank; he offers them an alternative path away from Western hegemony.
While all smiles were exchanged at FOCAC between Chinese officials and African leaders; rifts are appearing across the continent regarding exclusive relationships with Beijing versus maintaining ties with other major economic powers like South Africa or Nigeria who want both West & East partnerships simultaneously.
Xi’s policy toward developing nations aims at protecting Chinese security interests amidst heightened competition with US-led alliances; however this anti-Americanism risks undermining development efforts within these regions themselves.
As part of his strategy,Xi seeks support from Global South leaders through initiatives such as BRICS expansion which includes countries under Chinese influence either economically or diplomatically.
Beijing’s agenda is clear: recruit Global South into an anti-American movement thereby turning them into alternatives against US-influenced international forums.
However,African political elites may not fully align themselves against West due their existing benefits derived from ties with America & Europe thus risking weakening those relations if they side solely with Beijing.
This presents an opportunity for Washington who can strengthen its relationship with Africans especially when Biden administration wants louder voice representation within global affairs including permanent seat at UN Security Council