Africa is a land of abundant raw materials, and development by Chinese owned organizations in Africa has helped to create considerable economic growth in several African countries as well as within China itself. This rapid growth, especially in poorer Sub-Saharan countries, has led to increased concerns about the role of China's industrial development in Africa.

By the end of 2005, over 800 Chinese owned companies had been set up in Africa, with a total investment of 6 billion US dollars. In 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the additional development of a China-Africa development fund of totaling US$5 billion in an effort to encourage further Chinese investment in Africa.

In many situations (such as Zimbabwe,) the increased presence of Chinese industry has led to several controversial effects. On one hand, Chinese industries have brought considerable economic growth to some areas. Increased manufacture by Chinese-owned factories has provided jobs, a wider range of goods, as well as more affordable products than before.

On the other hand, fears are growing, both within Africa and in the international community, over the role of China in Africa. As the world's largest textile manufacturer, China is among the world's largest producers of raw materials as well as the world's largest consumer of them. This has led to analysts pointing out that China is benefiting far more from investment in Africa than the African countries themselves.

While President Hu Jintao states that China's development will not bring a threat to anyone but, instead, will only bring more opportunities and space for development to the world," his pledge of non-interference confirms China's position as being a neutral party. As such, China will not make any effort to improve human rights, health, government corruption, or military conflict within areas in which it has invested. This, to many people, is a cause of great alarm, tantamount to China turning a blind eye of the ongoing problems of several African countries.

China has expended billions to secure rights to drill in Sudan, Nigeria and Angola, and has also made deals with Kenya, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Mauritania. Moreover, China has purchased timber from several other African countries, including war-torn Liberia, as well as invested heavily in mineral mining in the Congo.

In particular, China has supplied military equipment to governments with dubious human rights records, including Zimbabwe and Sudan. The purchase of timber from Liberia was also criticized as providing the necessary funds for prolonging the conflict within the country.

In conclusion, China's growing development in Africa has been met with both praise and criticism. While it has brought considerable growth and more affordable goods to several African countries, critics are quick to point out that China's primary aim is to further its own development, with the welfare of the African nations being a secondary concern. As to whether China's increasing involvement with Africa is beneficial in the longer term, only time will tell.

Learn more about this author, Edmund K.
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