What is the Chinese Game Plan for Africa?

[IrishBrother]

I thought I would start a discussion on Chinas increasing investment in the African continent. Some see it as a good thing, others, like I, are wary.

In all of the centuries, and perhaps even millennia, that Chinese civilizations have been trading across Africa, at no time did they think to establish the kind of permanence that defines their current trade regeme with African as at present. China has outstripped the US and all of the nations of the EU to become Africa’s top trading partner. Commerce between China and Africa stood at $166 billion in 2011, doubling the paltry $82 billion exchanged between Africa and the US that same year. But are African nations getting a fair deal? And what exactly are Chinas plans? Lets investigate.

Let us take a look at the recently Chinese built ghost town in Angola. Kilamba.

The ghost towns of China, Ireland and Spain - full of large empty house estates - may be a phenomenon that is on its way to Africa.

Built for people who never move in, they leave those who did with a worthless property they cannot sell.

Perched in an isolated spot some 30km (18 miles) outside Angola's capital, Luanda, Nova Cidade de Kilamba is a brand-new mixed residential development of 750 eight-storey apartment buildings, a dozen schools and more than 100 retail units.

Designed to house up to half a million people when complete, Kilamba has been built by the state-owned China International Trust and Investment Corporation (CITIC) in under three years at a reported cost of $3.5bn (£2.2bn).

Spanning 5,000 hectares (12,355 acres), the development is the largest of several new "satellite cities" being constructed by Chinese firms around Angola, and it is believed to be one of the largest new-build projects on the continent.

BBC News - Angola's Chinese-built ghost town

Here is a google earth image of the uninhabited city. Why spend vast throngs of cash on such a project - when the natives could not afford buy a cup of coffee there, never mind an abode?

This ghost city is just one example of dozens.

Next. Who could they be building the cities for?

[In China, a cultural preference for boys has created such a severe gender imbalance that unmarried men will soon outnumber unmarried women by an estimated 40 million. Abigail Haworth reports on the country's looming marriage crisis from the lonely hearts ground zero — a village full of bachelors who may never find wives.

Chinese Marriage Crisis - Women Shortage in China - Marie Claire

So the Chinese have 40 million more men than women of marital age. They want Africas resources. Are investing heavily. What better way to solve two problems with one stone? Send the excess males to Africa to put in that work and help extract their resources.

All input and opinions welcome.

 

[Blackking]

Chinese Zoos Routinely Beat And Abuse Performing Animals, Animals Asia Foundation Reports

 

[WaveGang]

subbed for later, been meaning to look into this.

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

let's see...

Ivory demands are up and poaching is soaring

They are creating china towns all over Africa and even competing with local street vendors, taking money from the already poor

Their bread and butter is construction projects which they do fast and cheaper than Western Nations

Import of Inferior goods is proliferating in place of European goods

They are poaching women but they don't want their women touched.

Making deals to buy vast lands for cultivation of whatever

All in all they are after Africa's resources and business $...

We don't know their end game yet but Africans need to be cautious as I have been saying for the last 2 years there is an effort to recolonize Africa in new ways... It is the only continent that can self sustain itself with internal trade yet imports everything including food

 

[cleanface coney]

i seen some shyt about them already causing problems in the Sudan

 

[Lakers Offseason]

shyt is like when they open up Chinese takeouts in the hood

But on a much larger scare

 

[unit321]

So the Chinese have 40 million more men than women of marital age. They want Africas resources. Are investing heavily. What better way to solve two problems with one stone? Send the excess males to Africa to put in that work and help extract their resources.

All input and opinions welcome.

I guess the whole "plenty of fish in the sea" speech won't cut it over there with the dudes.

 

[500BricksOnTheWrist]

shyt is like when they open up Chinese takeouts in the hood

But on a much larger scare

 

[Starman]

They plan to get rich.

 

[theworldismine13]

what is the african plan for africa?

 

[blackzeus]

what is the african plan for africa?

basically. This should be everybody's concern. What the f*ck do you think China's intentions are? You think they're investing billions for peace and goodwill? They wanna takeover. Sell black products to black folks, same like the hoods here. I just don't understand how you can have trillionaire sheikhs and broke ass Africans, when Africa has quadrillions more in resources. Significant parts of all electronics used require rare earth from Africa, that's damn near a tax on every electronic device sold on the planet. African countries should be the richest by far, yet not only are they selling for the low, they're taking loans out Why would take a loan on export commodities? Just sell the sh*t

 

[How Sway?]

africa's leaders need to focus on the long term future not just some quick cash that these china-men are throwing them.

 

[theworldismine13]

basically. This should be everybody's concern. What the f*ck do you think China's intentions are? You think they're investing billions for peace and goodwill? They wanna takeover. Sell black products to black folks, same like the hoods here. I just don't understand how you can have trillionaire sheikhs and broke ass Africans, when Africa has quadrillions more in resources. Significant parts of all electronics used require rare earth from Africa, that's damn near a tax on every electronic device sold on the planet. African countries should be the richest by far, yet not only are they selling for the low, they're taking loans out Why would take a loan on export commodities? Just sell the sh*t

agreed, except for the part about africa should be the richest, africa can make some money from minerals but the real money will always go to whoever puts the electronics together, africa will never get really rich from selling minerals, which at the end of the day, no matter how rare, are just commodities

now the day when africans (inlcuding us in the states) figure out how to make cellphones, cars and radios etc, that is the day africa will get rich

 

[Captain Crunch]

I can't speak on this really, since I never been over there. I'm weary of this, since I doubt anyone but Africans have Africa's best interest. I can't wait to hit up Lagos or Nairobi next year to somewhat see this firsthand.

With that said, African born posters, what's your stance on this?
@2Quik4UHoes @Don Drogo @Broke Wave @Chris.B

Also, we can't shyt on Africa for being broke, when they just got out on colialism. Not too mention all the industries/resource refineries/etc are still owned by the former people in charge, so they're basically taking loans since they're don't have the funds to mine/refine resources.

 

[ℒine ☈acks]

agreed, except for the part about africa should be the richest, africa can make some money from minerals but the real money will always go to whoever puts the electronics together, africa will never get really rich from selling minerals, which at the end of the day no matter how rare are just commodities

now the day when africans (inlcuding us in the states) figure out how to make cellphones, cars and radios etc, that is the day africa will get rich

...you can get rich selling shoes...warren buffet is super rich and he dont make shyt...it should be obvious that making or building things [gadgets] aint the only way to acquire wealth and power...