"During the past decade, China has been investing a lot of money in sub-Saharan Africa
Some Western observers worry that this represents a new form of colonialism. Given the continent’s history with European conquerors and rich countries trying to cheaply exploit its natural resources, that suspicion is understandable. But although China can sometimes be predatory — for example, when uneconomical projects saddle African companies or governments with unpayable debt — the new African investment bears little resemblance to the colonialism of old.
Colonialism, and the pseudo-colonial exploitation that sometimes followed independence, was mostly about extracting natural resources (and sometimes slave labor). Although securing access to natural resources is surely one of China’s goals, its investments in Africa go beyond extractive industries. The sectors receiving the most Chinese money have been business services, wholesale and retail, import and export, construction, transportation, storage and postal services, with mineral products coming in fifth. In Ethiopia, China is pouring money into garment manufacturing — the traditional first step on the road to industrialization."
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I know foreign hands is never a good thing, espically when its not on african terms
I've read the article with a high degree of cynicism and skepticism. My primary reason for such is this: how is it that the West (corporate and private interests) can expect to have more agreeable business activities with African nations when they can't see the same values in working with African-Americans/Black British/Afrikan Diasporans currently in Western nations? Do they plan to gentrify traditional & cultural areas there while rendering large masses of displaced people with nowhere to go in their own country? Will emerging business & economic infrastructures be dismantled and replaced only to benefit Western minorities? Or is there going to be a much more refined form of colonialism this time around, only this time it will be lathered with polished commercialism camouflaging more subtle forms of exploitation? Many questions need to be asked. How is it that Western interests can't support just causes such as land reclamation for indigenous South Africans, yet still continue with the wholesale extraction of the continent's natural resources without just compensation at fair market value? I'm not trying to be a pessimist, only a realist, as critical thinking allows us to remember what history has recorded in its pages from the last time Westerners had "unusual" interests in the Continent. Just as others around the globe, we anticipate Africans enjoying the same improved lifestyles and more but without repeatedly suffering the long-term costs of exploration in various forms.