Monday, November 03, 2008

China’s mythical military menace

For some time now the press in the global ‘North' has enjoyed itself making its readers' blood freeze with scare stories about the impending takeover of poor defenceless Africa by the Chinese;Yellow Peril'.

China's growing African involvement does indeed raise serious issues for Africa's policymakers and African civil society. But most of the ‘yellow peril' coverage is so one-sided as to discredit itself. One recent offering however managed to summarise so many misconceptions as to merit special attention, especially as it concentrates on the one area where it is hardest to conjure up a ‘Chinese threat'.

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