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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Tibet, China, and the west: empires of the mind

The sudden escalation of protest by Tibetans in Lhasa and elsewhere in March 2008 has been accompanied by vigorous rhetoric from the Chinese state reaffirming its sovereignty over Tibet and strong counter-arguments from Tibetans claiming the right to self-determination.

Read more from Dibyesh Anand here.

China and the African Wage Paradox

Recently, I sat down with a Washington Post reporter and several CGD colleagues to discuss under-reported topics in globalization and development.

Inevitably we came around to the topic of Chinese development and manufacturing, and whether special conditions there (low wages, an undervalued exchange rate, and so forth) are contributing to de-industrialization elsewhere in the world. The impact of China on global manufacturing is certainly no under-reported topic, but the discussion usually focuses on the consequences for the US.

Read more from Chris Blattman here.

This week and last

Thuku on Thursday gives a summary of world event's.

The floods in the British Isles, Shambo the bullock, confessions of British prime ministers, investments of state-owned financial institutions in China and Singapore, and finally the hefty pay off Kenyan mps plan on giving themselves.

Read what he has to say here.

China: The next Superpower?

I have just read an interesting article about China, and the fact that I am from a presentation that details how my job will be outsourced in the next few years’ only decreases my enthusiasm for China.

Read more from here Patience Wanga.

Africa: Understanding China's Interest

Ahmed Mohammed seeks to analyze the Chinese economic interest in Africa urging an objective centered on "the attraction of more Chinese direct investment specifically in infrastructure and services". Follow this link for more on this.

The Chinese President and Communist Party chief Hu Jintao's interest in Africa and the rest of Asia is similarly based on two important factors, namely trade and material resources. While Emperor Zhu Di demanded tributes and fancied giraffes and other exotic animals for his personal zoo, Jintao is principally focused on markets and fossil fuel amongst other natural
resources for his massive industrial appetite. But President Jintao's hospitality for dignitaries is not any different from that Emperor Zhu. Small talk from some of the dignitaries who have had the chance to enjoy Chinese hospitality give glimpse of the unreserved and tantalizingly luxurious receptions accorded them. Is such indulgence aimed at creating a reckless exuberance on the part of the African for Chinese benefit?