The East African Standard (Nairobi)

OPINION

January 22, 2007

Posted to the web January 22, 2007

By Alphayo Otieno

Nairobi

African States find relations with China attractive because there is no colonial baggage.

In some cases, especially southern Africa, close Chinese ties go back to the days of the liberation movements. Africans perceive China as a developing country that seeks to build South-South relationships.

China sees itself as a global power and leader of the developing world. For political and economic reasons, it wants to cultivate good relations with the 53 nations in Africa. In several countries, close links minimise Western and especially American hegemony. African elites argue that the Chinese treat them as equals. They point out that they invest in infrastructure, the key to continent's future, a sector that is avoided by Western aid and investment.

Different value system

Many African governments perceive China as a welcome counter force to the US and the West in general, especially when the latter criticises human rights violations. From the Western perspective, China's record on ethics and human rights constitutes a negative influence. Most African governments, however, are neither troubled by China's human rights record. Countries with bad human rights' records welcome Chinese non-involvement in their affairs and seek the country's support at the UN Security Council and UN Human Rights Council, where China and 13 African countries are members.

The support cuts both ways. Most African countries on the Human Rights Council are equally reluctant to criticise China's record. At the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, the two sides welcomed the establishment of the new UN Human Rights Council and resolved "to enhance cooperation and to ensure that the Council respects the historical, cultural and religious background of all countries and regions".

China not concerned with civil liberties

This was a clear marker that China and Africa have a different view of human rights than the one preached in the West. The latter looks at China-Africa relations through the optic of Western ethical and human rights values. Many Africans do not share the values and evaluate relations with China differently.

If the West fails to take the different perceptions into account, it will never deal effectively with the challenges China poses to it in Africa. Drawing on Confucian principles, China emphasises family and society collective interests over the individual. China is less concerned about individual civil and political liberties and more concerned with collective human rights and their impact on economic matters.

China's aim is to have a society free from want and one that achieves moderate prosperity. This approach provides China with an alternative human rights' theory. China and Africa have a high premium on the doctrine of sovereignty. This explains why China avoids conditionalities, with the important exception of the acceptance of the One China policy in its relations with African countries.

China operates on a government-to-government ties and is uncomfortable with the role of NGOs in policy matters. If a G-8 country proposes a project, there is an environmental assessment and evaluation of human rights and governance situation. The Chinese just do it.

The writer is the business development manager, Global Allied Industries

end story layout piece here ad