Let’s get real on China

AFRICA must start treating China as a trading partner and not an ideological mentor or a permanent friend, contrary to the dangerously punted Look East policy that suggests an overreliance on an ideologically friendly partner.

China — like any other power — is not pursuing a philanthropist foreign policy. It is primarily concerned with protecting its own interests.

After Chinese President Xi Jingping announced a $60-billion (about R860-billion) investment in Africa over three years, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said China was God-sent.

Mugabe was wrong. Zimbabwe didn’t benefit much from its president ingratiating himself with the Chinese despite Mugabe popularising the hollow Look East foreign policy.

The continent needs to be competitive and take advantage of China’s current generosity to sustain and make the relationship reciprocally worth it. Sooner or later, China will get tired of splurging in Africa without a return on its investment.

The continent must never believe that it is the top priority in China’s trade and foreign policy.

This is why China’s foreign direct investment in Africa is still negligible.

Its decision to diversify its economy, including shifting to services, means that Africa will find it hard to compete with the Western financial capitals.

There are worrying signs, especially at the levels of the ruling ANC and its alliance partner the SACP, that the constant visits to Shanghai and Beijing have seduced some leaders.

While South Africa must embrace its $60.3-billion trade partnership — the largest on the continent — it must understand that this is a partnership and not a marriage.