China shows the US how to woo Africa
China is known for prioritising work and results over rhetoric. This is manifested in its relations with South Africa in recent years, particularly with regard to such issues as the Covid pandemic and “vaccine apartheid ”, the Israel-Hamas war, the expansion of Brics and the delivery of Chinese generators to ease the impact of load-shedding. In contrast, other countries such as the US come across as condescending missionaries who preach to South Africa while not helping in tangible ways.
At the height of Covid, Western players were hoarding vaccines and were reluctant to ease intellectual property rules covering the vaccines and treatments. The UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, Tendayi Achiume, said “a failure to authorise a comprehensive waiver would run counter to the fundamental human rights principles of racial equality and non-discrimination ”.
In 2021, at the ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation in Dakar, China and its African partners urged the world to
“discard ‘ vaccine nationalism’, increase vaccine supply to Africa, guarantee equitable distribution, and ensure vaccine accessibility and affordability in Africa”.
According to reports at the time, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the conference via a video link that Beijing would provide “another 1-billion doses of vaccines to Africa, including 600-million doses as a donation and 400-million doses to be provided through such means as joint production by Chinese enterprises and relevant African countries”. The Chinese ministry of foreign affairs said this showed that “China always honours its promises and walks the talk”.
There was more. China is aiding the construction of the headquarters for the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in Addis Ababa. The first phase was completed in January; the then Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang said “the timely completion of the project reflects the high quality of China-Africa co-operation, and shows that China is efficient and lives up to its promises”.
At the Brics summit in Johannesburg in August, South Africa and China signed agreements that included the donation of emergency energy equipment worth R170m. According to electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa had appealed to China to help with equipment that could ensure uninterrupted electricity in
“major public facilities like hospitals, clinics and correctional facilities”. South Africa received the first consignment in November — 450 petrol generators.
The donation was crucial for at least two reasons: it would help public institutions remain functional, and ease the frustration voters feel towards the ANC over load-shedding.
Thus, China’s delivery of the 450 generators will go a long way, for the ANC and for China’s own allure in South Africa.
On November 21, President Cyril Ramaphosa, as Brics chair, convened a (virtual) extraordinary meeting of the group to discuss the Middle East. South Africa’s condemnation of Israel over Gaza is well-known. During the meeting, Xi seemed to sing from the same hymnal as South Africa; he said that the primary cause of the conflict was that Israel had for decades denied Palestinians their right to existence, statehood and return. This was a boost for China’s appeal in South Africa.
This appeal was on full display on December 12 when the Chinese embassy held a grand reception to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Chinese ambassador Chen Xiaodong and the minister of international relations & co-operation, Naledi Pandor, were keynote speakers. Chen and Pandor reiterated the mutual esteem in which the two countries hold Sino-South African relations.
South Africa and China tend to have intersecting positions on international issues. Furthermore, China tends to move from rhetoric and sentiment to delivery. The same cannot be said about players that are considered China’s competitors in South Africa. The most prominent of these is the US.
An increasingly popular half-joke among Africa-watchers is that while China comes to Africa to talk about investment and development, the West comes to Africa to talk about China.
In 2006, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian minister of finance who is now directorgeneral of the World Trade Organisation, said China ’ s appeal in Africa was surpassing the West’s because it was a pragmatic giant whose relationship with Africa was not conditioned on
“the niceties of human rights, nor long debates on macroeconomic conditionalities, and structural reform. China should be left alone to forge its unique partnership with African countries and the West must simply learn to compete.”
Examples of US conduct in South Africa illustrate the stark contrast between China and the West.
In October last year the US embassy released a statement warning that “terrorists may be planning to conduct an attack … in the greater Sandton area”. Reportedly, the embassy issued the statement without informing its hosts that it was about to do so. “It is quite unfortunate the US issued that type of warning without having any type of discussion with us,” said Ramaphosa.
In May this year US ambassador Reuben
Brigety accused the South African government of having loaded weapons on to the Lady R, a sanctioned Russian vessel, in Simon’s Town the previous December. The implication was that South Africa was aiding and abetting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The South African government has obviously taken umbrage; simply put, there is a dearth of diplomatic tact in Washington’s conduct.
China appears to be savvier and more responsive to South Africa’s domestic contexts. To be fair, to dismiss human rights concerns à la Okonjo-Iweala is somewhat careless. However, the formula of engagement is important; it ought to be accompanied by regard for African hosts of foreign embassies or consulates.
Finally, sentiments expressed about how South Africa could improve its fortunes must be matched by delivery. This is where China seems to edge other players.
Matambo is research director at the Centre for AfricaChina Studies, University of Johannesburg, and Monyae is director of the centre