Untold story of China’s ‘threat’ to the West

A Chinese official conducting English-speaking
African youth delegates to the just-concluded
China-Africa Youth Forum round facilities
in Maizidian Community in Beijing.

Festus Ojudun, who was in China for the just-concluded China-Africa Youth Forum, reports that China’s seeming resolve to rule the world is a challenge to Nigeria and other African countries.

The media and the Internet are awash with stories about the fast-growing economies of Asia that seem ready to overturn the status quo in the international community. One of such countries is the People’s Republic of China, the most populous country in the world with a population of over 1.3 billion people. She is also the third largest country in the world using landmass as a benchmark.

In the recent past, she overtook Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Italy, South Korea and Russia to emerge as the second largest economy in the world, only after the United States of America (USA) as at the end of 2006. This is due to her $10.21 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured on purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.

She ranked fourth, as at the end of 2006, after the USA, Japan and Germany when nominal GDP was measured in exchange rate terms.

Among the numerous write-ups about China, some were factual, some conjectural, others deliberately playing up a new debate about China’s rise to prominence, yet many more failed to point in the direction of a possible new ‘order’ in international relations, giving room for an untold story of China to be told.

When in February (2007), Chinese President, Hu Jintao, during his visit to Africa, said that the Chinese Government would invite 500 African youths to China in a space of three years, many people did not read the handwriting on the wall. He had established a framework that would tighten the bond of friendship between her and African countries, a relationship that had been sustained in the past four decades.

In fulfilment of President Jintao’s promise, the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF), banking on sponsorship from China’s Ministry of Commerce and support of other government establishments, organised the China-Africa Youth Forum between 10 and 18 December last year.

The forum, with theme China-Africa Youth Friendship, brought delegates from ten African countries to China. The objective being to consolidate on existing ties between China and African countries using the youth as a springboard. Algeria, Cameroun, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria participated in the programme. It was the first in the series of 500 African youths to be invited to China between 2007 and 2010.

Though China is still classified as a developing country, the infrastructure in many parts of the country would leave a greenhorn wondering why she was still rated as such. Such an individual would only be convinced when the Per Capita Income of an average Chinese citizen is calculated.

Beijing, the capital city, reflects Chinese dexterity in organisation, planning and architectural expertise. The environment is serene, conducive for decent living and a beauty to behold. From the Capital International Airport to downtown Bar Street and to the sky scrapping buildings that dot the city, the experience is first class.

The Chinese appear to have overcome the problem of infrastructure, at least, in such places as Beijing, Nanning, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sanya, Zhengchen, Macau, Nanchang, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Kunning, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Hong Kong, though people in the hinterland may still be in need. Easy-to-thread roads, stable electricity, water, vibrant universities and an efficient transport system have made life more meaningful to the locals and foreigners.

Participants at the forum were taken to Maizidian community, one of the communities in Beijing metropolis. It represents a typical community in Beijing and has basic amenities that make life worth living. A community service Police Station, covering about 0.66 sq. km with 1927 families in each, was noticed in the community. Residents of the community also enjoyed facilities such as an International Youth Centre, a Relaxation Centre for music and dancing; a Traffic Facility Training Centre to train people on traffic rules and regulations, the Yinling Seniors’ Club for the elderly, a Community Gallery and a Community Health Centre. Other communities in the capital city enjoyed such facilities.

Representatives of Beijing Holley-Cotec Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, a leading drugs company, took turns to explain to the delegates the company’s strides at providing quality anti-malaria drugs. These drugs are exported to different parts of the world. In Africa, the company aspires to develop drugs that would help stamp out malaria and breed a healthier set of people.

David Wang, Deputy Director, International Marketing Department of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., a telecommu-nications equipment manufacturer, told the delegates during a visit to the company’s branch office in Beijing that though Huawei was established 20 years ago (1988), it had carved a niche for itself among other popular brands. He said that the company’s equipment served over one billion people worldwide and her products were used in over 140 countries.

African youth delegates later met with Mr. Xu Jialu, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People. The NPC is China’s highest decision-making body, even superior to the presidency. The Great Hall of the People is located in the western edge of the Tian’anmen Square (the largest urban square in the world covering about 440,000 sq. metres) and is used for legislative and ceremonial purposes.

While emphasising the importance of leadership to the development of any country, Mr. Jialu said that the youth were the ones who would take over the mantle of leadership from the current set of leaders. He, therefore, urged them to be of exemplary character and be ready to share ideas across borders.

At the Great Wall, China’s historic defence architecture, delegates were amazed that such an edifice could have been built over 2000 years ago. The wall stretches across Northern China and the North West of Beijing and has now become the toast of tourists. Its length, approximately 6400km (4000 miles), makes it the longest man-made structure in the world.

The beauties of Beijing fascinated delegates to the forum, but a cross section of them who had thought that Beijing, being the capital city, would be better organised than other parts of the country, were divided in determining whether the lightings and city design in the capital city could compare to those in Nanning or Shenzhen, let alone Shanghai or Hong Kong. Such is the extent of development in a country that has continued to marvel other countries of the world. A sharp contrast to what obtains in many African countries where, apart from the capital cities, other parts are neglected. This often causes rural-urban migration and congestion in the capitals.

One distinguishing feature of Chinese organisational capacity is her recognition that the youth are salient in shaping her future and those of other countries. Hence, the government partners with youth organisations to drive home its policies. This is exemplified in the activities of the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF), the body that organised the forum. Mr. He Junke, chairman of the ACYF, while welcoming delegates to the forum, had thanked the ten participating African countries for coming to China, saying it was the beginning of a new era in Sino-Africa relations. Perhaps, African countries should learn from China’s experience and invest in the youth in order to secure the future.

Though the communist ideology may not have completely succeeded in mainland China, she now boasts of a booming market-driven economy. This, combined with the relatively low cost of production that cheap labour guarantees, has encouraged major global products and services producers to establish factories in many parts of the country. It has also made her the new bride that many countries in the world prefer to enter into economic partnerships with.

Businessmen from different parts of the world now find it necessary to trade with China, helping the country to export more of her products. It has also put her in a position to begin a new diplomacy that may climax in helping her garner more support for her actions and inactions in the international community. Her reserves, as at September 2007, stood at USD1.43 trillion, the highest ever in the history of human existence. Chinese products flood the markets in many parts of the world, many of them competing with renowned brands.

Hu Jintao, Chinese President

Mr. Wei Jianguo, vice minister in the Ministry of Commerce, while receiving the delegates at the ministry’s headquarters in Beijing, explained that the forum was part of China’s move to improve Sino-Africa relations. He stated that the China-Africa Summit held in 2006 had provided the impetus for better relations between Africa and China. He added that as at July 2006, China’s investment in Africa had reached USD13.58 million, that the Chinese Government had given 36 preferential loans to African countries and that she had aid agreements with 45 African countries. This was in addition to the scholarship opportunities it had provided for about 2700 persons. He assured that the relationship would be sustained and emphasised co-operation, peace and development, attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and transfer of technology as major components of relations between African countries and China.

Mr. Zhang Yesui, vice minister in charge of China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, while receiving the African delegation, had stated that China’s aid to Africa were unconditional. “Our assistance to Africa and the international community is genuine and unconditional unlike those of other countries. We do not attach conditions to our aid now and we will not do it in the future”, he said.

He added that though Western countries had criticised China’s efforts at helping African countries, she would not relent in her bid to help the needy. Such is the level of development in the country that she may sooner than later become a major provider of aid to the international community.

This coupled with an administrative system that allows for healthy competition among provinces and regions has helped to ginger more efforts to achieve national glory. Her leaders seem to understand the dynamics of leadership and the necessity of followership.

Through collaborative efforts, they were able to reduce the poverty rate in the country from 53 per cent in 1981 to 8 per cent in 2001. A system of checks and balances had already been established in the political system through which key institutions of government are checked. The Presidency comes under the Standing Committee of the NPC, the highest decision-making body in China. Nigeria and other African countries, where central governments have absolute control, need to take a cue from here.

China has become the centre of attraction in the world today. She hosted Africa leaders in 2006 to cement harmonious relations between her and Africa. This time, she has hosted the youth to tie the bond of friendship and market China to the rest of Africa. She has become the destination of world leaders who seem to have realised China’s rising profile in the international system.

Soon, she will host the 2008 Olympics, a testimony to her new status in the world. The Olympics Stadium, popular called bird’s nest due to its design, ranks among the best in the world. This is apart from the impact Chinese scientists are making worldwide. They are now famous for space explorations, animal science and on-going researches in agriculture. Little wonder, she is Nigeria’s new ally in the galaxy, helping the ‘heart of Africa’ to launch her two satellites into space.

Recently, a team of 17 explorers set out to reach the highest polar icecap peak of the Antarctica; an elevation of 4,093 metres above sea level. It is the 24th Antarctic expedition that Chinese scientists would conduct. If they succeed, it would be the second time humans would get to the peak of the Antarctica since January 18, 2005. Chinese scientists were the first to reach the point three years ago.

Professor Wei Jitian, Deputy Director-General of Guangxi Regional Agricultural Bureau, in a lecture he delivered at the International Youth Centre in Nanning, entitled The Ecological Agriculture and the Construction of New Countryside, highlighted how research and efforts of the locals have helped the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to produce quality rice.

Today the region depends less on imported rice due to the acceptability of the local one. In 2006, agriculture in the region alone contributed 22.4 per cent of China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Perhaps, another indication that African countries should evolve strategies that will boost local production of imported goods.

Apart from agriculture, there is the Nanning Hi-tech District, an ongoing initiative to create a one-stop centre for technological innovations. It features the latest developments in technology and ongoing researches that are aimed at ensuring development. There is also the China-ASEAN Advanced Business Park Investment Promotion Centre in Nanning. It is estimated at about RMD500 million when completed. The park will soon become a force to reckon with in international business. The Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Centre, a conference centre jointly designed by the German GMP Designing Company Ltd and Guangxi Architecture Integrated Design and Research Institute, may become the favourite location for international conferences courtesy of its uniqueness.

All this has led to a new debate in the international community in which a section of the media in Western countries has described China as a ‘threat’ to the West. For Africa, China’s rise seems more like a challenge than a threat, given that about 50 years ago, some parts of China and many countries in Africa were under colonial rule. The ‘China threat’ argument is coming at a point when international attention has been focused on the Middle East and some of its exponents use China’s economic indicators, space collaborations and military capacity as indices.

If China, regardless of the contradictions in the international system, could rise to become a ‘threat’ to the West, then the onus lies on African leaders to get their acts together and set their countries on the path to national development. Though partnerships with China may be good, they should be used as opportunities to develop local skills and not rely more on importation. For now, all eyes are on China to see when and how her lofty plans will come through. Go China, the world is waiting!