Chinese Rush to Africa: Comparative Historical Analysis

In this article, the authors conduct a comparative historical analysis of the stages of Chinese penetration into Africa, the concepts, goals, means, methods and consequences of this penetration for China itself and for individual African countries. The authors conclude that compared to the period of twenty years ago, when China began to show increased interest in Africa, a new situation has now emerged. China has created a binary structure: the Forum of China-Africa cooperation launches a mechanism for selecting countries that are ready to follow the political path of the PRC with the prospect of becoming a country-follower of China, and the “One belt – one road” program de facto “forms membership” in the club of countries-followers of China, fixing these countries in the trail of Chinese influence not only politically, but also economically.

1. Deich. T. «Kitaiskii vek» dlia Afriki (“Chinese century” for Africa) // International affairs, 2013. No. 10.

2. Fituni, L.L.Na puti k novoi bipoliarnosti: geoekonomika i geopolitika protivostoianiia v Afrike (Towards a Neobipolar Model of the World Order: Scouting Game in Africa) // Political Processes in the Changing World, 2019, No. 12 (3), pp 6-29.

3. He, A. The Emerging Model of Economic Policy Making under Xi Jinping. China’s Political Structure and Decision-making Process. Centre for International Governance Innovation. CIGI Papers No. 208 – December 2018. ON, Canada, 2018.

4. Li, Guan’tsiun’. Strategiia «Nitki zhemchuga» v kontekste morskoi politiki KNR (The “String Of Pearls” Strategy in The Context of China’s Maritime Policy) // Moscow State University Bulletin, Ser. 25 International Relations And World Politics, 2011, No. 4, pp 162-174.

5. Mikhailichenko, K.M. Rol’ Afriki v initsiative Kitaiskoi narodnyi Respubliki «Odin poias i odin put’» (Africa’s Role in Chinese People’s Republic Initiative “One Belt And One Road”) // RUDN Journal of Political Science, 2018, No. 20 (1). Pp 60-68.

6. Shalamov, G.G. Kitaiskoe prisutstvie v Afrike: uroki dlia Rossii (China’s Presence in Africa: Lessons for Russia) // Russia and Contemporary World, 2018, No. 4, pp 112-128.

7. Sizykh, E.Yu. Sovremennyye tendentsii i perspektivy vyvoza pryamykh inostrannykh investitsiy iz Kitaya (Modern Trends and Prospects of Export of Direct Foreign Investment from China) // zvestiya Baykal’skogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2019, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp 227-239.

8. Spivak, V. Russia and China in Africa: Allies or Rivals? // Carnegie Moscow Center, 25.10.2019. Mode of access: https://carnegie.ru/commentary/80181

9. Zakharov, A.N.; Rusak, N.A. Vneshniaia torgovlia Kitaia so stranami Afriki (Foreign trade of China with African countries) // Russian Economic Bulletin, 2018, No. 4, pp 68-75.

10. Zhao, J. 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Aims and Objectives, Implementation Strategies and Policy Recommendations (Series on China’s Belt and Road Initiative). World Scientific, Social Sciences Academic Press, 2020.