Exploiting Africa: The Influence of Maoist China in Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania

225 Pages·2014·1.35 MB·English

by  Donovan C. Chau

ADvANCE PRAISE fOR ExploiTing AfricA CHAU EXPLOITING
“Even before China overtook the United States as Africa’s biggest trading partner in 2009, the expanding
network of economic, political, and military ties that Beijing has cultivated across Africa has been
cause for concern by policymakers and analysts in Washington. What many of them overlook, however, Exploiting Africa examines China’s historical
is that the recent activity is hardly the first Chinese foray into Africa. Donovan Chau’s examination
of Communist China’s not inconsiderable efforts under Mao Zedong to gain influence in several role in Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania from
AfRICA
post-independence African states not only lifts the veil on this little-known period, but also draws some
the 1950s to the 1970s, an important yet often
E
tantalizing clues from the initial strategic engagement as to possible trajectories now that Beijing has
emerged as one of the leading actors on the continent at a time when Africa as a whole enjoys both overlooked aspect of the broader subject of China
X
buoyant economic prospects and growing geopolitical importance.”
in Africa today. During this time China meddled
J. PETER PHAM, director, Africa Center, Atlantic Council, and P in Africa’s affairs with its own self-interest in
editor-in-chief, The Journal of the Middle East and Africa
mind and for the benefit of the Communist Party
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of China. The Chinese arrived in Africa with little
DONOvAN C. CHAU is an associate professor “Donovan Chau’s Exploiting Africa makes a valuable and timely contribution to the burgeoning literature O
on China’s involvement in Africa today. In contrast to most extant accounts, this book demonstrates fanfare, yet they maintained an active presence
of political science at California State University.
the link between the involvements of Maoist China on the continent from the 1950s to the 1970s.
that was more pragmatic than revolutionary.
Holding a PhD from the University of Reading, Although China’s Africa policy then was influenced by its ideological orientation, Chau argues con- I THE INfLUENCE Of
vincingly that ‘China’s meddling’ was at a fundamental level pragmatically driven. In the long term, T
Chau’s teaching and research focus on interna-
China was seeking to ensure access to Africa’s vast mineral resources for its own primarily economic Though often couched in ideological rhetoric,
tional politics, particularly in Asia and Africa. objectives. Chau’s arguments are masterfully supported by empirical evidence from three case studies: I
Chinese goals in Africa were those of an aspiring
Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania.” N
world power. China skillfully used its diplomatic,
EDMOND J. KELLER, research professor of political
intelligence, and economic means to shape events
science, University of California, Los Angeles G
MAOIST CHINA
and to exploit its relationships to gain lasting influ-

“Donovan Chau’s informative and often provocative analysis of Sino-African relations, from the 1955 ence on the continent. It is crucial to understand
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Bandung Conference until the death of Mao Zedong, is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand
the nature and character of China’s historical
the rising Asian power’s involvement in the continent today. Dispassionate and avoiding polemics,
Exploiting Africa engagingly explores the PRC’s historical involvement in three case studies. Ultimately, f actions in Africa in order to grasp the nation’s
Chau sounds the tocsin concerning Beijing’s ongoing geopolitical ambitions in Africa that world leaders
R current and future policies properly. Rather than
will ignore at their own peril.”
Jacket image: Top image: Hung Chung Chih / Shutterstock.com; IN ALGERIA, GHANA, AND TANZANIA merely look forward, one must also look back-
bottom image: Shutterstock.com. GEORGE L. SIMPSON, professor of history at High Point University I
Jacket design: Matthew Simmons, www.myselfincluded.com and editor of The Journal of the Middle East and Africa C ward to comprehend the true nature of China’s
role in Africa. This book contributes vitally to
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the discourse on Sino-African history and adds
to the contemporary strategic understanding and
debate about China in Africa.
for more information on this and other great books,
visit www.nip.org. Naval
HISTORY • CHINA Institute
eBook edition also available. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Press
D O N O v A N C . C H A U
Exploiting
AfricA

Exploiting
AfricA
The Influence of
MaoIsT chIna
In algerIa, ghana, and TanzanIa
D o n o v An c. chAu
nAvAl institutE prEss
Annapolis, Maryland
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
© 2014 by Donovan C. Chau
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Chau, Donovan C.
Exploiting Africa : the influence of Maoist China in Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania / Donovan C.
Chau.
1 online resource.
Summary: “The purpose of this book is to provide an historical examination of China’s activities in
Africa, an important yet overlooked aspect of the broader subject of China in Africa today. There is
a tendency of observers of China in Africa to always look forward; however, there is a need to look
backward. Modern China’s historical presence in Africa must be scrutinized in order to understand
the context of its current and future actions on the continent. As the book will illustrate, China in the
past meddled in the affairs of Africa, in places like Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania. It did so for self-
interest, for the benefit of the Communist Party of China, specifically its leaders’ strategic objective,
which was to demonstrate influence in the world, that is, power in international politics. Though its
material resources were scant in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, China nevertheless used them, in addi-
tion to devoting time and attention to Africa. It was a Meddling Dragon. China was not required to
devote time, attention, and resources to Africa. But it did, in Algeria, Ghana, and Tanzania, especially.
China skillfully used its limited diplomatic, intelligence, and economic means to gain traction on
the continent. It sought influence through a combination of means - through shaping perceptions,
developing personal relationships, and providing tangible assistance. There was a rhyme and reason
to China’s early approach to the continent. And that rhyme and reason remains much the same today.
Viewed in the broader historical and strategic contexts, China’s current presence in Africa demon-
strates continuity with the past rather than a renewed focus. This book contributes vitally to the
discourse on Sino-African history and adds to the contemporary strategic understanding and debate
about China in Africa. The Chinese arrived on the African continent without fanfare, yet maintained
an active and influential presence, a presence which ultimately was more pragmatic than revolution-
ary. Though often couched in ideological rhetoric, China’s behavior in Africa in the 1950s, 1960s,
and 1970s demonstrated goals and actions of an aspiring great power in the world. Contemporary
China receives much more attention in Africa, as it does everywhere else around the world. Neverthe-
less, it is crucial to understand the nature and character of China’s historical actions on the African
continent in order to properly grasp its future policies. Rather than merely looking forward, one must
look backward to comprehend the true nature of China in Africa”— Provided by publisher.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not
viewed.
ISBN 978-1-61251-251-8 (ePDF) — ISBN 978-1-61251-251-8 (ePub) — ISBN 978-1-61251-
251-8 (mobi) — ISBN 978-1-61251-251-8 (xml) — ISBN 978-1-61251-250-1 (hardback) 1.
China—Foreign relations—Africa. 2. Africa—Foreign relations—China. 3. China—Foreign rela-
tions—1949–1976. 4. China—Foreign relations—Algeria. 5. Algeria—Foreign relations—China.
6. China—Foreign relations—Ghana. 7. Ghana—Foreign relations—China. 8. China—Foreign
relations—Tanzania. 9. Tanzania—Foreign relations—China. I. Title.
DT38.9.C5
327.5106—dc23
2013049872
∞ Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992
(Permanence of Paper).
Printed in the United States of America.
22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First printing
Maps created by Charles Grear.
Whatever the proximate cause, china is an authoritarian regime,
and its foreign as well as its domestic policies emanate from that
immutable fact.
RobeRt I. RotbeRg
China into Africa: Trade, Aid, and Influence
:
thus it is noteworthy that the chinese themselves have tradi-
tionally conceptualized the Middle Kingdom not as one bounded
state in the company of others, but as a civilization so uniquely
superior that it cannot be presumed to have frontiers.
AddA b. bozemAn
Strategic Intelligence and Statecraft: Selected Essays
:

c o n tEn t s
List of Maps viii
.......................................................
Acknowledgments ix
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

introduction: the chinese Arrive 1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I Why AfricA?
1 objectives ........:...... . ............................................. 9
2 organizations 22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II northErn ExposurE
3 initial Entry: ..... . ...................................................35
4 supporting independence 42
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 close and Militant 54
.................................................
III no golD
6 ripe for revolution?.: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
7 toward revolutionary friendship 80
................................
8 revolution Derailed 94
................................................
iv EAstErn JEWEl
9 independence an:d rev olution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
10 open Door 111
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 railway to friendship 129
...........................................
conclusion: the chinese remain 143
..............................
Notes 149
.............................................................
Bibliography 185
......................................................
Index 205
.............................................................
vii
M Ap s
1 Algeria 34
............................................................
2 ghana 72
.............................................................
3 tanzania 102
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
viii
A cKn oWlE DgM En t s
W
riting a book is more aptly phrased doing a book project. so many
people are involved in the process; it is not an individual but a col-
lective effort. though all errors or omissions are my own, i would
like to recognize individuals who were critical along this path to the book’s
completion.
thanks, first and foremost, to the amazing team at the naval institute press
(nip). good organizations are comprised of good people. such is the case with
nip. in particular, i would like to recognize Adam Kane and Emily Bakely, who
have done magnificent jobs managing the entire effort. thanks also to Matt
simmons who helped create a fine cover based on my list of “i do not want’s.”
Many individuals outside of nip assisted in the project, two of whom deserve
special mention. i recognize Alison hope for her tremendous effort editing my
words, crafting better sentences and paragraphs, and, ultimately, making a better
book. on a short timeline, charles grear worked his map-making magic, cater-
ing to a map-lover’s needs, for which i give many thanks.
the origins of this project are over a decade old. the project began while
i was a doctoral student in reading, united Kingdom, endured trying years in
Washington, Dc, and culminated in my new life as an academic. special thanks
go to my phD supervisor, colin s. gray, who took a chance on the ideas of a
young californian in England. thanks, also, to my viva voce committee, tom
Kane and David lonsdale, who elevated my research—and me. though none
are Africanists or sinologists, all know international politics, particularly war
and strategy, well. very special thanks go to my intellectual forefathers, Bill rood
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