Introduction
China’s insatiable appetite for natural resources, oils deposits and other raw materials to power its economic engine questing her to emerge as the new superpower, has catalyzed her desire to engage Africa in her Foreign Policy. This has heightened the Chinese desire to geo- strategic reach into Africa as a going global strategy this has been the plan as far back in the 1978 eras of Mao Zedong.

China’s objective in the new phase of assertiveness is to maintain strong economic ties in Africa, unlike the previous objective of building a coalition of sharing common goals with Africa as ‘Third World’. This geo-economic factor is influenced by the desire for resources to fuel its economic growth and gain energy security. China in strengthening her diplomatic and political ties sees Africa not just as ally to bid for influence and power, but as a source for natural resources .

China has established Confucius Institutes (state-funded Chinese Cultural Centers) that have sprung up throughout Africa, teaching local people the culture and traditions. One wonders if China is positioning itself for taking over supremacy and advancing her Soft Policy in Africa. It is perhaps important to see our languages and cultures going out there too.

The China- Africa Cooperation which was aimed at strengthening China’s diplomatic and political ties stared in post colonial Africa. The African plight of political freedom from their colonies, referred to as aggressors according to the Chinese and their desire to have a say in the international arena has given the Chinese a reason to defend their being in Africa. The analysis of the Beijing Consensus verses the Washington Consensus scores some marks for the Chinese in African’s aspirations.
The Chinese economic engagement in Africa, the impact of ideational affirmative and geo-economic interests came with some salient points to be discussed. The resource expansion is seen as a central Chinese geo-economic interest and the military interest. This paper elaborates the above to gauge the possibility of China to be considered a superpower. The achievement of the set goals would indeed qualify China to be a threat to the incumbent US, Europe and perhaps the eastern economic superpowers like Russia. The former President of South Africa Mr Thabo Mbeki at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China on 11th December 2001 noted that, the world and all of us are defined by the divide between rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots, the developed and the undeveloped which constitutes the deference between the countries of the North and those of the South. He stated that today with China, we are commonly defined by our situation as belonging to the South .
China – Africa Cooperation Forum
China’s recent economic focus on Africa for resources has generated interest and concerns about its strategic calculations, it should be noted that China’s interest in Africa is not new. Chinese commercial activity on Africa’s East Coast like Tanzania has been traced to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). After World War II and the cultural revolution of the Chinese people, the Peoples Republic of China was established in 1949. China focused on promoting Third World, offering support to the Anti-Colonial movements on the continent .

It is very clear that even though Chinese leaders still remind some countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola that it shared the colonial experience and struggle against the aggressors, China has never been colonised but it was only the cultural differences which nearly torn it apart. Its emphasis is building the ideational solidarity and inter-subjective understandings with African and other Third World countries. This was perceived as leverage that China could use against the Imperialists and Capitalists West as well as the Revisionist Communist Soviet Union. This according to Mao Zedong, Africa and other Third World countries and the then, two superpowers being USA and USSR and other Industrialised Capitalists were the components of the worlds. These worlds according to Mao Ze Dong thinking was all about the economic standings and the projected instruments of national power.

In the Bandung Conference in 1955, China opted to be a neutral ally for African countries, which attracted most African leaders to establish a strong presence in the international arena. Emphasis on political ideals became a strategic approach for China to broaden her influence in Africa. Beijing stressed that her African Policy was motivated by the desire to promote mutual respect for other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non aggression, mutual none interference in each other’s affairs, equity and mutual benefit as well as peaceful coexistence .
African states concurred with China on the reformation of the international economic and political order. China counted on the support of African countries but maintaining his relationship with US and USSR, seeking a measure of equidistance to maintain its global aspirations as a growing power developing a strategic partnership with developing countries. China has supported African’s effort to increase its representation in the UN Security Council. The privilege of using Vito Power as applied in Sudan complicating the efforts of freedom of the innocent locals at the expense of trade partnership. In some way inclusion of China in Security Council defeats the international interest of human freedom .

Currently the relations between China and Africa are more pragmatic. Trade and mutual benefits are central in current partnerships. This system was welcomed and South Africa became the only country in Africa which has penetrated the Chinese market. China presently supports Africa with aids such as projects building, provision of medical assistance by sending its medical experts and sponsorships for African students to study in China.

Beijing Consensus verses the Washington Consensus
The Washington Consensus (WC) was viewed as emphatic on political and economic conditionality for financial assistance to the African states and has failed to observe the concern of African sovereignty and genius economic requirements. The Beijing Consensus on the other hand came up with the ideal principles which were viewed to be providing a more equitable paradigm of development. Beijing Consensus (BC) used this ideational principles and diplomatic approaches to promote the China’s soft power in Africa .

It has been observed that many African leaders embrace this BC soft power, a long standing history of friendly ties, providing the most appreciated no strings attached financial and technical aid to the developing countries. China has embarked on establishing a model of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in some strategic areas in Africa. It has established a metal hub in Zambia’s Copper Belt and a transhipment hub in Dares Salaam port in Tanzania. This is meant to facilitate port for commodities mined in Copper belt and the envisaged SEZ in Nigeria for its manufacturing and assembly operations .

The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which China subscribed to, is meant to create a renaissance with specific purpose to Africa’s position in global position to come with conditions of good governance, reducing corruption and strengthening democracy. Nonetheless they are not the top priorities of what China offers to Africa. Furthermore, the most support for the ideational principle of non-interference negates against China’s concern for Africa. The question that one may pose is that, will China sustain its stance on African development or will just drain the resources of Africa and abandon the continent.

China’s economic engagement in Africa
Looking from the geo-economic perspective, the African continent presented opportunities for China’s extractive industries to meet its demands. China has kept her ideological support of the African state from the 1960s and 1970s with a measure of economic aid, focused on building pertinent infrastructure for the newly independent states. Some of these projects include the railway between Zambia and Tanzania (TAZARA Railway) and the Benguela Railway which links Zambia, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo to the west coast of Africa .

It is observed that China is emphasizing on building the horizontal linkages between African countries contrary to the railway system of the colonial era which was mainly from Cape to Cairo. Angola is seen as an important strong hold for China in her rivalry with the other superpower over Southern Africa. Though it is tempting to see today's China as just another imperial power out to exploit the riches of Africa, it seems that there is a slight difference between the Chinese presence as compared to the British and others.

The Chinese brings in something for exchange. They provide aids in form of low interest loans and ensure the same money is used to pay the Chinese companies which are now doing almost everything in construction industry at the expense of the local contractors. Despite all these, China’s effort to aid Africa was to convey its diplomatic message that it sympathising with the oppressed and sought to strengthen alliances against the US and the USSR.
China – Angola relation.
The presence of China in Angola has made people of Angola not to appreciate the effort of the British in construction of the Benguela railway line which was devastated by the civil wars. It has however engineered triumph since it stretches a 1000 miles from the Angolan Coast up to Southern Congo. It took them 30 years to construct and it became one of the most hurt victims of the 27 years of civil war. All praises now goes to the Chinese for rebuilding of Angolan railway, road networks, infrastructures like stadia, schools and medical facilities.

China – Botswana relation.
It is observed that Botswana is currently in the process of turning east with its beef market. However, it is advisable for small economies like Botswana to strike a balance in its economic ties by maintaining economic ties with the United States, Europe and Asia including China, rather than opting for pursuit for development with China alone. In so doing it will position her to gain from both economies instead of losing out others.

The current emergence of beef market in China and Asia has left Botswana with no option, but consider abandoning the long time market of EU. The EU market of recent imposed unfavorable conditions on beef imports which greatly affected beef producing nations like South Africa, Namibia and Botswana which almost led to closure of abattoirs in Botswana. Chinese conditions for meat and agricultural products threaten EU since Chinese have favorable conditions.

It is observed that the relationship with EU and China work far more systematically within existing joint channels, especially those based in Botswana, to complement donor approaches on debt relief, investments in public health, and related issues. The US provided funds for aids intervention and peacekeeping training, but these training opportunities are slowly diminishing.

Resource expansionism
The resource expansionism into Africa was particularly pronounced in the area of securing oil concessions as China seeks new sources to meet its growing demand for petroleum products which has exceeded Japan to become the world’s second biggest consumer of petroleum products behind the US. China has expanded its economic linkages in other areas including science and technology, agriculture, development assistance, debt relief finance and investment .

China’s geo-economical expansion in the oil sector in Africa is directly challenging the US interest in Africa as a source of diversifying its oil imports. It is meant to address China’s energy security and secure sources for its energy dependency. The expansionism concept has paid off when the Western countries have retreated from Sudan over human rights and terrorism concerns, China became the most beneficiary of the expanded economic engagement with Khartoum in the oil sector.

The significance of relationship between Sudan and China through which Sudan was protected from stiffer sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council by Chinese veto power only enhanced the continuing violence and loss of life to humanity. China was at the same time able to convince Sudan to allow deployment of UN-African Peacekeeping forces in Darfur. It could be speculated that this was paving a way for birth of South Sudan. It was through the use of the Chinese soft power, not the use of force which convinced the regime to release the oppressed Southerners though it could not help them to control oil that is extracted from their territory.

China’s military and strategic interests in Africa
China’s interests in Africa is linked with its military and strategic objectives of protecting and securing its positions in international forums such as the UN, and positioning herself as a global power which compels her to take a stiff stand against the US policies. The diplomatic, economic and military engagement in Africa also serves to enhance important national priorities of securing oil resources and expanding exports and pushing for China- Taiwan reunification. This is observed as unhealthy competition as China could not divorce herself from US and its allies as this could isolate the incumbent superpower denying her some marketing opportunities .

It is also observed that the military cooperation with African countries or regimes that undermine human rights in their nations negates the effort of NEPAD, hindering a peaceful transformation of domestic politics. Arms deals which boot military equipment and weapons industries of China ultimately compel China to support those regimes that are sanctioned by US and the West. Zimbabwe was supplied with fighter aircrafts and other military hardware. While Mugabe was condemned of widespread human rights violations, he was praised as a man of great achievement and a good friend of the Chinese people .

China - Zimbabwe
Even though Zimbabwe was hard hit by some sanctions, President Mugabe is orchestrating his campaign of terror from his mansion built by the Chinese. The impressive state of art building of ZANU-PF, his ruling party, was paid for and built by the Chinese. Mugabe received £200 million from China, enabling him to buy loyalty from the army. Today Mugabe boasts that they have turned east where the sun rises, and given their backs to the west, where the sun sets. Despite Britain's commendable colonial legacy of a network of roads, railways and schools, the British are now being shunned .

There is a growing concern in China about the US military interest in Africa. The US has established the Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Joint Task Force in the eastern Africa mainly to combat terror threat. This is perceived by the Chinese as a way the US is securing resources and triggering military entanglement, posing competitiveness unlike in the era with Soviet during the Cold War. China’s involvement in UN peacekeeping missions has been evolving from the opposition from (1949 – 1970) to non participation (1971-1981); in support participation (1982 – 89); in retreat and participation (1990 to present) This clearly reflects that China has certainly increased her participation in UN missions in Africa to enhance her image as a responsible super power, but also to protect her resources interest in Africa. China contributed about 3000 troops in 12 countries some of them known to have vast natural resources like Liberia (UNMIL), Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan .

China - Sudan.
China started oil imports from Sudan in 1995 and since then oil explorations intensified and are expanding steadily. The US imposed economic and trade suctions on Sudan, but China moved in to fill in the gap by the Western countries. China National Petroleum is currently the largest shareholder and essentially controls the Sudanese Energy Sector as its main oil production. The oil export to China is accounted to 64% of the Sudan’s total oil exports in 2004 .

Both China and Sudan benefit from this relationship. Sudan on her side has found a reliable market and economic partner, whilst China has been relieved of dependency on other oil producing countries and is able to diversify its oil resources. The war torn Sudanese avoided further sanctions due to China’s disapproval. China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council threatened to use its veto power and urged the West to cool down. The UN Security Council had passed Resolution 1556 that demanded Sudanese government to disarm the Janjaweed and bring to justice those leaders who had incited and carried out human rights abuses.

China has assisted the Sudanese financially and militarily even though it was aware of the widespread ethnic wars of Darfur. The Northern Sudan dominated by Arabic origins were the beneficiaries of the oil exports whereas the war torn and poor Southerners remained in poverty and fighting each other. The Human Rights Watch has for this reason accused China for cooperating in the genocide in Darfur since 2003. This is seen in other words as energy security overriding the other factors of concern.

The ideational principle of peaceful coexistence and assistance to deal with security threats remains the cornerstone of the Chinese to maintain their interest in Africa. China has also engaged in other military cooperation like offering equipment and training of military personnel in China.

India chasing China for West Africa oil
Asian giants and economic rivals, China and India are locked in battle to secure stakes in oil fields and blocks in the new energy haven of West Africa. Indian state ran Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has recently lost almost closed deal to buy Shell shares in Angola. China evidently cut the deal offering something far beyond Indian reach tempting the Angolan government to push SONANGO to exercise its pre emptive right to discard India from the deal. China managed to swing the deal by offering two billion for various projects in Angola, compared to India’s 200 million dollars for development of the railways.

The Chinese strategy of aid for oil across West Africa, whose oil potential came in focus after the September 11 Washington bombing has worked for them positively. The exploration of oil in West Africa is growing and US is seen to be targeting Gulf of Guinea reserves to relief them of the dependency on the Middle East. Currently the Washington is negotiating with Sao Tome to develop a Navy base there. This is calculated strategically to ensure the security of their economic interest in the region.

India had its era of influence in Africa in the eras of the Non Aligned Movement in the 1960s and ‘70s. Today it is money that talks and China has deep pockets than India. Indian officials also believe that their contact with West Africa has been limited due to the absence of the Indian Diaspora in a largely Francophone region. India has just put her foot at the door, China is already there.

In this instance, it is observed that completion for oil in West Africa could spoil the international efforts of promoting peace as China’s concern is about economic partnership and ignores the plight of the nation’s call for peace which has been desired for so long. The current conflicts in the West Africa are escalated by oil in the gulf of Guinea. The insurgency and terrorist activities and the general instability in the west lie on the sales of newly found oil market which could be blamed on China.

It is eminent that Chinese presence in Africa is rivalry for superpower. China with its fast growing economy, her military and political appearance in Africa is paving a way to replace US in controlling the world and particularly Africa. The requirement to be a superpower entails both economic and political charisma, the willingness to directly shape up states to one’s tune which China is doing so well currently.

Conclusion
China has moved from building a relationship with Africa to shared sentiments of being the Third World into an economic partnership. The Chinese interest in the African continent dates back to the Tang Dynasty. China in strengthening her diplomatic and political ties sees Africa not just as ally to bid for influence and power, but as a source for natural resources. However, it is noted that China still has to improve on its diplomacy, domestic suppression of human rights and of speech which is seen as an area in which China is lacking. Chinese economic engagement in Africa and the impact of ideational affirmative and geo-economic interests came with some salient points to be noted to see if there is any rivalry. Resource expansion is being noted as a central Chinese geo-economic interest.

The other factor noted is the military interest that China is primarily focused on getting opportunities to market its arms products without necessarily considering the African need for self sustenance. China- Africa Cooperation which was aimed at strengthening China’s diplomatic and political ties stared in post colonial Africa. The analysis of the Beijing Consensus verses the Washington Consensus scores some marks for the Chinese in African’s aspirations. A huge deference is found that Americans provide aids conditionally basing on a state willingness to observe democratic and good governance while the Chinese only cares about money and does not want to interfere with issues of sovereign states.

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