Hidden Dragon, Crouching Lion: How China's Advance in Africa is Underestimated and Africa's Potential Underappreciated.

摘要

This monograph is part of our Advancing Strategic Thought Series precisely because its topic is so important. As Mr. Brown stresses, the explosive growth of China's economic interests in Africa is arguably the most important trend in the continent's foreign relations since the end of the Cold War. China-Africa trade passed the $1 billion mark in 1990, jumped to $10 billion in 2000, and accelerated again, increasing 15-fold in a little over a decade to $150 billion in 2011. China's rapidly expanding ties with Africa catapulted China past the United States in 2010 as Africa's top trading partner. Mr. Brown predicts that by 2020, China's projected expansion of trade, investment, and development assistance is likely to secure economic and political influence for Beijing in Africa that at least rivals, if not surpasses, that enjoyed by Europe and the United States over the last 150 years. This monograph is divided into four parts: Part 1 describes how China is leading other developing countries, including the other three 'BRIC' countries (Brazil, Russia, and India), in expanding aid, trade, and investment with Africa, defined here as North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Part 2 answers five major questions regarding the China-Africa economic relationship: Why China chose to expand its economic ties to Africa; why it has been so successful in expanding rapidly; whether new trade credits and development loans are creating a new African debt burden; whether African industrialization will be aided or hindered by China; and what the impact of new, nonstate Chinese actors (companies and individuals) will be on Africa. Part 3 addresses the strategic importance to China of its oil, minerals, and agriculture trade with and investments in Africa, while Part 4 discusses U.S. responses to China's advance into Africa.