china and the african union
TRANSCRIPT
Overview 1. Introduc=on
a. Background on African Union (AU)
b. China’s Role 2. Paradox + Cri=cal Issue 3. Part 1: Strengthening
DiplomaAc Ties 4. Part 2: Securing Economic
Investments 5. Conclusion
Background on AU
Created in 2002, in Durban and headquartered in Addis Ababa
Successor of Organiza=on of African Unity (OAU)
AU has 54 Member States
Vision: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own ciAzens and represenAng a dynamic force in the global arena.”
ConstrucAon of new Headquarters in 2012 by China
$ 308, 048, 376 $137, 949, 831 $170, 048, 545
Interna.onal Partners AU Member States
$ 181, 504, 404, 622
54
28
1
0.5
Budget
Source: African Union Handbook + EU Financial Budget
$ 308, 048, 376 $137, 949, 831 $170, 048, 545
Interna.onal Partners AU Member States
28 0.5
China’s Contribu.on
0.6%
$ 876,619 =
Source: African Union Handbook
Organogram of AU African Union Commission
Assembly of Heads of State
ExecuAve Council
Permanent RepresentaAves Council
Specialized Technical CommiUees
Pan African Parliament
African Court on Human and People’s Rights
Financial InsAtuAons
Peace and Security Council
African Development Bank
African Monetary Fund
African Central Bank Partnerships (China)
Bilateral agreemen
ts
Source: (Oxfam, 2012)
Paradox
-‐ African Union’s will for self-‐sustainable development and governance without interference
-‐ AU’s legisla=ve and
func=onal weakness
-‐ China’s desire for economic bilateral relaAons
Vs.
To what extent is the African Union (AU) a pla;orm to strengthen diploma=c Aes for China?
1. Strengthening diploma=c, poliAcal (symbolic) Aes
2. Securing economic investments
$200 million investment, fully funded by Chinese government and built by China State Construc=on and Engineering Coopera=on
1200 Ethiopian and Chinese workers to build 20 story complex that houses 700 workers and includes three conference centers.
“A symbol of Friendship, enhancing solidarity and cooperaAon with African Countries”
– Jia Qinglin
A response to the West’s criAcism of exploitaAon.
1. Strengthening Diploma=c Ties A. Building of HQ – a symbolic gesture
Well-‐received by African leaders: “The beginning of the African Renaissance”
-‐ Meles Zenawi
1. Strengthening Diploma=c Ties B. Geo-‐poli.cs African support for China in mulAlateral forums, such as the United Na=ons (African countries account for 25% of member states)
Tibet became an issue before the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the U.N. Human Rights Council (Sun, 2014).
It could be argued that AU falls under China’s global policy not under “China’s Africa policy”
China uses AU to gradually edge out Taiwan out of Africa, with Gambia being the latest country to severe Aes (BBC,2013).
2. Securing economic investments A. Long-‐term security AU is a tool for conflict resoluAon and peace-‐building in order to create stable poli=cal environment through a conAnental forum
4 million US$ investment in 2011 in training workshops for AU officials with regards to (1) public governance (2) diplomacy (3) poverty elevaAon and (4) terrorism
CreaAon of the “China-‐Africa Coopera=ve Partnership for Peace and Security”
$10 million to AU in military grants between 2010 and 2011. $1.2 million cash aid to AMISOM. $2 million to ASEOWA.
2. Securing economic investments B. Avoiding coordina.on failure Strengthening AU increases bargaining power and coordina=on among African countries (sustainable economic growth).
The upgrading of the AUC from a mere observer of FOCAC to a full member in 2011 confirmed the revaluaAon of the AU as a poten=al facilitator in the Sino-‐African dialogue
AcceleraAon of interacAons with Africa, due to preceding dialogue mechanisms under AU’s leadership.
AU delega=on office in Beijing which would be the first diplomaAc mission of the AU for a state rather than internaAonal organizaAons.
Summary “It is almost conceivable that China will be compelled by instability and conflict in Africa to realize that its long term economic interests are best served by promo=ng peace in Africa and that this is most likely to come about by encouraging representaAve government.” (Obiroah, 2008)
Conclusion
China
African Union
+ financial/military support
+ diplomacy and symbolic gestures
Bilateral trade (economic
investments and market expansion)
Threat of poli=cal instability and conflict
Global leadership and need for Africa as an ally
Symbolism + Pragma=sm
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