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Journal of Contemporary AfricanStudiesPublication details including instructions for authors andsubscription informationhttpwwwtandfonlinecomloicjca20
Chinese and Japanese development co-operation SouthndashSouth NorthndashSouthor whatPedro Amakasu Raposo a amp David M Potter aa Nanzan University Graduate School of Policy Studies JapanPublished online 20 May 2010
To cite this article Pedro Amakasu Raposo amp David M Potter (2010) Chinese and Japanesedevelopment co-operation SouthndashSouth NorthndashSouth or what Journal of Contemporary AfricanStudies 282 177-202 DOI 10108002589001003736819
To link to this article httpdxdoiorg10108002589001003736819
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Chinese and Japanese development co-operation SouthSouthNorthSouth or what
Pedro Amakasu Raposo and David M Potter
Nanzan University Graduate School of Policy Studies Japan
This article compares the evolution and characteristics of Chinese and Japaneseaid assessing the impact of their aid policies in sub-Saharan Africa from the1950s to the present It argues that China and Japanrsquos aid programmes share moresimilarities than dissimilarities Both pursue aid strategies that spread allocationsacross a region rather than concentrating upon specific countries The articleseeks to clarify the following questions In what way are Chinese and Japanese aidstrategies different from each other and Western donors Should their aid be seenas a form of SouthSouth co-operation that provides an alternative to the Westrsquoshegemony in Africa Or is aid from these donors simply another strategy tocontrol African resources and state elites in the guise of a partnership of equals
Keywords Japan China foreign policy Africa aid development
In recent years the re-emergence of China as an economic power has spurred debate
about its consequences for the international economy and the neo-liberal system of
globalisation Part of that debate concerns itself with the consequences of Chinarsquos
renewed use of economic co-operation instruments to promote relations with African
countries One approach argues that in lsquoa new scramble for Africarsquo (Southall and
Melber 2009) Chinarsquos partnership with Africa is no more and no less self-interested
than similar Western involvements considering the subordination and dependent
relationships that historically have characterised interactions between African
capitalists and foreign capital (Melber 2009 75 Southall and Comninos 2009
357) Western donors and Bretton-Woods institutions have criticised Chinarsquos
practices in Africa for ignoring human rights problems and for undermining
transparency and good governance in Africa through unconditional aid and loans
(Mugumya 2008 6) Meanwhile Alden (2007 5) has summarised the debate over
China as a lsquodevelopment partnerrsquo lsquoeconomic competitorrsquo or lsquocoloniserrsquo This interest
in China is also part of a broader discussion of renewed AfricaAsia ties in the wake
of robust economic growth in Asia A recent study by the World Bank for example
compares the economic relations of China and India with the continent under the
title lsquoAfricarsquos Silk Roadrsquo (Broadman 2007) Yet strangely Japan is left out of this
discussion of Asia-Africa economic relations even though it is the main foreign aid
donor in Asia and its presence in Africa is substantial
This article compares the aid policies and practices of China and Japan in Africa
Section I surveys the main features of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid and traces
the evolution of their aid policies Section II compares the two aid programmes
Corresponding author Email amakasuraposogmailcom
Journal of Contemporary African Studies
Vol 28 No 2 April 2010 177202
ISSN 0258-9001 printISSN 1469-9397 online
2010 The Institute of Social and Economic Research
DOI 10108002589001003736819
httpwwwinformaworldcom
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Section III examines the differences and similarities between Chinese and Japanese
foreign aid policy to Africa Section IV examines their aid characteristics to Africa
such as regional distributions and major recipients Section V evaluates new regional
frameworks the relation between poverty reduction and the Millennium Develop-
ment Goals (MDGs) and SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinese aid terminology is inexact and not consistent with the Development
Assistance Committee (DAC) definition but is close to the Japanese notion of
economic co-operation used in the past (White 1964 7) Because there is no reliableofficial data on Chinarsquos aid flows statistics are given to illustrate the character of
arguments rather than concentrating on the actual values of Chinese aid
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
For geopolitical social and cultural reasons both countries during the Cold War
showed a preference for Asia followed by Africa The end of the Cold War and the
withdrawal of strategic assistance from Africa along with aid fatigue in the major
donors created greater opportunities for China and Japan to engage Africa (Payne
and Veney 1998 867 Grant and Nijman 1998 57)
Unlike other donors China and Japanrsquos aid both espouse non-interference and
self-help as fundamental principles in foreign and aid policy (Law 1984 45-6 Rix
1993 33) Chinarsquos lsquoFive Principles of Peaceful Coexistencersquo enunciated by Zhou
Enlai in 1954 still influences Chinarsquos aid strategy Hence China respects thesovereignty of the recipient countries and limits political conditions when providing
aid to lsquothe one China policyrsquo ie non- recognition of Taiwan China stresses that aid
to the Third World should be designed to make the recipient economically
independent of China (Brautigam 1998 41) Similarly Japanrsquos Official Development
Assistance (ODA) Charter declares the value of sovereign equality and non-
intervention in the domestic affairs of recipient countries
Accordingly their programmes emphasise loans over grants with priority on the
growth-oriented co-operation through trade-related infrastructures as a complement
to aid (Grant and Nijman 1998 45 Wang 2007 21) Both support Africarsquos
endeavours to strengthen solidarity and self-reliance through the implementation of
the New Partnership for Africarsquos Development (NEPAD) within the framework of
SouthSouth co-operation Critics accuse both countries of using aid as a foreign
policy tool to achieve national interests that are not always consistent with poverty
reduction (Morikawa 2006 45-6 Davies 2007 74) Yet poverty reduction by Japan
and social development by China are treated as priorities in regional initiatives the
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum
on ChinaAfrica Co-operation (FOCAC)
Evolution and development of China and Japanrsquos aid policy
Japanrsquos recent involvement with Africa is shorter than that of China by two decades
Allowing for this difference one can discern five phases in the evolution of each
donorrsquos aid relationship with the continent
Chinarsquos first phase (19501955) of foreign aid was politically and ideologically
driven Initially Chinarsquos foreign aid was concentrated in Asia namely to consolidate
internal control caused by the war to protect China from a perceived threat from the
178 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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West and to solidify relations with the communist countries on Chinarsquos borders
(Cooper 1976 120) In exchange China received international recognition and
support against American hegemony (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 118) At the
Bandung Conference (1955) Beijing initiated its first post-revolution linkages with
Africa particularly with Egypt leading to a trade agreement between them in
August that year (Taylor 2006 20)
In the second phase (19561978) Beijing began to use aid as part of cultural
diplomacy to change its image among Afro-Asian nations (Cooper 1976 15) With
the outbreak of the Sino-Soviet dispute Beijing moved away from ideological
motives to concentrate more on economic co-operation with non-communist
countries and expanded its aid programme beyond Asia to Africa It reversed its
earlier policy of supplying liberation organisations like the anti-French rebels in
Algeria and began supporting African national independence against Soviet
imperialism (Taylor 2006 21 28)
Chinarsquos first real impact on Africa came in 1964 when Zhou Enlairsquos enunciated in
Mali the eight principles governing Chinese aid policy confirming its aid as an
alternative to Western aid (Arnold 1979 119 Law 1984 54) The objective was
threefold to show support for revolution to establish diplomatic relations in Africa
and support Chinarsquos bid for admission to the United Nations (Cooper 1976 16)
In its third phase (19791982) China was more pragmatic than ideological Unity
and self-reliance of African nations through peaceful co-existence and promotion of
economic development was stressed (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 119 173)
Under the post-Mao reforms the aid offices of most ministries provinces and
municipalities that carried out aid activities assigned by the central government were
transferred to state-owned corporations encouraged to seek contracts through
design contracting and joint ventures (Brautigam 2009 10) Today Chinese
companies in Africa largely reflect the economic reforms of the early 1980sThe fourth phase (19831999) of Chinarsquos foreign aid policy began after the visit
to Africa of Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping in December of 1982 Chinarsquos new
foreign aid policy was to benefit both sides economically strive for economic
feasibility and practical results with focus on diversity in form and common
development By emphasising co-operation rather than one-sided aid Deng
proclaimed Chinarsquos concept of SouthSouth co-operation that respects sovereignty
does not interfere in recipientsrsquo internal affairs attaches no political conditions and
asks for no privileges (Brautigam 1998 4950)
Chinarsquos last phase (2000-present) began with the FOCAC conferences In 2006
the FOCAC adopted a specific African policy aiming at a lsquonew type of strategic
partnershiprsquo between China and Africa This is described as a multidimensional
approach embracing all strategies previously pursued by China through co-operation
in political and international affairs economic commercial cultural co-operation in
social development (Alden 2007 27 Davies 2007 38)
The first phase (19541972) of Japanese aid diplomacy began in 1954 when Japan
became a member state of the Colombo Plan However Japanrsquos entry into the United
Nations (UN) (1956) and the Bandung Conference awoke Japan to the importance
of the Afro-Asian bloc as a means to improve its image in the international
community Yet Japan tended to align itself with the former colonial powers
(Ampiah 1997 39 45) and aid to Africa was restricted until the 1960s by the priority
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 179
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ober
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3
given to Asia Some tied aid was provided for infrastructure projects to facilitate the
promotion and export of primary products (Oda and Aoki 1985 154)
Japanrsquos second phase (19731980) following the 1973 oil crisis saw the expansion
of its aid beyond Asia to reduce resource vulnerability Securing access to Africarsquos
raw materials became a critical policy objective (Ampiah 1997 46) Moreover
beyond economic security considerations African political support for its UN policy
gradually increased in importance (Sato 2005 74)Like China Japanrsquos third phase (19811988) toward Africa also includes dual
diplomacy ODA was provided to Africa to lsquofightrsquo Africarsquos economic and famine
crisis to recycle some of its trade surplus and simultaneously to accommodate the
protests by African countries about Japanrsquos support of South Africa (Ampiah 1997
567) Japan aimed to improve its image in sub-Saharan Africa in order to gain
access to those countriesrsquo natural resources and to bolster its diplomatic influence at
the United Nations (Morikawa 1997 17071)
Japanrsquos fourth phase (19892000) began with the end of the Cold War aid fatigue
among the donor countries and the failure of structural adjustment Having clarified
the political and development purposes of its aid in the 1992 ODA Charter Japan
organised TICAD I and II in 1993 and 1998 to prevent the marginalisation of Africa
(JICA 2007 25) These were the first-ever international conferences on African
development and marked a significant political commitment by a leading donor to
create a system to harmonise policies on African development (TCSF 2005 8)
Japanrsquos last phase (2001present) is marked by the revision of the ODA Charterin 2003 and TICAD III and IV where lsquoconsolidation of peacersquo lsquohuman-centred
developmentrsquo and lsquopoverty reduction through economic growthrsquo were priority issues
The signing of the TICAD-NEPAD for the promotion of Trade and Investment
between Africa and Asia the reforms of Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) toward higher aid effectiveness in 2006 and the TICAD IV in 2008 to boost
economic growth in Africa ensuring lsquohuman securityrsquo and addressing environmental
issues are key areas (JICA 2007 2 TCSF 2008 38)
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese aid programmes
Both countries emphasise aid for economic infrastructure and services Japan for
many years has financed major infrastructure projects Chinarsquos aid until the 1980s
was mostly highly labour-intensive project assistance and stressed the use of
intermediate technology (Arnold 1979 12425) China mainly supported mediumand small-sized projects in light industry agricultural development infrastructure
and training In comparison to Western aid Chinarsquos aid projects were not designed
to produce long-range economic development or economic growth (Cooper 1976
14043) Since the 1990s Chinarsquos economic co-operation has covered all the
production sectors such as construction and engineering followed by manufacturing
wholesale and trade mining and quarrying telecommunications power plants
finance and services (Davies 2007 55)
During the 1970s Japanese aid programme emphasised projects related to public
utilities such as bridges roads and dams In the 1980s Japan favoured large yen loan-
funded infrastructure development projects and also agriculture development in
recipient countries to diminish the gap between rich and poor In the 1990s and
based on the ODA Charter revised in 2003 Japan increased the share of assistance to
180 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
so-called basic human needs such as social infrastructure and services agriculture
and emergency aid largely extended by grants and technical co-operation (OECD
1999 44)
A major difference between the donors has to do with use of aid personnel
Labour export has been an important element of Chinarsquos overseas development co-
operation This is quite different from the technical assistance missions used by DAC
donors In 1988 China was involved in 1540 aid projects involving 470000personnel with 5500 Chinese experts working in developing countries (Wheeler
1989 182) In contrast there were 489 Japanese aid staff in 1987 of which 335 were
overseas (OECD 2004 54) The shortage of personnel heavy private sector
involvement and economic emphasis characterise Japanese aid activities which are
also less labour intensive than social assistance projects China assumes total
responsibility for completed projects by providing senior management or by turning
them into joint ventures (Brautigam 1998 51)
Aid type and administrative structure
The quantity of economic assistance provided to the developing countries is not the
only consideration in assessing the adequacy and equity of aid flows Of equal
importance is the manner whereby such aid is rendered Like Japan Chinarsquos
approach to development assistance is mostly bilateral and mainly composed ofgrants loans and technical assistance Yet both channel aid via multilateral
institutions including UN agencies and the African Development Bank Japan
much more than China
Internal coordination of aid policy presents problems for both donors because
their bureaucratic structures prevent unity of purpose However it seems that China
solves conflicts in the bureaucratic structure better than Japan because its state
council which is the highest executive organ in Chinese government takes major
policy decisions on aid and has more decision power than any of the main Japanese
aid agencies had in the early years Ultimately aid decision-making in China is a
political decision and not an administrative one as in Japan
The responsibility for managing Chinese bilateral aid rests primarily with the
Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) after it makes proposals to the Finance
Ministry It also coordinates aid policies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
with other government ministries such as the health and education ministries that
also provide aidThe Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) established in 1994 is mandated
to implement state policies in industry finance foreign trade and economic co-
operation In 1995 Eximbank acquired the operation of concessional loans
previously undertaken by China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust and Investment
Corporation and is now the only on-lending bank for Chinarsquos official development
aid loans in accordance with the international practice (Eximbank 2005 467) It
supports Chinarsquos foreign aid programme in Africa through the governmentrsquos
concessional loans by supporting enterprises in establishing factories and winning
contracting projects (Eximbank 2005 17 Lancaster 2007 4)
Until 1965 most Chinese aid toward Africa was in the form of non-repayable
grants to emphasise the differences between Chinese aid and Western aid (Cooper
1976 137) By substituting loans for grants Beijing discovered that recipient
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 181
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ober
201
3
countries supported its foreign policy goals as much or more so than grants Chinarsquos
forms of assistance are grants in kind and zero interest loans often converted into
debt cancellations provided by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) The
Eximbank provides Chinarsquos concessional loans which carry no interest and are for
social sectors and to industries related to the economic development of the recipient
countries such as electric power transportation and telecommunications (Eximbank
2005 45) As of 2007 Chinarsquos Eximbank loans approvals reached USD 189 billion
with on-lending loan agreements with a total value of USD 950 million for 47projects while the Japan Bank for International Co-operationrsquos (JBIC) total budget
for ODA loans in 2007 was 9012 billion yen or USD 93 billion (Eximbank 2007 26
JBIC 2008 2)
Similar to China today Japanrsquos aid for many years was linked to the purchase of
goods and services and was criticised for the low concessionality of its aid Aid tying
was a product of the Ministry of International Trade and Industryrsquos (MITI) influence
on aid policy However Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assumed a stronger co-
ordinating role within the development co-operation system and MITI (now METI)
lost decision-making power particularly concerning aid to Africa
In the last 20 years Japan has simplified the management of aid policy merging
the former Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) with the Export-Import
Bank of Japan into the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 1999
In 2008 JBIC was taken over by JICA which now coordinates Japanrsquos three types of
aid in an integrated manner (JICA 2007 24) Nonetheless JICA answers to MOFA
which has become the de jure co-ordinating body for the diverse implementing
institutions of ODA a sign of MOFArsquos greater influence in aid administrationJapanese assistance (like Chinarsquos) has long emphasised the centrality of self-help
efforts on the part of developing countries through yen loans The low-income level
of African countries restricts the sectors that can receive Japanese loans (Omuruyi
2001 111) Therefore the grant proportion of Japanese aid to Africa is much higher
than Chinarsquos and well above the average for Japanrsquos worldwide assistance
Japanese ODA loans are normally untied while in China the basic condition for
concessional loans is that no less than 50 of materials technology or services be
procured from China This tied aid tends to raise project costs for recipient countries
The politics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
The rhetoric of anti-hegemonism against the superpowers has been a guiding force inChinarsquos policy formulation towards the developing world and Southern Africa
(Taylor 2006 200) During the Cold War China emphasised the convergence of
African interests with its own Chinarsquos anti-colonial and anti-minority rule campaign
in Africa was founded on political solidarity aiming a hegemonic role in its rivalry
with the Soviet Union (Melber 2009 73) Actual aid to liberation movements
however was limited in part due to its insistence that indigenous movements remain
self-reliant (Taylor 2006 31)
Japan tried to avoid direct competition with the interests of the former colonial
powers (Payne and Veney 1998 870 Morikawa 2006 18) Tokyo argued that the
absence of lsquohistoricalrsquo or colonial ties with Africa gives an advantage in distributing
development assistance according to each countryrsquos specific development needs (Orr
1990 94 Ishikawa 1999 37) Japanrsquos demonstrations of friendship with Africa such
182 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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3
as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
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ober
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3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ity o
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ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
P
otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
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3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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205
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ded
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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205
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ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
205
07
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ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
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ober
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TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Chinese and Japanese development co-operation SouthSouthNorthSouth or what
Pedro Amakasu Raposo and David M Potter
Nanzan University Graduate School of Policy Studies Japan
This article compares the evolution and characteristics of Chinese and Japaneseaid assessing the impact of their aid policies in sub-Saharan Africa from the1950s to the present It argues that China and Japanrsquos aid programmes share moresimilarities than dissimilarities Both pursue aid strategies that spread allocationsacross a region rather than concentrating upon specific countries The articleseeks to clarify the following questions In what way are Chinese and Japanese aidstrategies different from each other and Western donors Should their aid be seenas a form of SouthSouth co-operation that provides an alternative to the Westrsquoshegemony in Africa Or is aid from these donors simply another strategy tocontrol African resources and state elites in the guise of a partnership of equals
Keywords Japan China foreign policy Africa aid development
In recent years the re-emergence of China as an economic power has spurred debate
about its consequences for the international economy and the neo-liberal system of
globalisation Part of that debate concerns itself with the consequences of Chinarsquos
renewed use of economic co-operation instruments to promote relations with African
countries One approach argues that in lsquoa new scramble for Africarsquo (Southall and
Melber 2009) Chinarsquos partnership with Africa is no more and no less self-interested
than similar Western involvements considering the subordination and dependent
relationships that historically have characterised interactions between African
capitalists and foreign capital (Melber 2009 75 Southall and Comninos 2009
357) Western donors and Bretton-Woods institutions have criticised Chinarsquos
practices in Africa for ignoring human rights problems and for undermining
transparency and good governance in Africa through unconditional aid and loans
(Mugumya 2008 6) Meanwhile Alden (2007 5) has summarised the debate over
China as a lsquodevelopment partnerrsquo lsquoeconomic competitorrsquo or lsquocoloniserrsquo This interest
in China is also part of a broader discussion of renewed AfricaAsia ties in the wake
of robust economic growth in Asia A recent study by the World Bank for example
compares the economic relations of China and India with the continent under the
title lsquoAfricarsquos Silk Roadrsquo (Broadman 2007) Yet strangely Japan is left out of this
discussion of Asia-Africa economic relations even though it is the main foreign aid
donor in Asia and its presence in Africa is substantial
This article compares the aid policies and practices of China and Japan in Africa
Section I surveys the main features of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid and traces
the evolution of their aid policies Section II compares the two aid programmes
Corresponding author Email amakasuraposogmailcom
Journal of Contemporary African Studies
Vol 28 No 2 April 2010 177202
ISSN 0258-9001 printISSN 1469-9397 online
2010 The Institute of Social and Economic Research
DOI 10108002589001003736819
httpwwwinformaworldcom
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ober
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Section III examines the differences and similarities between Chinese and Japanese
foreign aid policy to Africa Section IV examines their aid characteristics to Africa
such as regional distributions and major recipients Section V evaluates new regional
frameworks the relation between poverty reduction and the Millennium Develop-
ment Goals (MDGs) and SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinese aid terminology is inexact and not consistent with the Development
Assistance Committee (DAC) definition but is close to the Japanese notion of
economic co-operation used in the past (White 1964 7) Because there is no reliableofficial data on Chinarsquos aid flows statistics are given to illustrate the character of
arguments rather than concentrating on the actual values of Chinese aid
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
For geopolitical social and cultural reasons both countries during the Cold War
showed a preference for Asia followed by Africa The end of the Cold War and the
withdrawal of strategic assistance from Africa along with aid fatigue in the major
donors created greater opportunities for China and Japan to engage Africa (Payne
and Veney 1998 867 Grant and Nijman 1998 57)
Unlike other donors China and Japanrsquos aid both espouse non-interference and
self-help as fundamental principles in foreign and aid policy (Law 1984 45-6 Rix
1993 33) Chinarsquos lsquoFive Principles of Peaceful Coexistencersquo enunciated by Zhou
Enlai in 1954 still influences Chinarsquos aid strategy Hence China respects thesovereignty of the recipient countries and limits political conditions when providing
aid to lsquothe one China policyrsquo ie non- recognition of Taiwan China stresses that aid
to the Third World should be designed to make the recipient economically
independent of China (Brautigam 1998 41) Similarly Japanrsquos Official Development
Assistance (ODA) Charter declares the value of sovereign equality and non-
intervention in the domestic affairs of recipient countries
Accordingly their programmes emphasise loans over grants with priority on the
growth-oriented co-operation through trade-related infrastructures as a complement
to aid (Grant and Nijman 1998 45 Wang 2007 21) Both support Africarsquos
endeavours to strengthen solidarity and self-reliance through the implementation of
the New Partnership for Africarsquos Development (NEPAD) within the framework of
SouthSouth co-operation Critics accuse both countries of using aid as a foreign
policy tool to achieve national interests that are not always consistent with poverty
reduction (Morikawa 2006 45-6 Davies 2007 74) Yet poverty reduction by Japan
and social development by China are treated as priorities in regional initiatives the
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum
on ChinaAfrica Co-operation (FOCAC)
Evolution and development of China and Japanrsquos aid policy
Japanrsquos recent involvement with Africa is shorter than that of China by two decades
Allowing for this difference one can discern five phases in the evolution of each
donorrsquos aid relationship with the continent
Chinarsquos first phase (19501955) of foreign aid was politically and ideologically
driven Initially Chinarsquos foreign aid was concentrated in Asia namely to consolidate
internal control caused by the war to protect China from a perceived threat from the
178 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
West and to solidify relations with the communist countries on Chinarsquos borders
(Cooper 1976 120) In exchange China received international recognition and
support against American hegemony (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 118) At the
Bandung Conference (1955) Beijing initiated its first post-revolution linkages with
Africa particularly with Egypt leading to a trade agreement between them in
August that year (Taylor 2006 20)
In the second phase (19561978) Beijing began to use aid as part of cultural
diplomacy to change its image among Afro-Asian nations (Cooper 1976 15) With
the outbreak of the Sino-Soviet dispute Beijing moved away from ideological
motives to concentrate more on economic co-operation with non-communist
countries and expanded its aid programme beyond Asia to Africa It reversed its
earlier policy of supplying liberation organisations like the anti-French rebels in
Algeria and began supporting African national independence against Soviet
imperialism (Taylor 2006 21 28)
Chinarsquos first real impact on Africa came in 1964 when Zhou Enlairsquos enunciated in
Mali the eight principles governing Chinese aid policy confirming its aid as an
alternative to Western aid (Arnold 1979 119 Law 1984 54) The objective was
threefold to show support for revolution to establish diplomatic relations in Africa
and support Chinarsquos bid for admission to the United Nations (Cooper 1976 16)
In its third phase (19791982) China was more pragmatic than ideological Unity
and self-reliance of African nations through peaceful co-existence and promotion of
economic development was stressed (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 119 173)
Under the post-Mao reforms the aid offices of most ministries provinces and
municipalities that carried out aid activities assigned by the central government were
transferred to state-owned corporations encouraged to seek contracts through
design contracting and joint ventures (Brautigam 2009 10) Today Chinese
companies in Africa largely reflect the economic reforms of the early 1980sThe fourth phase (19831999) of Chinarsquos foreign aid policy began after the visit
to Africa of Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping in December of 1982 Chinarsquos new
foreign aid policy was to benefit both sides economically strive for economic
feasibility and practical results with focus on diversity in form and common
development By emphasising co-operation rather than one-sided aid Deng
proclaimed Chinarsquos concept of SouthSouth co-operation that respects sovereignty
does not interfere in recipientsrsquo internal affairs attaches no political conditions and
asks for no privileges (Brautigam 1998 4950)
Chinarsquos last phase (2000-present) began with the FOCAC conferences In 2006
the FOCAC adopted a specific African policy aiming at a lsquonew type of strategic
partnershiprsquo between China and Africa This is described as a multidimensional
approach embracing all strategies previously pursued by China through co-operation
in political and international affairs economic commercial cultural co-operation in
social development (Alden 2007 27 Davies 2007 38)
The first phase (19541972) of Japanese aid diplomacy began in 1954 when Japan
became a member state of the Colombo Plan However Japanrsquos entry into the United
Nations (UN) (1956) and the Bandung Conference awoke Japan to the importance
of the Afro-Asian bloc as a means to improve its image in the international
community Yet Japan tended to align itself with the former colonial powers
(Ampiah 1997 39 45) and aid to Africa was restricted until the 1960s by the priority
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 179
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ober
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3
given to Asia Some tied aid was provided for infrastructure projects to facilitate the
promotion and export of primary products (Oda and Aoki 1985 154)
Japanrsquos second phase (19731980) following the 1973 oil crisis saw the expansion
of its aid beyond Asia to reduce resource vulnerability Securing access to Africarsquos
raw materials became a critical policy objective (Ampiah 1997 46) Moreover
beyond economic security considerations African political support for its UN policy
gradually increased in importance (Sato 2005 74)Like China Japanrsquos third phase (19811988) toward Africa also includes dual
diplomacy ODA was provided to Africa to lsquofightrsquo Africarsquos economic and famine
crisis to recycle some of its trade surplus and simultaneously to accommodate the
protests by African countries about Japanrsquos support of South Africa (Ampiah 1997
567) Japan aimed to improve its image in sub-Saharan Africa in order to gain
access to those countriesrsquo natural resources and to bolster its diplomatic influence at
the United Nations (Morikawa 1997 17071)
Japanrsquos fourth phase (19892000) began with the end of the Cold War aid fatigue
among the donor countries and the failure of structural adjustment Having clarified
the political and development purposes of its aid in the 1992 ODA Charter Japan
organised TICAD I and II in 1993 and 1998 to prevent the marginalisation of Africa
(JICA 2007 25) These were the first-ever international conferences on African
development and marked a significant political commitment by a leading donor to
create a system to harmonise policies on African development (TCSF 2005 8)
Japanrsquos last phase (2001present) is marked by the revision of the ODA Charterin 2003 and TICAD III and IV where lsquoconsolidation of peacersquo lsquohuman-centred
developmentrsquo and lsquopoverty reduction through economic growthrsquo were priority issues
The signing of the TICAD-NEPAD for the promotion of Trade and Investment
between Africa and Asia the reforms of Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) toward higher aid effectiveness in 2006 and the TICAD IV in 2008 to boost
economic growth in Africa ensuring lsquohuman securityrsquo and addressing environmental
issues are key areas (JICA 2007 2 TCSF 2008 38)
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese aid programmes
Both countries emphasise aid for economic infrastructure and services Japan for
many years has financed major infrastructure projects Chinarsquos aid until the 1980s
was mostly highly labour-intensive project assistance and stressed the use of
intermediate technology (Arnold 1979 12425) China mainly supported mediumand small-sized projects in light industry agricultural development infrastructure
and training In comparison to Western aid Chinarsquos aid projects were not designed
to produce long-range economic development or economic growth (Cooper 1976
14043) Since the 1990s Chinarsquos economic co-operation has covered all the
production sectors such as construction and engineering followed by manufacturing
wholesale and trade mining and quarrying telecommunications power plants
finance and services (Davies 2007 55)
During the 1970s Japanese aid programme emphasised projects related to public
utilities such as bridges roads and dams In the 1980s Japan favoured large yen loan-
funded infrastructure development projects and also agriculture development in
recipient countries to diminish the gap between rich and poor In the 1990s and
based on the ODA Charter revised in 2003 Japan increased the share of assistance to
180 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
so-called basic human needs such as social infrastructure and services agriculture
and emergency aid largely extended by grants and technical co-operation (OECD
1999 44)
A major difference between the donors has to do with use of aid personnel
Labour export has been an important element of Chinarsquos overseas development co-
operation This is quite different from the technical assistance missions used by DAC
donors In 1988 China was involved in 1540 aid projects involving 470000personnel with 5500 Chinese experts working in developing countries (Wheeler
1989 182) In contrast there were 489 Japanese aid staff in 1987 of which 335 were
overseas (OECD 2004 54) The shortage of personnel heavy private sector
involvement and economic emphasis characterise Japanese aid activities which are
also less labour intensive than social assistance projects China assumes total
responsibility for completed projects by providing senior management or by turning
them into joint ventures (Brautigam 1998 51)
Aid type and administrative structure
The quantity of economic assistance provided to the developing countries is not the
only consideration in assessing the adequacy and equity of aid flows Of equal
importance is the manner whereby such aid is rendered Like Japan Chinarsquos
approach to development assistance is mostly bilateral and mainly composed ofgrants loans and technical assistance Yet both channel aid via multilateral
institutions including UN agencies and the African Development Bank Japan
much more than China
Internal coordination of aid policy presents problems for both donors because
their bureaucratic structures prevent unity of purpose However it seems that China
solves conflicts in the bureaucratic structure better than Japan because its state
council which is the highest executive organ in Chinese government takes major
policy decisions on aid and has more decision power than any of the main Japanese
aid agencies had in the early years Ultimately aid decision-making in China is a
political decision and not an administrative one as in Japan
The responsibility for managing Chinese bilateral aid rests primarily with the
Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) after it makes proposals to the Finance
Ministry It also coordinates aid policies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
with other government ministries such as the health and education ministries that
also provide aidThe Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) established in 1994 is mandated
to implement state policies in industry finance foreign trade and economic co-
operation In 1995 Eximbank acquired the operation of concessional loans
previously undertaken by China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust and Investment
Corporation and is now the only on-lending bank for Chinarsquos official development
aid loans in accordance with the international practice (Eximbank 2005 467) It
supports Chinarsquos foreign aid programme in Africa through the governmentrsquos
concessional loans by supporting enterprises in establishing factories and winning
contracting projects (Eximbank 2005 17 Lancaster 2007 4)
Until 1965 most Chinese aid toward Africa was in the form of non-repayable
grants to emphasise the differences between Chinese aid and Western aid (Cooper
1976 137) By substituting loans for grants Beijing discovered that recipient
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 181
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ober
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3
countries supported its foreign policy goals as much or more so than grants Chinarsquos
forms of assistance are grants in kind and zero interest loans often converted into
debt cancellations provided by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) The
Eximbank provides Chinarsquos concessional loans which carry no interest and are for
social sectors and to industries related to the economic development of the recipient
countries such as electric power transportation and telecommunications (Eximbank
2005 45) As of 2007 Chinarsquos Eximbank loans approvals reached USD 189 billion
with on-lending loan agreements with a total value of USD 950 million for 47projects while the Japan Bank for International Co-operationrsquos (JBIC) total budget
for ODA loans in 2007 was 9012 billion yen or USD 93 billion (Eximbank 2007 26
JBIC 2008 2)
Similar to China today Japanrsquos aid for many years was linked to the purchase of
goods and services and was criticised for the low concessionality of its aid Aid tying
was a product of the Ministry of International Trade and Industryrsquos (MITI) influence
on aid policy However Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assumed a stronger co-
ordinating role within the development co-operation system and MITI (now METI)
lost decision-making power particularly concerning aid to Africa
In the last 20 years Japan has simplified the management of aid policy merging
the former Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) with the Export-Import
Bank of Japan into the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 1999
In 2008 JBIC was taken over by JICA which now coordinates Japanrsquos three types of
aid in an integrated manner (JICA 2007 24) Nonetheless JICA answers to MOFA
which has become the de jure co-ordinating body for the diverse implementing
institutions of ODA a sign of MOFArsquos greater influence in aid administrationJapanese assistance (like Chinarsquos) has long emphasised the centrality of self-help
efforts on the part of developing countries through yen loans The low-income level
of African countries restricts the sectors that can receive Japanese loans (Omuruyi
2001 111) Therefore the grant proportion of Japanese aid to Africa is much higher
than Chinarsquos and well above the average for Japanrsquos worldwide assistance
Japanese ODA loans are normally untied while in China the basic condition for
concessional loans is that no less than 50 of materials technology or services be
procured from China This tied aid tends to raise project costs for recipient countries
The politics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
The rhetoric of anti-hegemonism against the superpowers has been a guiding force inChinarsquos policy formulation towards the developing world and Southern Africa
(Taylor 2006 200) During the Cold War China emphasised the convergence of
African interests with its own Chinarsquos anti-colonial and anti-minority rule campaign
in Africa was founded on political solidarity aiming a hegemonic role in its rivalry
with the Soviet Union (Melber 2009 73) Actual aid to liberation movements
however was limited in part due to its insistence that indigenous movements remain
self-reliant (Taylor 2006 31)
Japan tried to avoid direct competition with the interests of the former colonial
powers (Payne and Veney 1998 870 Morikawa 2006 18) Tokyo argued that the
absence of lsquohistoricalrsquo or colonial ties with Africa gives an advantage in distributing
development assistance according to each countryrsquos specific development needs (Orr
1990 94 Ishikawa 1999 37) Japanrsquos demonstrations of friendship with Africa such
182 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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3
as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
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ober
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3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
P
otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
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3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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205
07
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
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difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
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3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ded
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ity o
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ing
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es]
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ded
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ity o
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
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ity o
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ober
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3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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Section III examines the differences and similarities between Chinese and Japanese
foreign aid policy to Africa Section IV examines their aid characteristics to Africa
such as regional distributions and major recipients Section V evaluates new regional
frameworks the relation between poverty reduction and the Millennium Develop-
ment Goals (MDGs) and SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinese aid terminology is inexact and not consistent with the Development
Assistance Committee (DAC) definition but is close to the Japanese notion of
economic co-operation used in the past (White 1964 7) Because there is no reliableofficial data on Chinarsquos aid flows statistics are given to illustrate the character of
arguments rather than concentrating on the actual values of Chinese aid
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
For geopolitical social and cultural reasons both countries during the Cold War
showed a preference for Asia followed by Africa The end of the Cold War and the
withdrawal of strategic assistance from Africa along with aid fatigue in the major
donors created greater opportunities for China and Japan to engage Africa (Payne
and Veney 1998 867 Grant and Nijman 1998 57)
Unlike other donors China and Japanrsquos aid both espouse non-interference and
self-help as fundamental principles in foreign and aid policy (Law 1984 45-6 Rix
1993 33) Chinarsquos lsquoFive Principles of Peaceful Coexistencersquo enunciated by Zhou
Enlai in 1954 still influences Chinarsquos aid strategy Hence China respects thesovereignty of the recipient countries and limits political conditions when providing
aid to lsquothe one China policyrsquo ie non- recognition of Taiwan China stresses that aid
to the Third World should be designed to make the recipient economically
independent of China (Brautigam 1998 41) Similarly Japanrsquos Official Development
Assistance (ODA) Charter declares the value of sovereign equality and non-
intervention in the domestic affairs of recipient countries
Accordingly their programmes emphasise loans over grants with priority on the
growth-oriented co-operation through trade-related infrastructures as a complement
to aid (Grant and Nijman 1998 45 Wang 2007 21) Both support Africarsquos
endeavours to strengthen solidarity and self-reliance through the implementation of
the New Partnership for Africarsquos Development (NEPAD) within the framework of
SouthSouth co-operation Critics accuse both countries of using aid as a foreign
policy tool to achieve national interests that are not always consistent with poverty
reduction (Morikawa 2006 45-6 Davies 2007 74) Yet poverty reduction by Japan
and social development by China are treated as priorities in regional initiatives the
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum
on ChinaAfrica Co-operation (FOCAC)
Evolution and development of China and Japanrsquos aid policy
Japanrsquos recent involvement with Africa is shorter than that of China by two decades
Allowing for this difference one can discern five phases in the evolution of each
donorrsquos aid relationship with the continent
Chinarsquos first phase (19501955) of foreign aid was politically and ideologically
driven Initially Chinarsquos foreign aid was concentrated in Asia namely to consolidate
internal control caused by the war to protect China from a perceived threat from the
178 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
West and to solidify relations with the communist countries on Chinarsquos borders
(Cooper 1976 120) In exchange China received international recognition and
support against American hegemony (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 118) At the
Bandung Conference (1955) Beijing initiated its first post-revolution linkages with
Africa particularly with Egypt leading to a trade agreement between them in
August that year (Taylor 2006 20)
In the second phase (19561978) Beijing began to use aid as part of cultural
diplomacy to change its image among Afro-Asian nations (Cooper 1976 15) With
the outbreak of the Sino-Soviet dispute Beijing moved away from ideological
motives to concentrate more on economic co-operation with non-communist
countries and expanded its aid programme beyond Asia to Africa It reversed its
earlier policy of supplying liberation organisations like the anti-French rebels in
Algeria and began supporting African national independence against Soviet
imperialism (Taylor 2006 21 28)
Chinarsquos first real impact on Africa came in 1964 when Zhou Enlairsquos enunciated in
Mali the eight principles governing Chinese aid policy confirming its aid as an
alternative to Western aid (Arnold 1979 119 Law 1984 54) The objective was
threefold to show support for revolution to establish diplomatic relations in Africa
and support Chinarsquos bid for admission to the United Nations (Cooper 1976 16)
In its third phase (19791982) China was more pragmatic than ideological Unity
and self-reliance of African nations through peaceful co-existence and promotion of
economic development was stressed (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 119 173)
Under the post-Mao reforms the aid offices of most ministries provinces and
municipalities that carried out aid activities assigned by the central government were
transferred to state-owned corporations encouraged to seek contracts through
design contracting and joint ventures (Brautigam 2009 10) Today Chinese
companies in Africa largely reflect the economic reforms of the early 1980sThe fourth phase (19831999) of Chinarsquos foreign aid policy began after the visit
to Africa of Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping in December of 1982 Chinarsquos new
foreign aid policy was to benefit both sides economically strive for economic
feasibility and practical results with focus on diversity in form and common
development By emphasising co-operation rather than one-sided aid Deng
proclaimed Chinarsquos concept of SouthSouth co-operation that respects sovereignty
does not interfere in recipientsrsquo internal affairs attaches no political conditions and
asks for no privileges (Brautigam 1998 4950)
Chinarsquos last phase (2000-present) began with the FOCAC conferences In 2006
the FOCAC adopted a specific African policy aiming at a lsquonew type of strategic
partnershiprsquo between China and Africa This is described as a multidimensional
approach embracing all strategies previously pursued by China through co-operation
in political and international affairs economic commercial cultural co-operation in
social development (Alden 2007 27 Davies 2007 38)
The first phase (19541972) of Japanese aid diplomacy began in 1954 when Japan
became a member state of the Colombo Plan However Japanrsquos entry into the United
Nations (UN) (1956) and the Bandung Conference awoke Japan to the importance
of the Afro-Asian bloc as a means to improve its image in the international
community Yet Japan tended to align itself with the former colonial powers
(Ampiah 1997 39 45) and aid to Africa was restricted until the 1960s by the priority
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 179
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Oct
ober
201
3
given to Asia Some tied aid was provided for infrastructure projects to facilitate the
promotion and export of primary products (Oda and Aoki 1985 154)
Japanrsquos second phase (19731980) following the 1973 oil crisis saw the expansion
of its aid beyond Asia to reduce resource vulnerability Securing access to Africarsquos
raw materials became a critical policy objective (Ampiah 1997 46) Moreover
beyond economic security considerations African political support for its UN policy
gradually increased in importance (Sato 2005 74)Like China Japanrsquos third phase (19811988) toward Africa also includes dual
diplomacy ODA was provided to Africa to lsquofightrsquo Africarsquos economic and famine
crisis to recycle some of its trade surplus and simultaneously to accommodate the
protests by African countries about Japanrsquos support of South Africa (Ampiah 1997
567) Japan aimed to improve its image in sub-Saharan Africa in order to gain
access to those countriesrsquo natural resources and to bolster its diplomatic influence at
the United Nations (Morikawa 1997 17071)
Japanrsquos fourth phase (19892000) began with the end of the Cold War aid fatigue
among the donor countries and the failure of structural adjustment Having clarified
the political and development purposes of its aid in the 1992 ODA Charter Japan
organised TICAD I and II in 1993 and 1998 to prevent the marginalisation of Africa
(JICA 2007 25) These were the first-ever international conferences on African
development and marked a significant political commitment by a leading donor to
create a system to harmonise policies on African development (TCSF 2005 8)
Japanrsquos last phase (2001present) is marked by the revision of the ODA Charterin 2003 and TICAD III and IV where lsquoconsolidation of peacersquo lsquohuman-centred
developmentrsquo and lsquopoverty reduction through economic growthrsquo were priority issues
The signing of the TICAD-NEPAD for the promotion of Trade and Investment
between Africa and Asia the reforms of Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) toward higher aid effectiveness in 2006 and the TICAD IV in 2008 to boost
economic growth in Africa ensuring lsquohuman securityrsquo and addressing environmental
issues are key areas (JICA 2007 2 TCSF 2008 38)
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese aid programmes
Both countries emphasise aid for economic infrastructure and services Japan for
many years has financed major infrastructure projects Chinarsquos aid until the 1980s
was mostly highly labour-intensive project assistance and stressed the use of
intermediate technology (Arnold 1979 12425) China mainly supported mediumand small-sized projects in light industry agricultural development infrastructure
and training In comparison to Western aid Chinarsquos aid projects were not designed
to produce long-range economic development or economic growth (Cooper 1976
14043) Since the 1990s Chinarsquos economic co-operation has covered all the
production sectors such as construction and engineering followed by manufacturing
wholesale and trade mining and quarrying telecommunications power plants
finance and services (Davies 2007 55)
During the 1970s Japanese aid programme emphasised projects related to public
utilities such as bridges roads and dams In the 1980s Japan favoured large yen loan-
funded infrastructure development projects and also agriculture development in
recipient countries to diminish the gap between rich and poor In the 1990s and
based on the ODA Charter revised in 2003 Japan increased the share of assistance to
180 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
so-called basic human needs such as social infrastructure and services agriculture
and emergency aid largely extended by grants and technical co-operation (OECD
1999 44)
A major difference between the donors has to do with use of aid personnel
Labour export has been an important element of Chinarsquos overseas development co-
operation This is quite different from the technical assistance missions used by DAC
donors In 1988 China was involved in 1540 aid projects involving 470000personnel with 5500 Chinese experts working in developing countries (Wheeler
1989 182) In contrast there were 489 Japanese aid staff in 1987 of which 335 were
overseas (OECD 2004 54) The shortage of personnel heavy private sector
involvement and economic emphasis characterise Japanese aid activities which are
also less labour intensive than social assistance projects China assumes total
responsibility for completed projects by providing senior management or by turning
them into joint ventures (Brautigam 1998 51)
Aid type and administrative structure
The quantity of economic assistance provided to the developing countries is not the
only consideration in assessing the adequacy and equity of aid flows Of equal
importance is the manner whereby such aid is rendered Like Japan Chinarsquos
approach to development assistance is mostly bilateral and mainly composed ofgrants loans and technical assistance Yet both channel aid via multilateral
institutions including UN agencies and the African Development Bank Japan
much more than China
Internal coordination of aid policy presents problems for both donors because
their bureaucratic structures prevent unity of purpose However it seems that China
solves conflicts in the bureaucratic structure better than Japan because its state
council which is the highest executive organ in Chinese government takes major
policy decisions on aid and has more decision power than any of the main Japanese
aid agencies had in the early years Ultimately aid decision-making in China is a
political decision and not an administrative one as in Japan
The responsibility for managing Chinese bilateral aid rests primarily with the
Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) after it makes proposals to the Finance
Ministry It also coordinates aid policies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
with other government ministries such as the health and education ministries that
also provide aidThe Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) established in 1994 is mandated
to implement state policies in industry finance foreign trade and economic co-
operation In 1995 Eximbank acquired the operation of concessional loans
previously undertaken by China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust and Investment
Corporation and is now the only on-lending bank for Chinarsquos official development
aid loans in accordance with the international practice (Eximbank 2005 467) It
supports Chinarsquos foreign aid programme in Africa through the governmentrsquos
concessional loans by supporting enterprises in establishing factories and winning
contracting projects (Eximbank 2005 17 Lancaster 2007 4)
Until 1965 most Chinese aid toward Africa was in the form of non-repayable
grants to emphasise the differences between Chinese aid and Western aid (Cooper
1976 137) By substituting loans for grants Beijing discovered that recipient
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 181
Dow
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ity o
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Oct
ober
201
3
countries supported its foreign policy goals as much or more so than grants Chinarsquos
forms of assistance are grants in kind and zero interest loans often converted into
debt cancellations provided by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) The
Eximbank provides Chinarsquos concessional loans which carry no interest and are for
social sectors and to industries related to the economic development of the recipient
countries such as electric power transportation and telecommunications (Eximbank
2005 45) As of 2007 Chinarsquos Eximbank loans approvals reached USD 189 billion
with on-lending loan agreements with a total value of USD 950 million for 47projects while the Japan Bank for International Co-operationrsquos (JBIC) total budget
for ODA loans in 2007 was 9012 billion yen or USD 93 billion (Eximbank 2007 26
JBIC 2008 2)
Similar to China today Japanrsquos aid for many years was linked to the purchase of
goods and services and was criticised for the low concessionality of its aid Aid tying
was a product of the Ministry of International Trade and Industryrsquos (MITI) influence
on aid policy However Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assumed a stronger co-
ordinating role within the development co-operation system and MITI (now METI)
lost decision-making power particularly concerning aid to Africa
In the last 20 years Japan has simplified the management of aid policy merging
the former Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) with the Export-Import
Bank of Japan into the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 1999
In 2008 JBIC was taken over by JICA which now coordinates Japanrsquos three types of
aid in an integrated manner (JICA 2007 24) Nonetheless JICA answers to MOFA
which has become the de jure co-ordinating body for the diverse implementing
institutions of ODA a sign of MOFArsquos greater influence in aid administrationJapanese assistance (like Chinarsquos) has long emphasised the centrality of self-help
efforts on the part of developing countries through yen loans The low-income level
of African countries restricts the sectors that can receive Japanese loans (Omuruyi
2001 111) Therefore the grant proportion of Japanese aid to Africa is much higher
than Chinarsquos and well above the average for Japanrsquos worldwide assistance
Japanese ODA loans are normally untied while in China the basic condition for
concessional loans is that no less than 50 of materials technology or services be
procured from China This tied aid tends to raise project costs for recipient countries
The politics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
The rhetoric of anti-hegemonism against the superpowers has been a guiding force inChinarsquos policy formulation towards the developing world and Southern Africa
(Taylor 2006 200) During the Cold War China emphasised the convergence of
African interests with its own Chinarsquos anti-colonial and anti-minority rule campaign
in Africa was founded on political solidarity aiming a hegemonic role in its rivalry
with the Soviet Union (Melber 2009 73) Actual aid to liberation movements
however was limited in part due to its insistence that indigenous movements remain
self-reliant (Taylor 2006 31)
Japan tried to avoid direct competition with the interests of the former colonial
powers (Payne and Veney 1998 870 Morikawa 2006 18) Tokyo argued that the
absence of lsquohistoricalrsquo or colonial ties with Africa gives an advantage in distributing
development assistance according to each countryrsquos specific development needs (Orr
1990 94 Ishikawa 1999 37) Japanrsquos demonstrations of friendship with Africa such
182 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
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ober
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3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
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otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
201
3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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205
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
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ober
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3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
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ober
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3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
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imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
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ober
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TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
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Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
West and to solidify relations with the communist countries on Chinarsquos borders
(Cooper 1976 120) In exchange China received international recognition and
support against American hegemony (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 118) At the
Bandung Conference (1955) Beijing initiated its first post-revolution linkages with
Africa particularly with Egypt leading to a trade agreement between them in
August that year (Taylor 2006 20)
In the second phase (19561978) Beijing began to use aid as part of cultural
diplomacy to change its image among Afro-Asian nations (Cooper 1976 15) With
the outbreak of the Sino-Soviet dispute Beijing moved away from ideological
motives to concentrate more on economic co-operation with non-communist
countries and expanded its aid programme beyond Asia to Africa It reversed its
earlier policy of supplying liberation organisations like the anti-French rebels in
Algeria and began supporting African national independence against Soviet
imperialism (Taylor 2006 21 28)
Chinarsquos first real impact on Africa came in 1964 when Zhou Enlairsquos enunciated in
Mali the eight principles governing Chinese aid policy confirming its aid as an
alternative to Western aid (Arnold 1979 119 Law 1984 54) The objective was
threefold to show support for revolution to establish diplomatic relations in Africa
and support Chinarsquos bid for admission to the United Nations (Cooper 1976 16)
In its third phase (19791982) China was more pragmatic than ideological Unity
and self-reliance of African nations through peaceful co-existence and promotion of
economic development was stressed (Weinstein and Henriksen 1980 119 173)
Under the post-Mao reforms the aid offices of most ministries provinces and
municipalities that carried out aid activities assigned by the central government were
transferred to state-owned corporations encouraged to seek contracts through
design contracting and joint ventures (Brautigam 2009 10) Today Chinese
companies in Africa largely reflect the economic reforms of the early 1980sThe fourth phase (19831999) of Chinarsquos foreign aid policy began after the visit
to Africa of Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping in December of 1982 Chinarsquos new
foreign aid policy was to benefit both sides economically strive for economic
feasibility and practical results with focus on diversity in form and common
development By emphasising co-operation rather than one-sided aid Deng
proclaimed Chinarsquos concept of SouthSouth co-operation that respects sovereignty
does not interfere in recipientsrsquo internal affairs attaches no political conditions and
asks for no privileges (Brautigam 1998 4950)
Chinarsquos last phase (2000-present) began with the FOCAC conferences In 2006
the FOCAC adopted a specific African policy aiming at a lsquonew type of strategic
partnershiprsquo between China and Africa This is described as a multidimensional
approach embracing all strategies previously pursued by China through co-operation
in political and international affairs economic commercial cultural co-operation in
social development (Alden 2007 27 Davies 2007 38)
The first phase (19541972) of Japanese aid diplomacy began in 1954 when Japan
became a member state of the Colombo Plan However Japanrsquos entry into the United
Nations (UN) (1956) and the Bandung Conference awoke Japan to the importance
of the Afro-Asian bloc as a means to improve its image in the international
community Yet Japan tended to align itself with the former colonial powers
(Ampiah 1997 39 45) and aid to Africa was restricted until the 1960s by the priority
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 179
Dow
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by [
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ity o
f W
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ober
201
3
given to Asia Some tied aid was provided for infrastructure projects to facilitate the
promotion and export of primary products (Oda and Aoki 1985 154)
Japanrsquos second phase (19731980) following the 1973 oil crisis saw the expansion
of its aid beyond Asia to reduce resource vulnerability Securing access to Africarsquos
raw materials became a critical policy objective (Ampiah 1997 46) Moreover
beyond economic security considerations African political support for its UN policy
gradually increased in importance (Sato 2005 74)Like China Japanrsquos third phase (19811988) toward Africa also includes dual
diplomacy ODA was provided to Africa to lsquofightrsquo Africarsquos economic and famine
crisis to recycle some of its trade surplus and simultaneously to accommodate the
protests by African countries about Japanrsquos support of South Africa (Ampiah 1997
567) Japan aimed to improve its image in sub-Saharan Africa in order to gain
access to those countriesrsquo natural resources and to bolster its diplomatic influence at
the United Nations (Morikawa 1997 17071)
Japanrsquos fourth phase (19892000) began with the end of the Cold War aid fatigue
among the donor countries and the failure of structural adjustment Having clarified
the political and development purposes of its aid in the 1992 ODA Charter Japan
organised TICAD I and II in 1993 and 1998 to prevent the marginalisation of Africa
(JICA 2007 25) These were the first-ever international conferences on African
development and marked a significant political commitment by a leading donor to
create a system to harmonise policies on African development (TCSF 2005 8)
Japanrsquos last phase (2001present) is marked by the revision of the ODA Charterin 2003 and TICAD III and IV where lsquoconsolidation of peacersquo lsquohuman-centred
developmentrsquo and lsquopoverty reduction through economic growthrsquo were priority issues
The signing of the TICAD-NEPAD for the promotion of Trade and Investment
between Africa and Asia the reforms of Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) toward higher aid effectiveness in 2006 and the TICAD IV in 2008 to boost
economic growth in Africa ensuring lsquohuman securityrsquo and addressing environmental
issues are key areas (JICA 2007 2 TCSF 2008 38)
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese aid programmes
Both countries emphasise aid for economic infrastructure and services Japan for
many years has financed major infrastructure projects Chinarsquos aid until the 1980s
was mostly highly labour-intensive project assistance and stressed the use of
intermediate technology (Arnold 1979 12425) China mainly supported mediumand small-sized projects in light industry agricultural development infrastructure
and training In comparison to Western aid Chinarsquos aid projects were not designed
to produce long-range economic development or economic growth (Cooper 1976
14043) Since the 1990s Chinarsquos economic co-operation has covered all the
production sectors such as construction and engineering followed by manufacturing
wholesale and trade mining and quarrying telecommunications power plants
finance and services (Davies 2007 55)
During the 1970s Japanese aid programme emphasised projects related to public
utilities such as bridges roads and dams In the 1980s Japan favoured large yen loan-
funded infrastructure development projects and also agriculture development in
recipient countries to diminish the gap between rich and poor In the 1990s and
based on the ODA Charter revised in 2003 Japan increased the share of assistance to
180 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
so-called basic human needs such as social infrastructure and services agriculture
and emergency aid largely extended by grants and technical co-operation (OECD
1999 44)
A major difference between the donors has to do with use of aid personnel
Labour export has been an important element of Chinarsquos overseas development co-
operation This is quite different from the technical assistance missions used by DAC
donors In 1988 China was involved in 1540 aid projects involving 470000personnel with 5500 Chinese experts working in developing countries (Wheeler
1989 182) In contrast there were 489 Japanese aid staff in 1987 of which 335 were
overseas (OECD 2004 54) The shortage of personnel heavy private sector
involvement and economic emphasis characterise Japanese aid activities which are
also less labour intensive than social assistance projects China assumes total
responsibility for completed projects by providing senior management or by turning
them into joint ventures (Brautigam 1998 51)
Aid type and administrative structure
The quantity of economic assistance provided to the developing countries is not the
only consideration in assessing the adequacy and equity of aid flows Of equal
importance is the manner whereby such aid is rendered Like Japan Chinarsquos
approach to development assistance is mostly bilateral and mainly composed ofgrants loans and technical assistance Yet both channel aid via multilateral
institutions including UN agencies and the African Development Bank Japan
much more than China
Internal coordination of aid policy presents problems for both donors because
their bureaucratic structures prevent unity of purpose However it seems that China
solves conflicts in the bureaucratic structure better than Japan because its state
council which is the highest executive organ in Chinese government takes major
policy decisions on aid and has more decision power than any of the main Japanese
aid agencies had in the early years Ultimately aid decision-making in China is a
political decision and not an administrative one as in Japan
The responsibility for managing Chinese bilateral aid rests primarily with the
Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) after it makes proposals to the Finance
Ministry It also coordinates aid policies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
with other government ministries such as the health and education ministries that
also provide aidThe Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) established in 1994 is mandated
to implement state policies in industry finance foreign trade and economic co-
operation In 1995 Eximbank acquired the operation of concessional loans
previously undertaken by China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust and Investment
Corporation and is now the only on-lending bank for Chinarsquos official development
aid loans in accordance with the international practice (Eximbank 2005 467) It
supports Chinarsquos foreign aid programme in Africa through the governmentrsquos
concessional loans by supporting enterprises in establishing factories and winning
contracting projects (Eximbank 2005 17 Lancaster 2007 4)
Until 1965 most Chinese aid toward Africa was in the form of non-repayable
grants to emphasise the differences between Chinese aid and Western aid (Cooper
1976 137) By substituting loans for grants Beijing discovered that recipient
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 181
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ober
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3
countries supported its foreign policy goals as much or more so than grants Chinarsquos
forms of assistance are grants in kind and zero interest loans often converted into
debt cancellations provided by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) The
Eximbank provides Chinarsquos concessional loans which carry no interest and are for
social sectors and to industries related to the economic development of the recipient
countries such as electric power transportation and telecommunications (Eximbank
2005 45) As of 2007 Chinarsquos Eximbank loans approvals reached USD 189 billion
with on-lending loan agreements with a total value of USD 950 million for 47projects while the Japan Bank for International Co-operationrsquos (JBIC) total budget
for ODA loans in 2007 was 9012 billion yen or USD 93 billion (Eximbank 2007 26
JBIC 2008 2)
Similar to China today Japanrsquos aid for many years was linked to the purchase of
goods and services and was criticised for the low concessionality of its aid Aid tying
was a product of the Ministry of International Trade and Industryrsquos (MITI) influence
on aid policy However Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assumed a stronger co-
ordinating role within the development co-operation system and MITI (now METI)
lost decision-making power particularly concerning aid to Africa
In the last 20 years Japan has simplified the management of aid policy merging
the former Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) with the Export-Import
Bank of Japan into the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 1999
In 2008 JBIC was taken over by JICA which now coordinates Japanrsquos three types of
aid in an integrated manner (JICA 2007 24) Nonetheless JICA answers to MOFA
which has become the de jure co-ordinating body for the diverse implementing
institutions of ODA a sign of MOFArsquos greater influence in aid administrationJapanese assistance (like Chinarsquos) has long emphasised the centrality of self-help
efforts on the part of developing countries through yen loans The low-income level
of African countries restricts the sectors that can receive Japanese loans (Omuruyi
2001 111) Therefore the grant proportion of Japanese aid to Africa is much higher
than Chinarsquos and well above the average for Japanrsquos worldwide assistance
Japanese ODA loans are normally untied while in China the basic condition for
concessional loans is that no less than 50 of materials technology or services be
procured from China This tied aid tends to raise project costs for recipient countries
The politics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
The rhetoric of anti-hegemonism against the superpowers has been a guiding force inChinarsquos policy formulation towards the developing world and Southern Africa
(Taylor 2006 200) During the Cold War China emphasised the convergence of
African interests with its own Chinarsquos anti-colonial and anti-minority rule campaign
in Africa was founded on political solidarity aiming a hegemonic role in its rivalry
with the Soviet Union (Melber 2009 73) Actual aid to liberation movements
however was limited in part due to its insistence that indigenous movements remain
self-reliant (Taylor 2006 31)
Japan tried to avoid direct competition with the interests of the former colonial
powers (Payne and Veney 1998 870 Morikawa 2006 18) Tokyo argued that the
absence of lsquohistoricalrsquo or colonial ties with Africa gives an advantage in distributing
development assistance according to each countryrsquos specific development needs (Orr
1990 94 Ishikawa 1999 37) Japanrsquos demonstrations of friendship with Africa such
182 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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3
as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
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ober
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3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
P
otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
201
3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
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difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
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3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ded
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ity o
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ing
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
nloa
ded
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
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vers
ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
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Uni
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Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
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York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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ity o
f W
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ing
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es]
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205
07
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ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
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ober
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3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
given to Asia Some tied aid was provided for infrastructure projects to facilitate the
promotion and export of primary products (Oda and Aoki 1985 154)
Japanrsquos second phase (19731980) following the 1973 oil crisis saw the expansion
of its aid beyond Asia to reduce resource vulnerability Securing access to Africarsquos
raw materials became a critical policy objective (Ampiah 1997 46) Moreover
beyond economic security considerations African political support for its UN policy
gradually increased in importance (Sato 2005 74)Like China Japanrsquos third phase (19811988) toward Africa also includes dual
diplomacy ODA was provided to Africa to lsquofightrsquo Africarsquos economic and famine
crisis to recycle some of its trade surplus and simultaneously to accommodate the
protests by African countries about Japanrsquos support of South Africa (Ampiah 1997
567) Japan aimed to improve its image in sub-Saharan Africa in order to gain
access to those countriesrsquo natural resources and to bolster its diplomatic influence at
the United Nations (Morikawa 1997 17071)
Japanrsquos fourth phase (19892000) began with the end of the Cold War aid fatigue
among the donor countries and the failure of structural adjustment Having clarified
the political and development purposes of its aid in the 1992 ODA Charter Japan
organised TICAD I and II in 1993 and 1998 to prevent the marginalisation of Africa
(JICA 2007 25) These were the first-ever international conferences on African
development and marked a significant political commitment by a leading donor to
create a system to harmonise policies on African development (TCSF 2005 8)
Japanrsquos last phase (2001present) is marked by the revision of the ODA Charterin 2003 and TICAD III and IV where lsquoconsolidation of peacersquo lsquohuman-centred
developmentrsquo and lsquopoverty reduction through economic growthrsquo were priority issues
The signing of the TICAD-NEPAD for the promotion of Trade and Investment
between Africa and Asia the reforms of Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) toward higher aid effectiveness in 2006 and the TICAD IV in 2008 to boost
economic growth in Africa ensuring lsquohuman securityrsquo and addressing environmental
issues are key areas (JICA 2007 2 TCSF 2008 38)
Characteristics of Chinese and Japanese aid programmes
Both countries emphasise aid for economic infrastructure and services Japan for
many years has financed major infrastructure projects Chinarsquos aid until the 1980s
was mostly highly labour-intensive project assistance and stressed the use of
intermediate technology (Arnold 1979 12425) China mainly supported mediumand small-sized projects in light industry agricultural development infrastructure
and training In comparison to Western aid Chinarsquos aid projects were not designed
to produce long-range economic development or economic growth (Cooper 1976
14043) Since the 1990s Chinarsquos economic co-operation has covered all the
production sectors such as construction and engineering followed by manufacturing
wholesale and trade mining and quarrying telecommunications power plants
finance and services (Davies 2007 55)
During the 1970s Japanese aid programme emphasised projects related to public
utilities such as bridges roads and dams In the 1980s Japan favoured large yen loan-
funded infrastructure development projects and also agriculture development in
recipient countries to diminish the gap between rich and poor In the 1990s and
based on the ODA Charter revised in 2003 Japan increased the share of assistance to
180 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
so-called basic human needs such as social infrastructure and services agriculture
and emergency aid largely extended by grants and technical co-operation (OECD
1999 44)
A major difference between the donors has to do with use of aid personnel
Labour export has been an important element of Chinarsquos overseas development co-
operation This is quite different from the technical assistance missions used by DAC
donors In 1988 China was involved in 1540 aid projects involving 470000personnel with 5500 Chinese experts working in developing countries (Wheeler
1989 182) In contrast there were 489 Japanese aid staff in 1987 of which 335 were
overseas (OECD 2004 54) The shortage of personnel heavy private sector
involvement and economic emphasis characterise Japanese aid activities which are
also less labour intensive than social assistance projects China assumes total
responsibility for completed projects by providing senior management or by turning
them into joint ventures (Brautigam 1998 51)
Aid type and administrative structure
The quantity of economic assistance provided to the developing countries is not the
only consideration in assessing the adequacy and equity of aid flows Of equal
importance is the manner whereby such aid is rendered Like Japan Chinarsquos
approach to development assistance is mostly bilateral and mainly composed ofgrants loans and technical assistance Yet both channel aid via multilateral
institutions including UN agencies and the African Development Bank Japan
much more than China
Internal coordination of aid policy presents problems for both donors because
their bureaucratic structures prevent unity of purpose However it seems that China
solves conflicts in the bureaucratic structure better than Japan because its state
council which is the highest executive organ in Chinese government takes major
policy decisions on aid and has more decision power than any of the main Japanese
aid agencies had in the early years Ultimately aid decision-making in China is a
political decision and not an administrative one as in Japan
The responsibility for managing Chinese bilateral aid rests primarily with the
Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) after it makes proposals to the Finance
Ministry It also coordinates aid policies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
with other government ministries such as the health and education ministries that
also provide aidThe Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) established in 1994 is mandated
to implement state policies in industry finance foreign trade and economic co-
operation In 1995 Eximbank acquired the operation of concessional loans
previously undertaken by China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust and Investment
Corporation and is now the only on-lending bank for Chinarsquos official development
aid loans in accordance with the international practice (Eximbank 2005 467) It
supports Chinarsquos foreign aid programme in Africa through the governmentrsquos
concessional loans by supporting enterprises in establishing factories and winning
contracting projects (Eximbank 2005 17 Lancaster 2007 4)
Until 1965 most Chinese aid toward Africa was in the form of non-repayable
grants to emphasise the differences between Chinese aid and Western aid (Cooper
1976 137) By substituting loans for grants Beijing discovered that recipient
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 181
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ober
201
3
countries supported its foreign policy goals as much or more so than grants Chinarsquos
forms of assistance are grants in kind and zero interest loans often converted into
debt cancellations provided by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) The
Eximbank provides Chinarsquos concessional loans which carry no interest and are for
social sectors and to industries related to the economic development of the recipient
countries such as electric power transportation and telecommunications (Eximbank
2005 45) As of 2007 Chinarsquos Eximbank loans approvals reached USD 189 billion
with on-lending loan agreements with a total value of USD 950 million for 47projects while the Japan Bank for International Co-operationrsquos (JBIC) total budget
for ODA loans in 2007 was 9012 billion yen or USD 93 billion (Eximbank 2007 26
JBIC 2008 2)
Similar to China today Japanrsquos aid for many years was linked to the purchase of
goods and services and was criticised for the low concessionality of its aid Aid tying
was a product of the Ministry of International Trade and Industryrsquos (MITI) influence
on aid policy However Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assumed a stronger co-
ordinating role within the development co-operation system and MITI (now METI)
lost decision-making power particularly concerning aid to Africa
In the last 20 years Japan has simplified the management of aid policy merging
the former Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) with the Export-Import
Bank of Japan into the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 1999
In 2008 JBIC was taken over by JICA which now coordinates Japanrsquos three types of
aid in an integrated manner (JICA 2007 24) Nonetheless JICA answers to MOFA
which has become the de jure co-ordinating body for the diverse implementing
institutions of ODA a sign of MOFArsquos greater influence in aid administrationJapanese assistance (like Chinarsquos) has long emphasised the centrality of self-help
efforts on the part of developing countries through yen loans The low-income level
of African countries restricts the sectors that can receive Japanese loans (Omuruyi
2001 111) Therefore the grant proportion of Japanese aid to Africa is much higher
than Chinarsquos and well above the average for Japanrsquos worldwide assistance
Japanese ODA loans are normally untied while in China the basic condition for
concessional loans is that no less than 50 of materials technology or services be
procured from China This tied aid tends to raise project costs for recipient countries
The politics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
The rhetoric of anti-hegemonism against the superpowers has been a guiding force inChinarsquos policy formulation towards the developing world and Southern Africa
(Taylor 2006 200) During the Cold War China emphasised the convergence of
African interests with its own Chinarsquos anti-colonial and anti-minority rule campaign
in Africa was founded on political solidarity aiming a hegemonic role in its rivalry
with the Soviet Union (Melber 2009 73) Actual aid to liberation movements
however was limited in part due to its insistence that indigenous movements remain
self-reliant (Taylor 2006 31)
Japan tried to avoid direct competition with the interests of the former colonial
powers (Payne and Veney 1998 870 Morikawa 2006 18) Tokyo argued that the
absence of lsquohistoricalrsquo or colonial ties with Africa gives an advantage in distributing
development assistance according to each countryrsquos specific development needs (Orr
1990 94 Ishikawa 1999 37) Japanrsquos demonstrations of friendship with Africa such
182 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
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ity o
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ober
201
3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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nloa
ded
by [
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ity o
f W
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
P
otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
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3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ity o
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205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ded
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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ober
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3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ded
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ity o
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ober
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3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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205
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ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
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ity o
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205
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ober
201
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TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ity o
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ober
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3
so-called basic human needs such as social infrastructure and services agriculture
and emergency aid largely extended by grants and technical co-operation (OECD
1999 44)
A major difference between the donors has to do with use of aid personnel
Labour export has been an important element of Chinarsquos overseas development co-
operation This is quite different from the technical assistance missions used by DAC
donors In 1988 China was involved in 1540 aid projects involving 470000personnel with 5500 Chinese experts working in developing countries (Wheeler
1989 182) In contrast there were 489 Japanese aid staff in 1987 of which 335 were
overseas (OECD 2004 54) The shortage of personnel heavy private sector
involvement and economic emphasis characterise Japanese aid activities which are
also less labour intensive than social assistance projects China assumes total
responsibility for completed projects by providing senior management or by turning
them into joint ventures (Brautigam 1998 51)
Aid type and administrative structure
The quantity of economic assistance provided to the developing countries is not the
only consideration in assessing the adequacy and equity of aid flows Of equal
importance is the manner whereby such aid is rendered Like Japan Chinarsquos
approach to development assistance is mostly bilateral and mainly composed ofgrants loans and technical assistance Yet both channel aid via multilateral
institutions including UN agencies and the African Development Bank Japan
much more than China
Internal coordination of aid policy presents problems for both donors because
their bureaucratic structures prevent unity of purpose However it seems that China
solves conflicts in the bureaucratic structure better than Japan because its state
council which is the highest executive organ in Chinese government takes major
policy decisions on aid and has more decision power than any of the main Japanese
aid agencies had in the early years Ultimately aid decision-making in China is a
political decision and not an administrative one as in Japan
The responsibility for managing Chinese bilateral aid rests primarily with the
Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) after it makes proposals to the Finance
Ministry It also coordinates aid policies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
with other government ministries such as the health and education ministries that
also provide aidThe Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) established in 1994 is mandated
to implement state policies in industry finance foreign trade and economic co-
operation In 1995 Eximbank acquired the operation of concessional loans
previously undertaken by China Foreign Economic and Trade Trust and Investment
Corporation and is now the only on-lending bank for Chinarsquos official development
aid loans in accordance with the international practice (Eximbank 2005 467) It
supports Chinarsquos foreign aid programme in Africa through the governmentrsquos
concessional loans by supporting enterprises in establishing factories and winning
contracting projects (Eximbank 2005 17 Lancaster 2007 4)
Until 1965 most Chinese aid toward Africa was in the form of non-repayable
grants to emphasise the differences between Chinese aid and Western aid (Cooper
1976 137) By substituting loans for grants Beijing discovered that recipient
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 181
Dow
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ober
201
3
countries supported its foreign policy goals as much or more so than grants Chinarsquos
forms of assistance are grants in kind and zero interest loans often converted into
debt cancellations provided by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) The
Eximbank provides Chinarsquos concessional loans which carry no interest and are for
social sectors and to industries related to the economic development of the recipient
countries such as electric power transportation and telecommunications (Eximbank
2005 45) As of 2007 Chinarsquos Eximbank loans approvals reached USD 189 billion
with on-lending loan agreements with a total value of USD 950 million for 47projects while the Japan Bank for International Co-operationrsquos (JBIC) total budget
for ODA loans in 2007 was 9012 billion yen or USD 93 billion (Eximbank 2007 26
JBIC 2008 2)
Similar to China today Japanrsquos aid for many years was linked to the purchase of
goods and services and was criticised for the low concessionality of its aid Aid tying
was a product of the Ministry of International Trade and Industryrsquos (MITI) influence
on aid policy However Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assumed a stronger co-
ordinating role within the development co-operation system and MITI (now METI)
lost decision-making power particularly concerning aid to Africa
In the last 20 years Japan has simplified the management of aid policy merging
the former Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) with the Export-Import
Bank of Japan into the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 1999
In 2008 JBIC was taken over by JICA which now coordinates Japanrsquos three types of
aid in an integrated manner (JICA 2007 24) Nonetheless JICA answers to MOFA
which has become the de jure co-ordinating body for the diverse implementing
institutions of ODA a sign of MOFArsquos greater influence in aid administrationJapanese assistance (like Chinarsquos) has long emphasised the centrality of self-help
efforts on the part of developing countries through yen loans The low-income level
of African countries restricts the sectors that can receive Japanese loans (Omuruyi
2001 111) Therefore the grant proportion of Japanese aid to Africa is much higher
than Chinarsquos and well above the average for Japanrsquos worldwide assistance
Japanese ODA loans are normally untied while in China the basic condition for
concessional loans is that no less than 50 of materials technology or services be
procured from China This tied aid tends to raise project costs for recipient countries
The politics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
The rhetoric of anti-hegemonism against the superpowers has been a guiding force inChinarsquos policy formulation towards the developing world and Southern Africa
(Taylor 2006 200) During the Cold War China emphasised the convergence of
African interests with its own Chinarsquos anti-colonial and anti-minority rule campaign
in Africa was founded on political solidarity aiming a hegemonic role in its rivalry
with the Soviet Union (Melber 2009 73) Actual aid to liberation movements
however was limited in part due to its insistence that indigenous movements remain
self-reliant (Taylor 2006 31)
Japan tried to avoid direct competition with the interests of the former colonial
powers (Payne and Veney 1998 870 Morikawa 2006 18) Tokyo argued that the
absence of lsquohistoricalrsquo or colonial ties with Africa gives an advantage in distributing
development assistance according to each countryrsquos specific development needs (Orr
1990 94 Ishikawa 1999 37) Japanrsquos demonstrations of friendship with Africa such
182 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
Dow
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ity o
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ober
201
3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
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otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
201
3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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205
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
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ober
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3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
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3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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ober
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Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
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imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
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ober
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TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
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TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
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Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
countries supported its foreign policy goals as much or more so than grants Chinarsquos
forms of assistance are grants in kind and zero interest loans often converted into
debt cancellations provided by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) The
Eximbank provides Chinarsquos concessional loans which carry no interest and are for
social sectors and to industries related to the economic development of the recipient
countries such as electric power transportation and telecommunications (Eximbank
2005 45) As of 2007 Chinarsquos Eximbank loans approvals reached USD 189 billion
with on-lending loan agreements with a total value of USD 950 million for 47projects while the Japan Bank for International Co-operationrsquos (JBIC) total budget
for ODA loans in 2007 was 9012 billion yen or USD 93 billion (Eximbank 2007 26
JBIC 2008 2)
Similar to China today Japanrsquos aid for many years was linked to the purchase of
goods and services and was criticised for the low concessionality of its aid Aid tying
was a product of the Ministry of International Trade and Industryrsquos (MITI) influence
on aid policy However Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) assumed a stronger co-
ordinating role within the development co-operation system and MITI (now METI)
lost decision-making power particularly concerning aid to Africa
In the last 20 years Japan has simplified the management of aid policy merging
the former Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) with the Export-Import
Bank of Japan into the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) in 1999
In 2008 JBIC was taken over by JICA which now coordinates Japanrsquos three types of
aid in an integrated manner (JICA 2007 24) Nonetheless JICA answers to MOFA
which has become the de jure co-ordinating body for the diverse implementing
institutions of ODA a sign of MOFArsquos greater influence in aid administrationJapanese assistance (like Chinarsquos) has long emphasised the centrality of self-help
efforts on the part of developing countries through yen loans The low-income level
of African countries restricts the sectors that can receive Japanese loans (Omuruyi
2001 111) Therefore the grant proportion of Japanese aid to Africa is much higher
than Chinarsquos and well above the average for Japanrsquos worldwide assistance
Japanese ODA loans are normally untied while in China the basic condition for
concessional loans is that no less than 50 of materials technology or services be
procured from China This tied aid tends to raise project costs for recipient countries
The politics of Chinese and Japanese foreign aid
The rhetoric of anti-hegemonism against the superpowers has been a guiding force inChinarsquos policy formulation towards the developing world and Southern Africa
(Taylor 2006 200) During the Cold War China emphasised the convergence of
African interests with its own Chinarsquos anti-colonial and anti-minority rule campaign
in Africa was founded on political solidarity aiming a hegemonic role in its rivalry
with the Soviet Union (Melber 2009 73) Actual aid to liberation movements
however was limited in part due to its insistence that indigenous movements remain
self-reliant (Taylor 2006 31)
Japan tried to avoid direct competition with the interests of the former colonial
powers (Payne and Veney 1998 870 Morikawa 2006 18) Tokyo argued that the
absence of lsquohistoricalrsquo or colonial ties with Africa gives an advantage in distributing
development assistance according to each countryrsquos specific development needs (Orr
1990 94 Ishikawa 1999 37) Japanrsquos demonstrations of friendship with Africa such
182 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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by [
Uni
vers
ity o
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ober
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3
as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
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ober
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3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
P
otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
201
3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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07
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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205
07
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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at 2
205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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ober
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3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
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ity o
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
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Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
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Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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as relief to UN southern Africa funds and displays of sympathy for the cause of
African national liberation movements are best understood as attempts to neutralise
the criticism of its pro-Pretoria policy and anti-communist African diplomacy
through (Morikawa 1997 813)
One difference between them is that Chinarsquos aid through obligations inherent in
internationalism pursued an active and independent foreign policy while in Japan
the pressure by other DAC members particularly the US was critical in providing aid
to Africa (Ampiah 1997 174 Law 1984 292)
After the Cold War Beijing retained its anti-hegemonic core against other powers
arguing that Africarsquos democratic experiment failed because the West imposed it
(Taylor 2006 66) China stresses that it too had suffered from colonialism and
foreign aggression a reason for supporting the African peoplersquos national rights and
interests through unity and co-operation (Payne and Veney 1998 870) Japan
conveys the contemporary message that the guiding principles of its African
diplomacy have always been anti-racism and anti-colonialism Yet in the past
Japanrsquos support of the white regimes and also the regimes of Mobutu in Zaire the
Moi in Kenya and the Banda in Malawi belie this (Morikawa 2006 47 53)
The end of apartheid afforded both donors new policy opportunities in southern
Africa Africarsquos raw materials oil resources and markets continue to be attractive for
both donors At the same time the introduction of good governance and human
rights into OECD principles of foreign aid on one hand and the wave of democratic
and economic reforms in Africa that promised growth and development on the other
pushed them to adapt to new aid realities in the region (Southall 2009 20 Alden
2002 36869)
The launching of regional development forums the Tokyo International
Conference on African Development (TICAD) and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) are examples of these new policy opportunities Both of these
initiatives are informed by hard-headed foreign policy objectives For Japan courting
the substantial African bloc vote for its campaign for a permanent seat at the UN
Security Council is a prime motive Consolidating its diplomatic and economic
position in Africa and the developing world is an important objective for China By
emphasising an Asian model supported by exports and Africansrsquo individual and
collective self-help efforts before they can expect aid both have boosted their prestige
in Africa at little cost for these policies are rhetorical and need little physical
commitment (Taylor 2006 669 Morikawa 2006 47 63 Alden 2002 369)
The depth of the commitment to Africa is not necessarily even China and Japanrsquos
total trade with African countries came to 735 and 266 billion dollars respectively
in 2007 In November 2009 the Chinese government announced it would allocate
$100 million in low-interest loans to the continent over three years (Chugoku 2009
6) At the same time Japanrsquos ODA budget already shrinking was being scrutinised
by the new government for programmes to be scaled back or eliminated At TICAD
IV in 2008 Tanzanian president Kikwete speaking on behalf of 52 African
governments welcomed Japanrsquos announcement of more ODA to Africa but stated
that Africans need an increased trade with Japan and more Japanese investment and
involvement of its private sector in Africa He also stressed that Japan measures need
to take into account all of Africa and not only South Africa and Egypt which absorb
85 of Japanese investments on the continent (Jaura 2008 2)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 183
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ober
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3
Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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07
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ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
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otter
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ober
201
3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
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3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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07
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ded
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ity o
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205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
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ity o
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at 2
205
07
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ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
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Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
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3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Chinese and Japanese aid to Africa
Tables 1 and 2 show regional distributions of economic assistance from China and
Japan Table 1 makes it clear that Africa has long held an important position in
Chinarsquos allocations of economic co-operation According to Law (1984 184) between
1956 and 1982 447 of Chinese aid went to Africa and 232 to Asia
Furthermore the re-emergence of Taiwan in the 1990s as a donor to Malawi Niger
South Africa Gambia Senegal and the Central African Republic (Brautigam 1998
43) threatened Chinarsquos interests in Africa and prompted President Jiang Zemin to
visit several African countries in 1996 reinforcing a new aid policy aimed at a lsquo21st
centuryrsquo relationship As a result Chinarsquos aid flows increased from US$ 198 million
in 1998 to US$ 625 million in 2007 (Brautigam 2009 12 20) Yet they still do not
match Japanese aid flows of $US 1115 million and US$1 766 million in 1998 and
2007 respectively
Chinarsquos continuing preference for Africa reflects an ideological and political
commitment that did not necessarily develop in Japan The fact that most Japanese
reparations payments were focused on southeast Asian countries and close political
and economic relations subsequently strengthened the regional bias of aid (Orr 1990
53) However after the oil shocks the Japanese share of aid to Africa jumped above
those to the Middle East and Latin America reaching 102 of its global aid
allocation in 1985 compared with 1 in 1972 (Sautman 2006 8 TCSF 2005 24)
Japanrsquos aid in the 1990s decreased due to the heavy debt accumulation of African
countries and the suspension of aid to politically unstable countries (JICA 2000 41)
This explains the higher share of China compared to Japan both in total aid amount
and percentage share from 1992 until 2004 However Japanrsquos allocations to Africa
increased from 109 in 2004 to 342 in 2006 overcoming Chinarsquos for the first time
This is significant as since the beginning of their aid programmes proportionally
Japan never had a higher share of economic co-operation to Africa than China
Several factors explain this trend First Japan began to implement debt relief to
Africa after 2004 (TCSF 2008 38) Second it is responding to requests from African
governments to improve large-scale infrastructure development (TCSF 2008 50)
Improvement of the administration of loan aid co-financed with the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to countries that had not received loans previously
such as Mozambique or Namibia (JBIC 2006 2007) led to increases in aid Third it
is also responding to the emergence of new donors such as China Politicians and
business leaders argue that Japan should make more efforts in comparison with
China to increase its presence in resource-producing countries like Sudan or Angola
(Mochizuki 2007 FASIDMOFA 2006 78) Finally this shift combined with the
expansion of China through export credits and tied aid to support oil acquisition to
Africa demanded a response from Japan (Evans 2006 2)
Recipient allocation
Both donors have tended to spread their aid widely across Africa In 2007 for
example Japan gave some form of aid to 48 countries in the continent (Gaimusho
2008 1835) While not strictly comparable to aid China provided economic co-
operation for 53 countries in the same year (Bureau of Statistics of China 2009 7557) Tables 1 and 2 also show that geographical distributions of aid to major recipients
184 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ity o
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
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otter
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ity o
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ober
201
3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
201
3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ded
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at 2
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07
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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205
07
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
205
07
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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at 2
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
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ity o
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ober
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3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
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3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
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ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
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a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
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Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
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Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
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Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
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ober
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202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
Table 1 Chinese Economic Cooperation by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) Units USD 10000
Region
(Country) 1992
Share
()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
() Region (Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 150452 696 Asia 337947 749 Asia 480696 424 Asia 675559 316 Asia 1527564 428
Africa 43456 201 Africa 80999 179 Africa 128721 114 Africa 402013 188 Africa 954933 268
1 Algeria 5488 25 1 Nigeria 8545 19 1 Sudan 11882 10 1 Algeria 82996 39 1 Sudan 175465 49
2 Zimbabwe 5633 26 2 Botswana 6696 15 2 Mali 10505 09 2 Sudan 74828 35 2 Algeria 170724 48
3 Botswana 4604 21 3 Mauriti 6097 14 3 Mauritius 9048 08 3 Nigeria 49902 23 3 Nigeria 114105 32
4 Kenya 3629 17 4 Mauritania 5460 12 4 Zimbabwe 8756 08 4 Botswana 23096 11 4 Angola 100826 28
5 Mali 2787 13 5 Kenya 5017 11 5 Botswana 6636 06 5Ethiopia 20485 10 5 Egypt 33932 10
6 Sudan 1495 07 6 Zimbabwe 4725 10 6 Kenya 6247 06 6 Zambia 10581 05 6 Ethiopia 31874 09
7 Tunisia 1266 06 7 Uganda 3446 08 7 Nigeria 6139 05 7 Mali 9650 05 7 Tanzania 26311 07
8 Burundi 1242 06 8 Ivory Coast 2913 06 8 Ivory Coast 5351 05 8 Mauritius 8525 04 8 Libya 22971 06
9 Rwanda 1240 06 9 Sudan 2843 06 9 Tanzania 5127 05 9 Angola 8210 04 9 Morocco 22886 06
10 Tanzania 1178 05 10 Guinea B 2340 05 10 Ethiopia 4760 04 10 Egypt 7386 03 10 Bostwana 22044 06
Europe 13311 62 Europe 11024 24 Europe 54239 48 Europe 164469 77 Europe 381062 107
Latin America 2322 11 Latin America 3961 09 Latin America 23216 20 Latin America 87370 41 Latin America 197042 55
North America 4653 22 North America 5229 12 North
America
36421 32 North America 37160 17 North
America
128640 36
Oceania 1326 06 Oceania 5368 12 Oceania 16616 15 Oceania 11460 05 Oceania 32118 09
Others 560 03 Others 6952 15 Others 7249 06 Others 8595 04 Others 4796 01
Total 216080 100 Total 451480 100 Total 1132536 100 Total 2136998 100 Total 3569497 100
Notes (a) Middle East is included in Asia (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (c) Guinea B-Guinea BissauSources National Bureau of Statistics of China China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook (selected years) 1996 2001 20032005 and 2007
Jou
rna
lo
fC
on
temp
ora
ryA
frican
Stu
dies
18
5
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ober
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3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
P
otter
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ober
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3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
201
3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
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ober
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3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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nloa
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ober
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3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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ober
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Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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205
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ober
201
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Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
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205
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Oct
ober
201
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TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
Table 2 Japanese Aid by Region 19922006 (selected years and share) (Unit USD millions)
Region
(Country) 1992 Share ()
Region
(Country) 1996
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2000
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2004
Share
()
Region
(Country) 2006
Share
()
Asia 5524 651 Asia 4145 496 Asia 5284 548 Asia 2544 427 Asia 2002 268
Africa 859 101 Africa 1067 128 Africa 969 101 Africa 647 109 Africa 2558 342
1 Kenya 129 15 1 Ghana 110 13 1 Tanzania 217 23 1 Ghana 115 19 1 Nigeria 1631 218
2 Zambia 117 14 2 Tanzania 106 13 2 Ghana 103 11 2 Kenya 71 12 2 Mozambique 107 14
3 Tanzania 73 09 3 Kenya 93 11 3 Kenya 67 07 3 Tanzania 53 09 3 Kenya 106 14
4 Ghana 71 08 4 Malawi 64 08 4 Zimbabwe 62 06 4 Senegal 50 08 4 Sierra Leone 63 08
5 Senegal 65 08 5 Ivory Coast 58 07 5 Senegal 48 05 5 Congo DR 48 08 5 Ethiopia 58 08
6 Zimbabwe 50 06 6 Senegal 58 07 6 Malawi 39 04 6 Ethiopia 33 06 6 Madagascar 44 06
7 Nigeria 43 05 7 Madagascar 50 06 7 Ethiopia 34 04 7 Madagascar 28 05 7 Ghana 44 06
8 Mozambique 39 05 8 Ethiopia 50 06 8 Zambia 32 03 8 Angola 25 04 8 Sudan 43 06
9 Guinea 29 03 9 Benin 45 05 9 Mali 32 03 9 Mozambique 19 03 9 Tanzania 39 05
10 Malawi 24 03 10 Zambia 42 05 10 Mauritania 310 03 10 Malawi 19 03 10 Zambia 32 04
Europe 103 12 Europe 200 24 Europe 118 12 Europe 141 24 Europe 220 29
CS America 772 91 CS America 986 118 Latin America 800 83 Latin America 309 52 Latin America 432 58
Middle East 364 43 Middle East 561 67 Middle East 727 75 Middle East 1031 173 Middle East 1049 140
1 Jordan 126 15 1 Egypt 201 24 1 Turkey 144 15 1 Iraq 662 111 1 Iraq 781 104
2 Egypt 111 13 2 Jordan 124 15 2 Jordan 105 11 2 Afghanistan 173 29 2 Afghanistan 107 14
3 Saudi Arabia 42 05 3 Iran 58 07 3 Morocco 103 11 3 Morocco 66 11 3 Palestina 78 10
4 Morocco 36 04 4 Morocco 46 06 4 Egypt 86 09 4 Egypt 65 11 4 Morocco 61 08
5 Yemen 31 04 5 Syria 35 04 5 Tunisia 72 07 5 Tunisia 60 10 5 Turkey 62 08
Oceania 166 20 Oceania 198 24 Oceania 151 16 Oceania 42 07 Oceania 76 10
Unallocable 696 82 Unallocable 1200 144 Unallocable 1592 165 Unallocable 1240 208 Unallocable 1146 153
Total 8484 100 Total 8357 100 Total 9640 100 Total 5954 100 Total 7483 100
Note (a) Congo DR- Congo Democratic Republic (b) The countries in italics are both recipients of China and JapanSources Japanrsquos International Cooperation ODA White Paper (selected years) 1993 1997 2001 2004 2007
18
6P
A
Ra
po
soa
nd
DM
P
otter
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ober
201
3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
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ober
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3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
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Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ity o
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205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ded
by [
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ity o
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Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
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ity o
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ded
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07
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ober
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3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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205
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ober
201
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Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
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vers
ity o
f W
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ing
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rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
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ded
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vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
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ity o
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ober
201
3
within Africa are similar Top recipients during the period 19922006 can be divided
into three categories a group of recipients that overlap both donors due to their long
histories of exchange like Tanzania Kenya Zambia and Ethiopia major economic
markets and oil-rich countries like Nigeria and recipients like Algeria Libya Sudan
Angola Zimbabwe or Mozambique that assume different priority in the donorsrsquo aid
allocations depending on their humanitarian needs strategic importance economic
potential or political benefitsChinese and Japanese aid patterns to Africa after the Cold War show two trends
First the similar degree of dispersion in both donors indicates foreign aid behaviour
to maximise aspirations to attain great power status (Omuruyi 2001 123) Second
Japanrsquos assistance to Sudan Angola Zimbabwe and Mozambique is mostly focused
on humanitarian aid and basic human needs Chinarsquos assistance focuses mostly on
the natural resources of Sudan Angola Libya and Algeria in exchange for loans to
infrastructures projects (Xu 2008 29) Third China-Africa economic relations are
commercial rather than aid-driven as aid is a gateway to African raw materials to be
exported in finished products to Africa (Wang 2007 23) and to secure commodity
assets at source thus bypassing international market pricing (AFRODAD 2008 8)
Finally China now puts its growing economy ahead of ideological solidarity as its
main foreign policy goal In contrast Japanrsquos investment in Africa is marginal It
gives most of its aid in the form of grants suggesting that one main goal of Japanese
aid policy is poverty alleviation (Tuman and Ayoub 2004 50)
Chinese and Japanese objectives and aid policies in Africa
Until recently China did not have economic power commensurate with Japanrsquos nor
could it use its economic wealth for national strategies in international relations
Chinarsquos objectives were overtly political while Japanrsquos until the mid-1980s were
economic and strategic (Sautman 2006 13) For many years ideologically and
politically China was closer to countries of the South than Japan was This created
an idealistic and positive impression between Africa and China while Japanrsquos
promotion of aid to resource-rich African countries created the opposite impression
(Ochiai 2001 40)
The end of the Cold War marked a turning point in both countriesrsquo African aid
policies President Jiang announced that China would shift the relationship with
Africa to one centred on the economy away from the cold war emphasis on ideology
It is clear that underlying this new policy was the expectation of Africarsquos vastresources To safeguard its position China decided to engage deeply with Africa
using its status as a permanent member of the Security Council (Payne and Veney
1998 871)
1989 marked a turning point in Japanrsquos diplomatic relations with Africa (Ochiai
2001 40) Japan was determined to show the world that its interest in Africa
transcended economic matters and was ready to share the political costs of being a
great power First sending the Self Defense Force (SDF) to Mozambique showed its
commitment to international peace and its qualifications for permanent membership
on the Security Council Second by organising TICAD Japan joined its economic
power with collective international assistance to change the humanitarian situation
in Africa Third TICAD is a tool to position itself as a major Asian power in Africa
(Lehman 2005 427)
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 187
Dow
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ober
201
3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
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ing
Lib
rari
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
Dow
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ded
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ity o
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at 2
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ded
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ity o
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ing
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at 2
205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
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ing
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ity o
f W
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ing
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rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
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ity o
f W
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
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DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
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Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
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Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
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ober
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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
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ity o
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es]
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
Table 3 Chinese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
1 Sudan 7 7 Not
Free
US$ 530
MHD
0512
141
Oil construction of
petrochemical industries FDI
humanitarian aid military
cooperation Support of Sudan at
the United Nations
2 Algeria 6 5 Not
Free
US$2090
MHD
0722
103
Oil natural gas amp petrochemical
industry road construction
nuclear reactor appproved
destination status for tourism
3 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Railroad construction oil
electrical manufacture and
selling of military aircraft
satellite cooperation and also
approved destination status
(ADS) by China for tourism
4 Angola 6 5 Not
Free
US$975
LHD
0445
160
Oil road infrastructure
construction and railways social
services rehabilitation phone
networking mine and quarring
(diamonds) military
cooperation trade and business
cooperation with PALOP
5 Egypt 6 5 Not
Free
US$1220
MHD
0659
119
Egypt is the gateway to the
Middle East mutual bilateral
trade and technology
transference and military
cooperation as well
6 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
LHD
0659
170
Military assistance road bridge
schools construction and
pharmaceutical industry tourism
cooperation
7 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
After the Tanzam Railway coal
iron and military assistance and
rehabilitation of agricultural
projects and farms Yet in 1995 a
Chinese ship with weapons was
refused permission to unload in
Tanzania
8 Libya 7 7 Not
Free
not
available
MHD
0799
58
Oil interests and cooperation in
energy development Libya sticks
to One China policy on the
question of Taiwan In October
1982 the two countries signed an
Agreement on Economic Trade
Scientific and Technological
Cooperation
188 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ity o
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
Dow
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ded
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ity o
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205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ded
by [
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
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ober
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3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ded
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ity o
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205
07
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ober
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3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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ded
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vers
ity o
f W
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ing
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es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ded
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vers
ity o
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es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
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vers
ity o
f W
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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ober
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3
This is also true of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) While
incorporating the rhetoric of pan-Africanism (Alden 2007 32) the Forum bolsters
Chinarsquos diplomatic capacity to direct external investment to Africa by coordinating
new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with Africarsquos regional structures like
NEPAD Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern
Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community
New regional frameworks
The 1990s represent a major shift in rethinking the central role of infrastructure for
development because globalisation constrained the integration of Africa into the
global trade environment as aid largely overlooked infrastructure in favour of the
social sectors
TICAD and FOCAC share two features First they view trade and investment as
crucial to achieve sustained growth in Africa Second the neo-liberal approach to
development based on the Washington consensus does not call for mutual
interaction as equal members to solve African problems (Lehman 2005 430)
TICAD and FOCAC espouse a different approach through SouthSouth cooperation
Both support NEPAD initiated in 2001 which recognises that African countries must
establish regional co-operation and integration to accelerate intra-African trade
Table 3 (Continued )
Suppport for Democracy Poverty Reduction
Region
Africa
(country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties Status
GNP
capita 2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural
and strategic considerations
9 Morocco 5 4 Partly
Free
US$1452
MHD
0631
124
Geopolitical determinant as a
member of Arab-Islamic and
leader for the francophone
Africa Morocco has good
diplomatic relations with the EU
and the USA construction of
dam
10 Bostwana 2 2 Free US$4372
MHD
0565
131
Aidsoft loans for rehabilitation
of railway line and construction
of the Letlhakeng-Kang Road
military assistanceeconomic
cooperation-FDI and trade
(diamonds) and special tourism
relations
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) China GNPcapita in 2003 wasUS$1100 HDI 0755 ranking 85 (c) According to the Freedom Press China status is Not Free (PR-political rights 7 and CL-civil liberties) (d) PALOP-African Countries of Portuguese Official LanguageAngola Cape Verde Guinea Bissau S Tom and Prrsquoncipe and Mozambique (Portuguese ParsquosesAfricanos de Lrsquongua Oficial Portugesa PALOP) (f) LHD Low Human Development MHD Medium Human Development and HDI Human Development Index Sources Trindade (2006 130)Freedom House httpafricanelectionstripodcomfh2006html (accessed at July 7 2008) Xu (2008)Wang (2007) Alden (2007 25) Taylor (2006 187) Botswana and China available at httpbwchina-embassyorgengsbgxt631203htm
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 189
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
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ing
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at 2
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07
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
Dow
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ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
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ing
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
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ded
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ity o
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205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
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ity o
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at 2
205
07
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ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
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Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
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3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
China sees SouthSouth cooperation on a bilateral basis to enhance co-operation
and mutual benefit between China and Africa Japanrsquos SouthSouth co-operation
promoted at TICAD I (1993) emphasises the transfer of Asian experience to Africa
whether putting emphasis on economic growth through the development of
economic infrastructures and key industries and supporting the social sector to
satisfy the basic human needs (Tokyo Declaration 1993)
Japan and China have been non-regional members of the African DevelopmentBank (AfDB) since the early 1980s where for many years Japanrsquos contribution to the
African Development Fund was far larger than Chinarsquos Recently both countries
have placed the AfDB at the core of their partnerships in African development
China though not eligible to borrow from the AfDB is certainly competing with the
institution in the African development (Guttal 2008 19) Furthermore China is
already a rival of Japanrsquos role as the growth engine of southeast Asia and now aims
to consolidate its position as the emerging Asian power in Africa (Corkin 2008 135)
To catch up with China Japan through JBIC in 2005 signed several ODA loan
agreements in co-operation with the AfDB of USD$12 billion under the Enhanced
Private Sector Assistance (ESPA) for Africa (JBIC 2007) The aim is to support
African private sector development and promote regional integration focused on
transborder road construction (development corridors) between Zambia and
Mozambique via Malawi (Ogata 2008 58) Japan also announced at TICAD IV
(May 2008) that it would double its aid and investments to Africa
Poverty reduction through development
Tables 3 and 4 compare Chinarsquos and Japanrsquos aid policies and objectives such as
support for poverty reduction (using recipient country GNPcapita Human
Development Index (HDI) rank) their support for democraticnon-democratic
regimes (using the rate of civil liberties and political rights) and strategic
considerations in Africa for the top 10 recipients of aid in 2006 These tables
illustrate some similar patterns between both donors
First Nigeria Ethiopia Sudan and Tanzania appear among both countriesrsquo top
10 recipients Four of them have higher per capita GNP Thus China as a developing
country makes more economic sacrifices than Japan Also among the 10 recipients
only four are ranked as low human development countries in the UNDP Human
Development Index (HDI) in 2005 suggesting that the first concern of China is not
the reduction of poverty (see Table 3)
As for Japan the concern for poverty is higher as seven in 10 countries are
ranked low in terms of HDI between 158th and 176th place Of course the lsquosacrificersquo
that China makes is higher than Japanrsquos when measured by each donorrsquos GNP percapita (see Table 4)
Third China is criticised for supporting authoritarian and pariah regimes like
Sudan or Libya at the expense of lsquodemocracyrsquo and lsquohuman rightsrsquo It is true that in
the top 10 recipients of China half are lsquoNot Freersquo while in Japanrsquos case only one Sudan is lsquoNot Freersquo which illustrates Japanrsquos greater willingness to consider human
rights democracy and freedoms in making aid allocations
Fourth looking at the right-hand side of both tables it is evident that underlying
Chinese and Japanese aid policy to Africa besides development concerns is resource
diplomacy commercial geopolitical and strategic interests However there is one
190 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
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Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
Dow
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ded
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ded
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ity o
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ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
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ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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Uni
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07
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ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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f W
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
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vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ded
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ity o
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ober
201
3
Table 4 Japanese Top 10 Recipients of Economic Cooperation in 2006
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
1 Nigeria 4 4 Partly
Free
US$428
LHD
0453
158
Crude oil trade market foreign
direct investments cultural
exchanges and largest recipient of
Japanese aid in 2006
2 Mozambique 3 4 Partly
Free
US$230
LHD
0379
168
Interesting market for Japan with
strong relations with South Africa
private investment in Mozal
Aluminium Smelter increasing trade
relations PKOpeacebuilding loan
assistance (AfDB)
3 Kenya 3 3 Partly
Free
US$450
LHD
0474
154
Gateway to EastAfrica occupies an
important geographic position
therefore an extremely important
country for Japan diplomatic
relations in East Africa one of the
largest recipients of Japanese ODA
therefore a key player in the TICAD
Process
4 Sierra Leone 4 3 Partly
Free
US$149
LHD
0298
176
Trade (machinery vehicles) Japan is
attempting to have a cultural
exchange with Freetown support for
democracy through the use of ODA
in the field of DDR in support of
peacebuilding
5 Ethiopia 5 5 Partly
Free
US$97
MHD
0659
170
A key member of the AU Japanrsquos
assistance is concentrated in the
consolidation of human security
centered on food security advocated
in Japanrsquos new ODA Charter Strong
cultural exchanges
6 Madagascar 3 3 Partly
Free
US$324
LHD
0499
146
Madagascar stands as a model of
Asia-African cooperation by intro
ducing Asian economic dynamism
into the African continent Japanrsquos
assistance is provided for BHN
infrastructure development
agriculturefisheriesenvironment
and human resource development
7 Ghana 1 2 Free US$368
MHD
0520
138
Ghana is a priority country in
Japanlaquos aid policy toward Africa
and has a pioneering role for West
African democracy In this light
Japan considers Ghana a priority
country in the TICAD Process
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 191
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
Dow
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ded
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vers
ity o
f W
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ded
by [
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vers
ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
f W
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ing
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es]
at 2
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07
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ober
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3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
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es]
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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ity o
f W
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ing
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es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
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Uni
vers
ity o
f W
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ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
ded
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vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
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rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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07
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ober
201
3
difference While Japan provides no military assistance to any of the 10 countries
China has military relations with six This is consistent with Japanrsquos ODA Charter
However Japanese imports of oil from Sudan puts it in a difficult position
concerning the human rights issues and accusations that China gives aid purely to
secure oil supplies and other natural resources can also be applied to JapanA puzzling similarity appears in the respective top 10 lists if we examine them in
light of the Carnegie Endowmentrsquos Failed States Index Five of Chinarsquos top 10
recipients Four of Japanrsquos were countries ranked in the top 40 failed states (in order
of severity Sudan Nigeria Ethiopia Egypt and Angola in Chinarsquos case and Sudan
Sierra Leone Nigeria and Ethiopia in Japanrsquos case)
In fact the majority of African states are not democratic and many still have
ethnic or civil conflicts China by stating that it does not interfere in the internal
affairs of recipient countries with an aid policy of lsquono conditions attachedrsquo becomes
part of the problem (Askouri 2008 153) Chinarsquos economic co-operation will
strengthen the position of the political elite that controls the government and other
state institutions Following TICAD I Japan started to focus on political conditions
Table 4 (Continued )
Support for Democracy
Poverty
Reduction
Region Africa
(Country)
Political
Rights
Civil
Liberties
Political
Status
GNP
capita
2003
HDI
Rank
2003
Economical political cultural and
strategic considerations
8 Sudan 7 7 Not Free US$290
MHD
0512
141
Trade relations in petroleum and
petroleum products Students and
academic exchange between Japan
and Sudan Peacebuilding assistance
(refugees) and humanitarian aid
9 Tanzania 4 3 Partly
Free
US$287
LHD
0418
164
Tanzania is a priority country in
Japanrsquos African diplomacy and one
of its oldest recipients Tanzania is
always cooperative towards TICAD
and a strong partner between
NEPAD and TICAD
10 Zambia 4 4 Partly
Free
US$417
LHD
0394
166
Zambia is said to have been pro-
Japanese since the Kaunda
Administration Japan exports
copper and cobalt and imports
vehicles Zambia is regarded by
Japan as a priority assistance
country due to Zambiarsquos role as a
stabilising element in the region
Notes (a) Countries in italics are both recipients of China and Japan (b) Japan GNPcapita in 2003 US$33713 HDI 0943 ranking 11 (c) According to the Freedom House Japan ranks 1 in Political Rights(PR)-and 2 in Civil Liberties (CL) and has the status of Free (d) HDI Human Development IndexLHD Low Human Development and MDH Medium Human Development (e) DDR disarmament demobilization and reintegration AU-African Union Sources MOFA lsquoRelations withCountries and Regions of the Worldrsquo Available at httpwwwmofagojpregionafrica (accessed July 82008) TICAD Civil Society Forum (2008)
192 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
Dow
nloa
ded
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vers
ity o
f W
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ing
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es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
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ober
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3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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07
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ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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205
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ober
201
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Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ity o
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at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
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ober
201
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TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ober
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3
in the recipient country including human rights away from its old practice of
approaching Africa through the continentrsquos former colonial powers
Fifth that does not mean that both countries are not committed to development
and poverty eradication in TICAD and FOCAC to reach the lsquoUN Millennium
Development Goalsrsquo (MDGs) in Africa Mutual benefit is possible particularly in
the field of economic co-operation like TICAD and FOCAC play But geographical
geopolitical and natural resource characteristics of the region cannot be neglected
The MDGs
The MDGs adopted at the UN Millennium Summit September 2000 set targets on
poverty reduction education gender health reduction of child mortality the
environment and partnership for development with completion dates to be met by
2015 According to the African Development Bank (African Development Report
2006 62) increased aid and debt relief are seen as fundamental in reducing Africarsquos
poverty and in attaining the MDGs
Poverty reduction is a top priority both in TICAD and FOCAC In this case
China has followed the Japanese lead Japan made a substantial contribution to
drawing up the lsquoInternational Development Goalsrsquo (IDGs) such as lsquohalving absolutepoverty by 2015rsquo which has become the basis of the MDGs (JICA 2005 5)
Additionally 15 out of the MDG 18 targets were included in the Tokyo Agenda for
Action of TICAD II (JICA 2007 39)
Chinarsquos commitment to the MDGs was formally declared at the FOCAC 2006
much later than Japan However Chinarsquos aid and economic engagement already
meets many of these goals for instance in the use of lsquoownershiprsquo as a central principle
guiding the recipients strategies for effective use of aid and other development
resources to achieve the MDGs similar to the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness (Brautigam 2009 21 OECD 2005 1-3) Moreover China is keen to
emphasise that its debt relief programme is independent of the standard of Paris
Club and of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Plan (FOCAC 2000)
Furthermore Chinarsquos debt relief programme is formulated according to specific
conditions of China and African countries within the framework of SouthSouth
co-operation and mutual assistance among developing countries (ibid)
For their part Japan and the G8 at the Kananaskis Summit (Canada) in 2002
adopted the Africa Action Plan in support of NEPADrsquos goal of mobilising resources
for poverty reduction and development with commitments to debt relief and supportto gender education health agriculture and water resource development issues
(G8 Action Plan 2002) At the Kananaski Summit Japan announced the lsquoBasic
Education for Growth Initiative (BEGIN)rsquo to support developing countries efforts to
promote basic education Later at the G8 Gleneagles Summit (Scotland) in 2005 the
G8 freed additional resources to assist countries to reach the MDGs and reaffirmed
the cancellation proposal of HIPCs owed to the Worldrsquos Bank International
Development Association (IDA) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
African Development Fund (AFD) As of March 2007 only 18 countries have
achieved the HIPC conditions with these institutions Japan has cancelled
approximately USD 3 billion in debts which represented 21 of the total G8
contribution and Chinarsquos USD 12 billion in debts to 31 less developed countries
(LDCs) and HIPC in Africa thus fulfilling their commitments made at TICAD II
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 193
Dow
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ity o
f W
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at 2
205
07
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ober
201
3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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Uni
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ity o
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
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ober
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3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
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ober
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3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
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African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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ober
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Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
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imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
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ober
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Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
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3
(1998) and FOCAC Action Plan (20042006) This is perhaps their most
visible result to influence poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs in
Africa
The visible difference between China and Japanrsquos approach to the MDGs is that
in Japanrsquos case there are concrete efforts to incorporate them into its ODA policy
through its Medium-Term Policy on ODA (February 2005) in the ODA Charter andin its policies for assistance to Africa such as the TICAD framework Examples of
Japanrsquos actions are firstly the creation of the Trust Fund for Human Security (March
1999) and within this concept the promotion of the African Village Initiative a
combination of infrastructure development and empowerment of people the
promotion at TICAD III of the NERICA (New Rice for Africa) initiative to boost
food security prospects throughout Africa and the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) for
smooth border crossing and reduction in transportation costs These initiatives
promote support activities for the poor in rural Africa Second at the G8
Gleaneagles Summit Japan committed itself to increasing its ODA volume by
USD 10 billion in aggregate over the next five years while doubling its ODA to
Africa in the next three years (JMOFA 2005 3) Finally at the planning stage
through JICArsquos country programme according to the Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) Japanrsquos sectoral programmes such as the sector-wide approach
(SWAps) to meet the targets of the MDGs (JICA 2005 115)
Chinarsquos policy on the MDGs is more pragmatic and less transparent than Japanrsquos
It prefers to focus on agreements achieved with African governments within the
FOCAC process rather than having an agency to implement the MDGs in its aidprogramme Fulfilling its pledges made at the 2003 FOCAC China abolished tariffs
on 190 kinds of goods from 29 African LDCs for access to the Chinese market
(FOCAC Action Plan 20042006) Also at FOCAC 2006 Beijing announced it
would double the 2006 level of assistance to African countries to provide USD three
billion in preferential loans and USD 2 billion in preferential export buyerrsquos credit
for HIPCs and LDCs in Africa to set up a Development Fund to expand Chinese
investment in Africa train more 15000 African professionals based on the China-
Africa Inter-governmental Human Resources Development (AHRDF) Plan adopted
at the second FOCAC to help African countries set up 100 rural schools in the next
three years to assist African countries with a USD 375 million in grants for anti-
malaria drugs and other effective measures in the prevention and treatment of HIV
AIDS and other infectious diseases and to work for the establishment of the
United Nations China-Africa Environment Protection Centre (FOCAC Action Plan
20072009)
SouthSouth and NorthSouth linkages
Chinarsquos engagement in Africa faces criticism from the OECD countries particularly
the US the European Union (EU) the IMF and the World Bank They criticise
Chinarsquos support to regimes that violate human rights such as Sudan and Zimbabwe
for links between loans and resource exports and for unconditional and tied aid that
contradict multilateral frameworks that promote debt sustainability public account-
ability and good governance (Mugumya 2008 67) China has countered these
criticisms by further opening its market to Africa increasing from 190 to over 440
the number of export items to China with zero-tariff treatment improving the
194 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
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ity o
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ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
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ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
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ded
by [
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ity o
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ing
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es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
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ing
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es]
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
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nloa
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vers
ity o
f W
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205
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Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
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Uni
vers
ity o
f W
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es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
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vers
ity o
f W
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
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Uni
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ity o
f W
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es]
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205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
mechanism of the ChinaAfrica Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
cancelling more government loans in debt relief operations for Africa (FOCAC
Action Plan 2007-2009) China believes that its disinterested aid and higher emphasis
on infrastructure development (like Japan) responds better to African needs than the
Western donorsrsquo emphasis on human development law and institutional reform
(Brautigam 2009 22)
The advantage that works in favour of China over Japan and the Northern
donors is that China is not a competitor Commodity complementarity exists
between China and Africa and that both donor and recipients are still developing
countries (Alden 2007 126) In Japanrsquos case low economic growth rates low labour
quality and poor infrastructure in Africa are obstacles to business expansion
(TICAD IV 2008 6) China is Africarsquos partner because it provides external market
opportunities and helps them to become self-sustaining economies by leading to a
new wave of investment in Africa by Chinese companies (Alden 2007 126)
Grant aid is the bigger part of aid for Japan and only a small part for China
However this is understandable for a developing country like China but not for
Japan which is an economic world power Nevertheless both China and Japan
differently from other donors agree that loans present a liability for the future and
create a discipline of self-reliance that grants do not imply (Wissenbach 2008 59)
Therefore Chinarsquos Eximbank and Japanrsquos JBIC use loans to promote trade and
investment in Africa However Japanrsquos loans as set out in the TICAD process respect
the HIPC initiative while in Chinarsquos case there are no such conditions (TCSF 2008
51) So the same instruments have different rationales and results The first is that
Japanese investments in Africa compared to Chinarsquos are marginal Second Chinese
investments are helping African development much more than Japanrsquos Thus Japan
and China have very similar approaches to their foreign aid policies which are based
on their own domestic development experiences as recipient countries However
Japan and Chinarsquos philosophies of development assistance while Asian in content
for ideological and political reasons have different rationales Japan entered the
mainstream of Northern policies and exercises influence on aid policy debates from
the inside for example by pointing out the negative consequences of the Worldrsquos
Bank adjustment measures (Wissenbach 2008 59-60 Stein 1998 41) Despite
Western donorsrsquo efforts to integrate China into the OECD frameworks Beijing has
opted to stay out of the mainstream and like Japan with TICAD China with
FOCAC is forging an alternative partnership cooperation with Africa Yet the result
is not completely different as both are challenging the Western approach of
development to Africa particularly within the framework of the Washington
Consensus
From the perspective of SouthSouth co-operation Chinarsquos co-operation in
Africa is beneficial because it widens the possibilities for common development and
works against enlarging the gap between North and South as Chinese export credits
promotes economic growth in Africa (Wenping 2008 43) From the recipient
perspective it enlarges the pool of available aid The problem is that Chinarsquos new
lsquonon-concessionalrsquo lending contradicts G8 debt relief initiative as most of African
countries are low-income thus unable to pay those loans that inevitably will
accumulate into growing African indebtedness to the Chinese Eximbank
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 195
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
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rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Conclusion
Regardless of the difficulty of determining the exact volume and terms of Chinese
assistance it is evident that China is an important donor to Africa It is also clear
that Chinese and Japanese African aid policies share some goals and principles but
they differ in the way to achieve them Although both countries have their respective
national interests in mind China more than Japan seeks to reinforce behaviour
favourable to Beijingrsquos more immediate material and geopolitical concerns (Dreyer
2006 548)
In certain respects China resembles Japan before the 1980s a trade-driven
industrial power integrating into the world system while practising a realpolitik to
attain national wealth and power (Sautman 2006 5) The Chinese link between aid
trade and investment is evident in the mechanism of lsquotied aid with no strings
attachedrsquo which gives Chinese firms a biased advantage over other donors and power
to influence African politics like in the 2006 Zambia presidential elections (Glennie
2008 111) Interestingly Japanrsquos aid appears to be returning to the old concept of
lsquoeconomic co-operation of three-in-onersquo by coordinating ODA with FDI and trade
needed by the continuing deficits in the national budget limiting ODA allocations
and the need to finance development banks that have become command centres for
debt policies (Arase 1994 195 Yasutomo 198990 499)
An advantage China enjoys over Japan in Africa is not simply the lag of 20 years
but ideological differences on one side and on the other side a long-term political
commitment in contrast with Japanrsquos short-term political commitment Since the
1950s Beijing realised that strong political relations are vital for a long trend
economic relationship China chose and supported the majority of African states
instead of the West Japan chose the minority white pro-Western African states
without considering that in the long-term structural changes would make Africa a
valuable strategic partner rather than a mere commodity partner As Cornelissen
(2004 130) points out Japanrsquos development policy is similar to Chinarsquos in that it is
built upon an Afro-Asian identity However Japanrsquos assertion of this commonality
with Africa is largely rhetoric as a means to attain its international objectives focused
mainly upon South Africa
Differences in the two donorsrsquo aid institutions affect their aid policies in Africa
Japan is a mainstream DAC donor of long standing Its aid agencies have well-
defined missions based on DAC norms and policies regarding the content and use of
official development assistance It has therefore acted within that framework in its
allocation of aid to Africa For example to increase its effective presence in Africa
Japan reorganised JICA as an independent aid agency providing technical assistance
grant aid and ODA loans in an integrated manner and is expected to realise the
synergy effects of integration by reducing the previous interagency conflict in
Japanese aid decision-making (JICA 2007 24) Similarly its 1992 ODA Charter
shows its political commitment to supporting basic human rights and good
governance issues in line with growing DAC and multilateral bank thinking about
the purposes of aid Its pro-active role toward Africa through the TICAD process
has been very much about securing within that development community a reputation
for pro-active leadership on development issues Its development of closer relation-
ships with multilateral institutions by involving them in the TICAD process also
results from its participation in mainstream development
196 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
China has no development assistance agency per se It eschews the rigid
standardised criteria for DAC assistance (Davies 2007 11 51) although it uses
some elements of the terminology of ODA in terms of grants and loans with no
interest Its lack of transparency even on aid amounts is at odds with Western
development practice Chinarsquos co-operation includes not only aid trade investment
and development assistance to attain mutual benefit but reciprocity and common
development between China and Africa (JICA 2007 77) This explains why aidcomes without the policy prescriptions demanded by international financial
institutions (Guttal 2008 25) and the willingness of China to be both a borrower
of international financial institutions and a donor to developing countries
Consequently China is competing with Japan and other major DAC donors on
the aid scene by combining development investment and diplomacy just as Japan
did in the past
China also has not faced some of the domestic obstacles that Japan has at least
not yet In Japan the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry was a major obstacle
to attempts to increase aid to Africa since that assistance is earmarked for basic
human needs projects or emergency food aid neither of which promotes Japanese
commercial interests
Both FOCAC and TICAD focus on the complementary benefits that aid with
trade and investment as a whole can have on African development Yet they are not
necessarily parallel programmes Politically China sees FOCAC as a means to
advance a position of moral relativism regarding human rights At the Forum China
has also tried to encourage African countries to reform using the Chinese model ofeconomic growth and development to reduce its aid to Africa (Taylor 2006 689) In
contrast TICAD documents use terminology such as human security in accord with
the mainstream donor community
At the working level the two forums have been conducted differently Japan does
not use TICAD meetings as aid pledging events Rather it restricts discussions to
issues of broader Japanese contributions to African development Aid continues to
be negotiated separate from the TICAD and allocated bilaterally or through
development banks China on the other hand has been willing to use FOCAC
meetings to discuss and negotiate actual aid commitments
Low levels of Japanese aid and trade with Africa undermine the impact of
TICAD At TICADs III and IV government and the business community have
considered how to increase trade and investment in Africa The Japanese private
sector views ODA for infrastructure and human resource development in Africa as a
necessary first step to support increased private sector activities In this context
Chinarsquos ability to use aid programmes to promote business activities in Africa is
better developed than Japanrsquos Chinarsquos special fund for joint ventures is offered toAfrican countries which receive ODA from China based on bilateral agreements for
specific projects (World Bank 2004 34)
One final difference between the donors merits attention As noted above China
restricts aid conditions to adherence to the one-China policy The aid rivalry between
the Peoplersquos Republic of China and Taiwan has been described accurately as a zero-
sum game played for diplomatic recognition (Lin 2001) Overlooked in the
discussions of this aid rivalry is that it also imposes opportunity costs on aid
recipients because they must choose one aid donor and trade partner at the expense
of the other While many African governments welcome China as an additional
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 197
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
source of aid the net effect is to forgo access to another donor one with its own long
history of assistance to the region Japan places no such conditions on its African
counterparts nor for that matter does any other bilateral donor
The question is not whether China and Japan can replace the Western approach
to development assistance but whether using Aldenrsquos expression (2007 125) they
are partners competitors or neo-colonisers in Africa To a certain extent their
know-how and burden sharing is contributing to Africarsquos stability and develop-
ment However it is not clear whether TICAD has increased Japanese ODA to
Africa as its aid overall has been declining Neither is it certain that Chinese aid
projects which are mostly tied to Chinese companiesrsquo investments have been a
window of development to Africa (Southall 2009 29) From the African and
OECD perspective the diversification of financial resources and market opportu-
nities is not only legitimate but also desirable for all actors involved Yet Africarsquos
lack of basic social foundation and basic infrastructures prevent African capitalism
with the exception of South Africa of competing with China and Japan in the
benefits of their lsquoscramblersquo Thus it can be argued that the historical relationship
of dependence and subordination between African and external powers remains
unchanged
For the time being China and Japan are not co-operating on aid to Africa
although they have begun informal consultations on aid policy in general To a
certain extent their aid efforts are largely parallel both bilaterally and through the
regional development forums they sponsor Their aid tends to support the same
countries but through bilateral channels and using different aid mixes for different
developmental aims Their aid is complementary in certain aspects such as in the
provision of aid for development of transportation networks
Finally at least diplomatically their aid relationship is potentially competitive
although hardly at the level of ChinaTaiwan aid rivalry Unlike more vocal Western
donors Japan generally has refrained from criticising its neighbourrsquos aid practices in
the region Japanrsquos package of US$ 4 billion of soft loans to Africa and the doubling
of grant aid and technical co-operation for the region over the next five years at
TICAD IV is not based on altruism but an effort to outbid Chinarsquos trade
investment and presence in Africa (Jaura and Osamu 2008 1) This competition
has increased tensions between them Chinarsquos aggressive forays into the continentrsquos
energy sector prompted then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to state that financial aid
should be used to strengthen ties with countries that supply oil and other energy
resources (Masaki 2006 Evans 2006 22) Yet Japanrsquos relative disinterest in Africa is
likely to dampen the possibility of outright aid competition with China in that
region
Notes on contributors
Pedro Amakasu Raposo is Assistant Professor of International Development and Co-operation at Lusida University in Porto Portugal Currently he holds a scholarship from thePortuguese government to pursue his second doctoral study in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies at Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on Japanrsquos ODA to sub-SaharanAfrica His latest publications include lsquoEvolution of Japanrsquos foreign policy to Africa and theTICAD processrsquo Lusiada Politica Internacional e Seguranca 2 2009 22144 lsquoJapanrsquos aidpolicy and the TICAD processrsquo Nanzan Journal of Policy Studies 1 2009 5591
198 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
David M Potter is a Professor of International Relations in the Graduate School of PolicyStudies Nanzan University Japan His research focuses on official development assistanceand international non-governmental organisations His main publications include NGOs ininternational politics by S Ahmed and DM Potter Kumarian Press 2006 Media bureau-cracies and foreign aid by D van Belle J-S Rioux and DM Potter Palgrave 2004 and Japanrsquosforeign aid to Thailand and the Phillippines by DM Potter St Martinrsquos Press 1996
References
African Development Report 2006 Aid debt relief and development in Africa Oxford OxfordUniversity Press
African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) 2008 MappingChinese development assistance in Africa a synthesis analysis of Angola MozambiqueZambia and Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe AFRODAD
Alden C 2002 The chrysanthemum and the protea reinventing JapaneseSouth Africanrelations after apartheid African Affairs 101 36586
Alden C 2007 China in Africa London and New York ZedAmpiah K 1997 The dynamics of Japanrsquos relations with Africa South Africa Tanzania and
Nigeria London RoutledgeArase D 1994 Public-private sector interest coordination in Japanrsquos ODA Pacific Affairs 67
no 2 171200Arnold G 1979 Aid in Africa London Kogan PageAskouri A 2008 Civil society initiative in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in Africa and the south
a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manj Oxford UK FahamuBrautigam D 1998 Chinese aid and African development exporting green revolution New
York St MartinrsquosBrautigam D 2009 Chinarsquos African aid Washington DC the German Marshall Fund of the
United StatesBroadman H 2007 Africarsquos silk road Chinarsquos and Indiarsquos new economic frontier Washington
DC World BankBureau of Statistics of China 2009 China statistical yearbook 2009 Beijing Bureau of
Statistics of ChinaChugoku Afurika ni 9000-oku En 2009 Yomiuri Shinbun 10 November 6Cooper J 1976 Chinarsquos foreign aid an instrument of Pekingrsquos foreign policy Lexington MA
Lexington BooksCorkin L 2008 Chinarsquos strategic infrastructural investments in Africa In Chinarsquos new role in
Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero and F Manji OxfordUK Fahamu
Cornelissen S 2004 Japan-African relations-patterns and prospects In Africa in internationalpolitics external involvement on the continent ed I Taylor and P Williams London andNew York Routledge
Davies P 2007 China and the end of poverty in Africa Towards mutual benefit SwedenDiakonia and European Network on Debt and Development
Dreyer J 2006 SinoJapanese rivalry and its implications for developing nations AsianSurvey 56 no 4 53957
Evans P 2006 lsquoJapanrsquo the Brookings foreign policy studies Washington DC BrookingsInstitution
Export-Import Bank of China 2005 2005 annual report Beijing EximbankExport-Import Bank of China 2007 2007 annual report Beijing EximbankFASIDMOFA 2006 International symposium synergy among development assistance FDI
and trade in Southern Africa Poverty reduction through economic growth Tokyo Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCA) 2000 Follow-up action of China-Africa forum on co-operation ministerial meeting 6 February 2001 httpwww3ituintMISSIONSChinachinaafricaforumforum12htm
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20042006 Addis Ababa Action Plan Debtrelief httpwww fmprcgovcnzfltengzyzlhwjt157710html
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 199
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) 20072009 Beijijng Action Planhttpwwwchinese-embassyorgzaengzfgxzfhzltt281763htm
G8 Africa Action Plan 2002 G8 Africa Action Plan G8 Summit Kananaskis 2627June 2002 httpwwwcanadainternationalgcg8summit-sommet2002action_plan_africa-plan-afriqueasxp
Gaimusho 2008 Nihon no Kokusai Kyouryoku 2008 Nen-han Siefu Kaihatsu Enjo HakushoTokyo Gaimusho
Glennie J 2008 The trouble with aid why less could mean more for Africa London and NewYork Zed
Grant R and J Nijman eds 1998 The global crisis in foreign aid Syracuse New YorkSyracuse University Press
Guttal S 2008 Client and competitor China and international financial institutions InChinarsquos new role in Africa and the south a search for a new perspective ed D Guerrero andF Manji Oxford UK Fahamu
Ishikawa K 1999 Nation building and development assistance in Africa Different but equalTokyo Macmillan
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2008 Reports on FY 2007 operationsTokyo Overseas Economic Co-operation Operation July 2008 httpwwwjicagojpenglishnewsjbic_archiveautocontentsenglishnews2008
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2007 JBIC signs first ODA loan agreementwith Namibia JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-103 19 March httpwwwjbicgojpautocontentsenglishnews2007000038indexhtm
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) 2006 JBIC signs ODA loan agreementwith Mozambique JBIC on line Tokyo NR2006-37 10 August httpwwwjbicgojpenglishoecprojectyenloanlistphp
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2007 Project study on the TICAD processreview of the past achievements and implications for future success Tokyo JICA andMitsubishi UFJ Research amp Consulting
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2005 Our challenges for a better tomorrowReport on JICArsquos contribution to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs)Tokyo Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) 2000 Southern African Region The studyon Japanrsquos official development assistance to Southern African countries Vol I TokyoInstitute for International Cooperation
Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (JMOFA) 2005 Building global partnerships for developmenJapanrsquos contribution to MDG-8 Tokyo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jaura R 2008 Japan to double aid to Africa by 2012 The Asia-Pacific EJournal 16httpwwwjapanfocusorgR-Jaura2768
Lancaster C 2007 The Chinese aid system Washington DC Centre for Global DevelopmentLaw F 1984 Chinese foreign aid a study of its nature and goals with particular reference to the
foreign policy and world view of the peoplersquos Republic of China 19501982 Saarbrucken andFort Lauderdale Breitenbach
Lehman P 2005 Japanrsquos foreign aid policy to Africa since the Tokyo international conferenceon African development Pacific Affairs 78 no 3 42343
Lin R 2001 Complementary measures to foreign aid Taiwan and the PRC under diplomaticrivalry Contemporary Economic Policy 19 no 3 3608
Masaki H 2006 Japan vs China in Africa Ohmy News August 29 13 httpenglishohmynewscomarticleviewarticle_printaspmenuc10400ampno313956amprel_no1ampisPrintprint
Melber H 2009 Global trade regimes and multi-polarity The US and Chinese scramble forAfrican resources and markets In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment anddevelopment ed R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-NatalPress
Mochizuki H 2007 Japan to build energy ties with Africa Associated Press 28 Novemberhttpwwwfoolcomnewsassociated-press20071128japan-to-build-energy-ties-with-africaaspx
200 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
Morikawa J 2006 Japan and Africa after the cold war In Japan a model and a partner viewsand issues in Africa development ed S Adem London Brill
Morikawa J 1997 Japan and Africa big business and diplomacy London HurstMugumya G 2008 China-Europe-Africa Is there possible collaborative partnership In
China-Europe-Africa Co-operation chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International Studies
National Bureau of Statistics of China 1996 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 1996Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2001 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2001Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2003 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2003Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2005 China foreign economic statistical yearbook 2005Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2007 China Foreign Economic Statistical Yearbook2007 Peoplersquos Republic of China China Statistics Press
Ochiai T 2001 Beyond TICAD diplomacy Japanrsquos African policy and African initiatives inconflict response African Study Monography 22 no 1 3752
Oda H and K Aoki 1985 Japan and Africa beyond the fragile partnership In Japanrsquosforeign relations ed R Ozaki and W Arnold Boulder CO Westview Press
Ogata S 2008 Infrastructure development and human security In Rethinking infrastructurefor development ed F Bourguinon and B Pleskovik Washington DC World Bank
Omuruyi L 2001 Contending theories on development aid Post-Cold War evidence fromAfrica Farnham UK Ashgate
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2005 Paris declarationon aid effectiveness Ownership harmonization alignment results and mutual accountabilityParis OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 1999 Development Co-operation Review Series Japan No 34 Paris Development Assistance CommitteeOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2004 DevelopmentAssistance Committee Peer review Japan Paris Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development
Orr R 1990 The emergence of Japanrsquos foreign aid power New York Columbia UniversityPress
Payne R and C Veney 1998 Chinarsquos post-cold war African policy Asian Survey 37 no 986779
Rix A 1993 Japanrsquos foreign aid challenge London and New York RoutledgeSato M 2005 Japanese aid diplomacy in Africa An historical analysis The International
Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University no 4 6785Sautman B 2006 Friends and Interests Working Paper 12 138 Centre on Chinarsquos
Transnational RelationsSouthall R 2009 Scramble for Africa Continuities and discontinuities with formal
imperialism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and development edR Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and A Comninos 2009 The scramble for Africa and the marginalisation ofAfrican capitalism In A new scramble for Africa Imperialism investment and developmented R Southall and H Melber South Africa University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Southall R and H Melber 2009 Conclusion towards a response In A new scramble forAfrica Imperialism investment and development ed R Southall and H Melber SouthAfrica University of KwaZulu-Natal Press
Stein H 1998 Japanese aid to Africa Patterns motivations and the role of structuraladjustment The Journal of Development Studies 35 no 2 2753
Taylor I 2006 China and Africa Engagement and compromise London and New YorkRoutledge
Journal of Contemporary African Studies 201
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
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ity o
f W
yom
ing
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es]
at 2
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07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2005 TCSF White Paper 2005 Evaluation by civilsociety on Japanese policy to Africa Overcoming poverty and inequality Tokyo TICADCivil Society Forum
TCSF (TICAD Civil Society Forum) 2008 White Paper 2007 Strategic recommendations onTokyo international conference on African development Tokyo TICAD Civil SocietyForum
TICAD IV 2008 Comprehensive report of the joint missions for promoting trade andinvestment to Africa (August-September 2008) Tokyo Minister of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Economy Trade and Industry
Tokyo Declaration 1993 Tokyo Declaration httpwwwticadnetpublicationsTokyoDeclaration 1993pdf
Tuman J and S Ayoub 2004 The determinants of Japanese official development assistancein Africa A pooled time series analysis International Interactions 30 4557
Wang J 2007 What drives Chinarsquos growing role in Africa IMF Working Paper 130Weinstein W and T Henriksen eds 1980 Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations Boulder
CO PraegerWenping H 2008 China-Africa co-operation Partnership and global implications In China-
Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challenges Proceedings of the 6th ShanghaiWorkshop on Global Governance Shanghai Shanghai Institute for International StudiesMarch 14-15
Wissenbach U 2008 The renaissance or the end of geopolitics Towards trilateral co-operation in Africa In China-Europe-Africa co-operation Chances and challengesProceedings of the 6th Shanghai Workshop on Global Governance Shanghai ShanghaiInstitute for International Studies March 1415
Wheeler J 1989 Development co-operation 1989 review Paris Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
White J 1964 Japanese aid London Overseas Development InstituteWorld Bank 2004 Studies on Africa-Asia trade and investment relations (B) Studies of selected
Asian countries in developing trade and investment relations with African countries The WorldBank Padeco and UFJ Institute
Xu Y 2008 China and the United States in Africa Coming conflict or commercial existenceAustralian Journal of International Affairs 62 no 1 1637
Yasutomo D 198990 Why aid Japan as an aid great power Pacific Affairs 62 no 4 490503
202 PA Raposo and DM Potter
Dow
nloa
ded
by [
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
yom
ing
Lib
rari
es]
at 2
205
07
Oct
ober
201
3