Brea WaltonApril 15, 2014

How Bloggers are Framing Chinese Input in Ethiopia

Source: http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2013/06/17/ethiopia-advance-to-world-cup-

africa-playoffs

On April 12, 2014, CCTV Africa News tweets a photo of Chinese and Ethiopian

officials in a meeting discussing relations and progress within both countries. The caption

in the tweet announces, “#China and #Ethiopia agrees to boost trade and diversify

cooperation”. After three decades of aid and investment from China, Ethiopia has

managed to expand economic development and has led up to a seven percent growth rate

in the last year. After tracking the development and progress built in the past few years,

news reporters and journalists have been posting articles about the progressive

partnership between China and Ethiopia. In response to these articles, Ethiopian bloggers

have been posting their opinions with strong remarks on how they feel about the

relationship between China and Ethiopia.

After reading various blog posts, it is evident that a large portion of the people

living in Ethiopia and China believe that China’s contribution in aid and investments are

the root to growth in Ethiopia’s economy. The Ethiopian blogger Sami refers to

China’s assistance in Ethiopia as “God Sent” on nazeret.com. He believes a “Win-

Win situation is the key” and writes, “It is a very simple idea the west never

mentioned in Africa because they are all about greed”. Sami compares the Chinese

support in Ethiopia to Western countries and credits the Chinese government for

helping increase economic development unlike Western countries. Sami believes the

Chinese are not greedy and intends to create growth throughout countries. In

addition, Amora, another Ethiopian blogger on nazeret.com, expresses how “It took

less than a decade to do the work that the West fail to do in hundreds of years

building Africa.” She also explains how “this is the kind of transformation and

economic development Africa has been missing for decades”. Her words show her

support in the Chinese government. They also show her beliefs in a major increase

within Ethiopia’s economic development with the help of China.

Although some bloggers believed China’s contributions are beneficial to

Ethiopia, others questioned the partnership between China and Ethiopia. Chero, a

blogger on nazeret.com expresses that Ethiopia is not growing economically. He

discusses how only government officials in Ethiopia are the only ones benefiting

from the partnership with China and says Ethiopian officials are “making boat load

of money by stealing or corruption”. Hence, Chero’s concerns are the people living

in Ethiopia. Chinese investments in Ethiopia might be successful; however, if the

money from these investments are not benefiting the Ethiopian population then the

country will never grow out of poverty.

All the bloggers bring valid points on the topic of China and Ethiopia.

Bloggers Sami and Amora both compare China to western countries. Historically it

is believed that Western countries intend to only reap natural resources from

Ethiopia, impose democracy onto their government, and ultimately colonize the

Ethiopian land; whereas, China expressed the value of unity and equal benefits

from economic development. Like many Ethiopians, these bloggers may not notice

all of the corrupt or underhanded activities the Chinese have done because the

Chinese approach to Ethiopia is much different from Western countries. Hence, The

outcomes of China’s activities turn out to be the same as Western countries.

Although China may have similar intentions as Western countries, they are not as

apparent to the Ethiopian people. Furthermore, blogger Chero addresses a broader

approach and criticizes not only the Chinese government official but also Ethiopian

government officials. Chero states that Ethiopia is not benefiting from the

investments China has created and suggests that the corruption of stealing

government funds in the Ethiopian government be terminated. Without a stable

government and adequate funding, the rate of poverty in Ethiopia will never cease.

Chero’s comments are most reasonable. He observes Chinese intentions from a

broader stance by not blaming not only China but also Ethiopia.

In conclusion, bloggers are constantly writing their opinions on their

interpretations of the influence China has on Ethiopia and their feedback for solutions to

problems within China and Ethiopia’s partnership. Their opinions are important to view

when researching China and Ethiopia because it gives researchers realistic views on how

other people feel about the topic. Reading their posts and understanding their points of

view is imperative when viewing the relations between Ethiopia and China because they

give insight from many different points of views.

Sources

Source: CCTV Africa/ https://twitter.com/search?q=china%20ethiopia&src=typd

Source: Amora/ http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2014/01/28/chinese-firms-introducing-new-forms

Source: Sami/ http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2014/01/28/chinese-firms-introducing-new-forms

Source: Chero/ http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2014/01/28/chinese-firms-introducing-new-forms

Work Cited

Shinn, David H. "The Official Blog of Amb. David H. Shinn." The Official Blog of Amb. David H. Shinn. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Dodd, Jan. "Nazret.com." China Builds Power and Influence in Ethiopia. N.p., 26 Aug. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

"Nazret.com." Chinese Firms Introducing New Forms of Energy into Ethiopia. N.p., 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Social Networking Sources

CCTV Africa. “#China and #Ethiopia agrees to boost trade and diversity cooperation”. N.p. 12 April 2014. (Accessed: 13 April 2014).