In my article, which appears in
China Brief (volume nine, issue seven), I argue that though China is offering a viable alternative to Western support in some African conflict zones, it is taking great risks at a high price in some areas.
The article can be accessed
here, or in PDF format
here.
Here is the lead paragraph:
As China expands its engagement throughout Africa, it increasingly finds itself involved in African conflict zones either by design or accident. This involvement takes essentially three forms: Chinese participation in UN peacekeeping operations, Chinese weapons, especially small arms, which make their way into conflict zones, and kidnapping of Chinese nationals or attacks on Chinese facilities and nationals. In the case of kidnappings and attacks, China is beginning to face some of the same challenges that have confronted western interests for decades.
