South Africa's Ruling Party Praises China's Policy in Xinjiang Province

 South Africa's Independent Online (IOL) published on 6 December 2023 an article titled "Lessons from Xinjiang: ANC Says It Is Taking Notes, Following China's Development Footsteps" by Jonisayi Maromo.

A national executive committee member from the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's ruling party, said at a seminar on Xinjiang Province hosted by the Chinese embassy that China's ethnic minorities have enjoyed the best years in the last two decades in terms of economic and social development, ethnic unity, culture, education and protection of religious beliefs.  The article sang the praises of China's policies in Xinjiang Province and its treatment of the Uyghur population.  

Comment:  China International Television Corporation and the China Africa Development Fund have a 20 percent ownership stake in Independent Online and many of its South African journalists have been trained in China.  This is one of the ways that China works to ensure favorable coverage of Chinese issues in the African press.  In this regard, the ANC is one of the most compliant African political parties.  

Three African States Sign Statement of Concern about Human Rights in China's Xinjiang

 The government of Canada introduced on 31 October 2022 a statement titled "Joint Statement on Behalf of 50 Countries in the UN General Assembly Third Committee on the Human Rights Situation in Xinjiang, China."

The statement commented that "we are gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China, especially the ongoing human rights violations of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang."

Although most of the 50 signatories were western countries, three African states (Liberia, Somalia, and eSwatini) also signed.  eSwatini is the only country in Africa that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan.  

Why Some African Governments Support China's Xinjiang Policy

 Human Rights Watch posted on 29 March 2021 a commentary titled "Why Are Some African Governments Shielding China Over Xinjiang?" by Carine Kaneza Nantulya.  

Citing the most recent examples of Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo, and Sudan, the author suggests these governments publicly supported China's policies in Xinjiang region so as not to undermine the economic benefits they receive from China.  

China Seeks African Support for Its Treatment of Muslim Minorities

 The China Africa Project posted on 3 February 2021 a commentary titled "China Launches Full-Scale Media Blitz in Africa to Counter Mounting U.S.-European Pressure on Xinjiang" by Eric Olander. 

 China continues to argue in its messaging with African leaders that its policy towards Uighurs in Xinjiang Region are benefiting local people economically and do not constitute human rights violations as charged by Western countries. Although this argument is increasingly difficult to make, the impact on African leaders is not clear.   

China Silences African Columnist

Foreign Policy posted on 14 September 2018 an article titled "China Is Buying Africa Media's Silence" by Azad Essa.

A weekly columnist for South Africa's Independent Media, in which Chinese state-linked media hold a 20 percent stake, wrote a negative column on China's policy on Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. Independent Media refused to run the column online and canceled the journalist's weekly column.

Understanding China's Evolving Counterterrorism Strategy

The European Council on Foreign Relations published in October 2016 a policy brief titled "Terror Overseas: Understanding China's Evolving Counter-Terror Strategy" by Mathieu Duchatel, deputy director of the Asia and China program at the European Council of Foreign Relations.

This policy brief suggests a militarization trend is emerging in China's counterterrorism strategy overseas, including Africa. This is reflected in a new counterterrorism law and new developments within the People's Liberation Army in terms of doctrine, training, equipment, basing and diplomatic activity. In response to the emergence of new threats, China's approach to international cooperation is also changing.

China Ventures Deeper into North Africa and Middle East Maelstrom

The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), an autonomous school within the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, published on 18 March 2016 a study titled "China and the Middle East: Venturing into the Maelstrom" by James M. Dorsey, a senior fellow at RSIS.

The study argues that China realizes it can no longer remain aloof to the multiple conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. Increasingly, China will become a player in competitive cooperation with the United States in the region.

Are Members of Chinese Minority Group Joining African Terrorists?

Le Monde published on 2 May 2016 an article titled "Les Ouigours menacent-ils la Chine en Afrique?" by Sebastien Le Belzic, who directs the Chinafrica site.

The article reports that members of the Uyghur minority group in western China have been seen with terrorist groups in Mali and Libya and may be involved with Boko Haram in Nigeria. There have been other reports of small numbers of Uyghurs joining the Islamic State in Syria and Libya, but this is the first report I am aware of that says they may be engaged in Mali and Nigeria. Le Monde suggests they may pose a direct threat to Chinese interests in Africa.

Chinese Foreign Policy Comes of Age

The New York Times published on 26 March 2015 an op-ed titled "Chinese Foreign Policy Comes of Age" by Andrew Small, German Marshall Fund of the United States.  Small concludes that Beijing, long content to sit on the sidelines of security issues beyond its borders, has finally come to see inaction as an even greater risk.  He also applies this new Chinese approach to recent developments in Africa.

China-US Cooperation on Counterterrorism in Africa?

Brookings in Washington published on 10 September 2014 a commentary titled "China and the Rising Terrorist Threats in Africa: Time for U.S.-China Cooperation?" by Yun Sun, visiting fellow at the Washington-based Africa Growth Initiative.

The author noted the two countries held in July 2014 a U.S.-China Counter-Terrorism Sub-Dialogue.  She concluded that China believes the U.S. war against terrorism gives Washington tremendous technical, intelligence, and operational advantages on counterterrorism issues that are increasingly relevant for China.  Consequently, China seeks U.S. cooperation for addressing Chinese security threats, but not necessarily those in Africa that are low on China's agenda.  The possibility for U.S.-China counterterrorism cooperation in Africa exists, but only under certain circumstances.