US-China Rivalry in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia

 Merics published on 24 March 2022 a study titled "Growing US-China Rivalry in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia: Implications for EU" by Matt Ferchen.

The author concluded that of the three regions, Africa has provided the best fit for and been most receptive to China's development focused economic diplomacy.  In part this is because Chinese officials have worked assiduously to build on Mao-era legacies of post-colonial, Third World leadership and solidarity in the region.  

While China's comprehensive commercial and diplomatic presence in Africa has made it an important actor in the region and the United States has deepened its engagement there, Europe's position remains strong. 

US-China Competition and Cooperation in Africa

 Two George Washington University student groups--U.S.-China Strategic Studies Organization and the Onero Institute--hosted a one hour podcast on 23 February 2022 titled "U.S.-China Competition and Cooperation in Africa: A Moderated Discussion with Ambassador David Shinn" moderated by GW student Tsung Han Tsai.  

This was a wide ranging discussion comparing China-Africa and US-Africa relations, competition between China and the United States in Africa, and the ability or inability of China and the United States to cooperate on the continent.  

A Non-China Focused US Africa Policy

 African Arguments published on 22 February 2022 a commentary titled "What Could a Non-China-Centric US Africa Policy Look Like?" by Veda Vaidyanathan.

The author argues that the US needs to craft a new vision for its Africa policy that looks beyond China and recognizes Africa's potential and priorities.  

China's Soft Power in Africa

 Foreign Affairs posted on 23 December 2021 an analysis titled "China's Soft-Power Advantage in Africa: Beijing Isn't Just Building Roads--It's Making Friends" by Lina Benabdallah.

The author argues that Washington downplays Beijing's social and human capital investments in Africa at its own risk.  These programs have quickly become a central pillar of China's foreign policy in Africa.  

Does East-West Competition Give Africa Agency?

 Nanyang Technological University in Singapore published on 9 December 2021 a commentary titled "Africa Finds Itself in a Position of Advantages as the West Attempts to Blunt China's Influence" by Johan Burger and Amit Jain.  

The authors acknowledge that American and European programs to aid Africa are significantly different than China's Belt and Road Initiative, but still argue that Africa is in a unique position to exercise agency in its dealing with China as well as the West.  

Secretary Blinken Refocuses US Africa Policy

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a major speech on US Africa policy in Abuja, Nigeria on 19 November 2021.

He identified the main pillars of the Biden administration policy on Africa.  The speech made no direct mention of China, a significant break from the Trump administration, although it did warn of opaque infrastructure deals and the rise of authoritarianism around the world.

Blinken said explicitly the United States does not want Africa to limit its partnership with other countries.  It just wants to make partnerships with the United States even stronger.  Washington does not want to make Africa choose partners, but rather to give Africa choices.  

The Washington Post covered the speech on 19 November 2021 in an article titled "Blinken Lays Out U.S. Policy toward Africa and Deliberately Avoids Mentioning China" by John Hudson.  

The New York Times covered the speech on 19 November 2021 in an article titled "China's Influence Looms Over Blinken's Africa Visit" by Michael Crowley.  

Perception of China's Belt and Road Initiative Evolves in Africa

 Observer Research Foundation published on 9 October 2021 an analysis titled "China's BRI Continues to Remain Popular amongst Africans Despite Intense Backlash" by Abhishek Mishra.

While Chinese infrastructure projects in Africa often generate short-term economic benefits, their long-term viability and risks need to be managed or they may turn out to be "white elephants."

Analysis of Chinese-built Infrastructure Projects in Tanzania and Kenya

 The Washington Post Monkey Cage published on 18 August 2021 an analysis titled "A Chinese Airport Project in Zanzibar Floundered. Here's What the New G-7 Infrastructure Plan Can Learn" by Veda Vaidyanathan.

The analysis looks at 5 Chinese-built infrastructure projects in Tanzania and Kenya--4 financed by the China Export Import Bank and 1 by the World Bank.  The advantages of Chinese projects were high speed, enormous scale, and low costs, although the Zanzibar international airport project experienced major delays and was well over budget.  

China-Africa, Belt and Road Initiative, and AfCFTA

 The Institute for International Political Studies posted on 29 July 2021 an analysis titled "China-Africa Economic Relations: The BRI, the AfCFTA and the Rest of the World" by Linda Calabrese, Overseas Development Institute.

The Belt and Road Initiative is not a break from the past, but rather a continuation of China-Africa relations along the lines already established since 2013.  The AfCFTA is more exciting for Africans because it is led by the African Union and designed to transform the continent by promoting industrialization.  

China and the G7: B3W vs BRI

Panda Paw Dragon Claw published on 29 June 2021 a roundtable discussion titled "Will the G7's B3W Initiative Change the Game of Global Infrastructure Development?" 

It consists of four commentaries, including mine, that look at the G-7's Build Back Better World (B3W) Initiative and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from different perspectives.  

The Diplomat published on 22 June 2021 a commentary titled "B3W: Building an Alternative to the BRI or Falling Into the Same Trap?" by Francesca Ghiretti, King's College London.

The author argues that the BRI has not measured up to its high expectations and suggests this is a lesson the G-7 would do well to learn.