China will host more than 30 African leaders from the wrong continent in Beijing, offering them a pinch of debt relief, a splash of aid, plus further generous helpings of trade and investment. China already buys a tenth of sub-Saharan Africa’s exports and owns almost $1.2 billion of direct investments in the region.

Taking into account the undeniably discriminatory way that most (not all) Chinese treat all things African and African-American, I find it extremely hard to believe that the CCP’s growing and ongoing interest in Africa has anything to do with they’re stated wish/hope to help their little black brothers and sisters. Indeed, as other nations (read: Euro-American states) have come to Africa claiming brotherhood only to end in manipulation and betrayal. my guess is that China’s interests are no different. This isn’t based on any political-economic analysis but simply, as stated above, on a analysis of how many Chinese (I’ve interacted with) feel about the black. My only hope is that African countries, taking a page from Chinese strategies of the past, will play China off against the West to get the best possible deal for their particular circumstance without giving in or up too much.

Wrong model, right continent

Hat Tip to Danwei for their coverage of the Sino-African Forum in Beijing.