Stress on China-Africa relations due to coronavirus

In biology, mutualism is known as the biological interaction between individuals of different species where both benefit and improve their biological fitness. This is how we could describe the relationship between China and Africa in recent years, where the Asian giant, in order to extend its geopolitical influence, has become the main partner for the African continent, while the latter has benefited from these investments. Beijing has been weaving a spider's web in African countries, increasing its influence economically, politically and culturally.

Africa had been the forgotten continent by both Europe and the United States. In 2000, China joined the World Trade Organization and bilateral relations increased exponentially, becoming in 2009 Beijing's first trading partner in Africa and the largest importer of oil, obtaining it mainly from Sudan and Angola. In addition, uranium from Namibia and Niger, coltan from the Democratic Republic of Congo and iron, copper and zinc from a handful of other countries are the main raw materials supplied to the Asian giant.

As early as 1955, the famous Afro-Asian Conference was held in Bandung, Indonesia, where Africa and China strengthened their ties, as examples of non-aligned countries. But Chinese investments in Africa are not only directed towards the exploitation of minerals, but also reach industries, construction and the service sector. Ports, airports, roads, hospitals or schools have been built by Chinese companies. According to Johns Hopkins University, 81% of Chinese investments in Kenya have gone to the transport sector; 59% in Morocco to energy and 71% in Chad to industry.

All these figures have been translated into jobs, but this Chinese action cannot be idealised, as corruption and the very poor working conditions in which these workers find themselves are also questionable in this strategy.

Furthermore, it should be noted that it is not only at the economic level that Chinese-African relations are outlined. Xi Jinping's long-term strategy with the African continent includes training African soldiers in Chinese academies or the first Chinese military base in Djibouti, a country that is very well positioned geo-strategically in the Horn of Africa.

However, it should be noted that this 'honeymoon' experienced by Beijing and Africa may be greatly impaired by recent events. The coronavirus pandemic is not only challenging the world's health systems, but also countries' economies and lifestyles.

Diplomatic relations are also being undermined. The African Union (AU) and different governments of the continent have made public a series of formal protests towards China for the treatment that Africans are receiving in the Asian country, especially in the city of Guangzhou.

This Chinese city, in the south of the country, is a city of some 15 million inhabitants, where a large number of Africans are settled, especially Nigerians. Last April, when the aftermath of the pandemic was subsiding in China and several cities were already returning to a certain normality, the fear of a new outbreak put the African community in the eye of the hurricane and racist and discriminatory attacks multiplied. The attacks on this group by the Chinese community were motivated by a rumour that the African population was the new focus of contagion of the disease. However, according to the numbers, only 22 of the 183 cases imported from the province were from African immigrants. 

Since April 8, there have been discussions on social networks about the eviction of Africans from public places and the mistreatment of Africans in the city of Guangzhou, which led several African ambassadors to write a letter to the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemning “the persistent harassment and humiliation of African citizens”. Musa Faki Muhammed, head of the Organization of African Union, wrote on his personal Twitter account that his office had invited the Chinese ambassador to the AU, Liu Yuxi, to “express extreme concern over the allegations of ill-treatment of Africans in Guangzhou and call for corrective action in line with good relations (between Africa and China)”.

The Asian giant, China Global Television Network (CGTN), has called the reports 'fake news', and several authorities have reduced the attacks to sporadic events. However, to avoid greater evils, China's foreign minister promised equal treatment to all foreign nationals in China and blamed these tensions on “manipulation by certain forces”.

There is no doubt that these episodes do not benefit either of us, much less China. That is why, in recent weeks, with the arrival of the pandemic in Africa, Beijing is trying to seek a détente, taking advantage of its logistical capacities to send massive donations of medical supplies, diagnostic tests and health equipment.

As Stephen Paduano, a researcher at the London School of Economics, points out in an article by the Council on Foreign Relations, in the past African officials have been complacent about Chinese policies and have not spoken out against the Xi Jinping government in situations such as Hong Kong or Taiwan, nor have they objected to the US-Beijing trade war. In return, China has provided demand from African consumers, as well as access to capital. 

The arrival of the coronavirus in Africa has already alerted the international community. The exhausted health services and the few guarantees that confinement in these places can provide, together with the already deep crises caused by Ebola, famine or the lack of means for minimum hygiene, make COVID-19 a major threat to the continent.

The sending of medical material by China not only has a Samaritan role, but also awaits geopolitical interest. It will then have to be ascertained whether or not the latest spikes in racist tensions are likely to open up a gap in relations between the two and, if so, whether the sending of medical equipment can reverse it.