China and Africa: Engagement and Compromise, and: China in Africa (review)

Ian Taylor’s book is intended to demonstrate “the depth and the extent to which China has been involved in Africa over the last few decades” (197). In doing so, it analyzes in detail China’s relations with specific countries: Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Malawi. The book presents the twists and turns of China’s foreign policy goals in Africa, from anti-imperialism motivations to “triangulation,” and from rethinking its alliance with Africa in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square crisis to redefining Africa in its global strategy. It concludes that China sought to “circumscribe superpower restrictions” in Africa, having limited capabilities on its own to match its ambition (197). The conclusion also discusses the dilemma of China in the future: after years of China’s attempting to extricate itself from the secondtier role, the country’s achievements will bring about a shift in the hierarchy of the world’s powers, in which China itself will become a contender for superpower status.

The choice of southern African countries explored here typifies both the strength and the limitation of the book: its strength is its convincing illustrations of China’s achievements and shortcomings; its limitation is its insufficient attention to the factors influencing China’s foreign policy. Although the author identifies the natural resources, markets, and strategic considerations that underpin China’s relations with African countries, the considerations and motivations driving China’s foreign policy today—trade, investments, Chinese enterprise, market-entry strategy, and African responses to those policies—are not sufficiently addressed.

By contrast, the collection of articles by Lee, Melber, Naidu, and Taylor starts by placing China within the larger structures of globalization, and tracing its growth as a perennial actor of increasing relevance with respect to Africa. Taylor’s article identifies China’s immediate diplomatic goal as that of securing oil supplies, while its long-term goal is to enhance its own position as a global player in the international market (11). For African policymakers the long-term consequence of China’s involvement could be dependence; therefore, “the key for African policy makers... is to become skilled at cooperating with China” (24). This level of skill, or the lack thereof, on the part of African officials cooperating with China is deplored in the next article by Margaret C. Lee, who examines the implications and effects of China’s trade, investment, and aid in Uganda. She asks (but does not answer) the question: “What are the potential economic and political consequences for the majority of the population from the growing presence of the Chinese[?]” (27). The article provides examples of the Ugandan government’s incompetence in regulating foreign investment and enforcing its own tax laws. Overwhelming dependence on foreign aid is posited as the reason for the inactivity of Ugandan officials; from such inertia the skills needed to negotiate favorable trade and cooperation conditions are compromised. The article by Sanusha Naidu looks at China’s trade and investment in Africa and considers the “pull and push” factors that might render China–Africa relations vulnerable: “China’s soft power diplomacy,” “social instability at home,” and “competing actors in the African states.” Although arguments can be advanced in regard to these factors, they are not convincingly made in the article.

All things considered, the two volumes can be seen as complementary. The book by Taylor focuses on China’s earlier activities in Africa; the collection of articles focuses on current involvements. The book and the collection of articles, however, have not quenched the thirst for further explorations of various aspects of China–Africa relations. Consequently, a more comprehensive book on this subject is still needed. Also needed is a more thorough book exploring how Africa and African...