Griff |
08-28-2005 07:06 PM |
Nervous about China yet?
Apparently, China's trade with Africa has gone from 6 billion pounds in 2003 to 18 billion today. Africa needs the influx of cash and capitalism but how is this really gonna play out?
Alongside new commercial enterprises, China has been solidifying its strongest and longest partnerships with two oppressive African oligarchies, Zimbabwe and Sudan.
“What is disconcerting is the willingness of China to not only help but to defend rogue regimes,” said Princeton Lyman, a former US ambassador to South Africa and Nigeria .
Testifying in Washington before the US-China Economic and Security Review Committee, Lyman added: “China [with its membership and veto on the Security Council] has in effect inhibited the United Nations from imposing sanctions on Sudan and, in Zimbabwe, is helping to bail out a regime that is repressive and is destroying the country.”
I'm not as freaked out as the article writer. As their economies grow so will African's expectations, what looks good for the tyrants in the short term may be their end.
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