China and the United States in Africa

Competition or Cooperation

Bibliographic Data

ID13102707
AuthorsLei Wang (0000-0001-5326-565X, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume06
Issue01
Pages123-141
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChina Quarterly of International Strategic Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2377-7400 • E-ISSN: 2377-7419
PublisherWorld Scientific (PUBLISHER • SG)
DOI10.1142/s2377740020500037
OpenAlexW3090233531
LanguageEN
Citations received9

China and the United States are among the most important external stakeholders in Africa’s peace, security, and prosperity. The African continent, with some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, an expanding consumer base, and an exploding youth population, has recently witnessed intensifying China-U.S. competition. In economic and trade terms, the United States is playing catch-up as Beijing has long ago overtaken Washington as the continent’s largest trading partner and investor. While China regards Africa’s adherence to the “One China” principle as the only political prerequisite for its engagement with the continent, the United States views greater democracy and rule of law in Africa as in the best interests of both. China’s security presence in Africa pales in comparison with that of the United States, as Washington boasts an extensive network of military bases on the continent while Beijing’s peace and security engagement mainly involves multilateral UN peacekeeping operations and bilateral security cooperation, such as arms sales and training programs. However, growing China-U.S. competition does not necessarily crowd out shared interests or preclude closer coordination in specific areas, for example, market development, infrastructure building, anti-piracy, health capacity-building, and so on. By fending off a senseless ideological contest, respecting each other’s core interests in Africa, accommodating Africans’ development aspirations and security concerns, Beijing and Washington can find more common ground than many believe

Beijing · Business · China · Competition (biology · CONTEST · Development economics · Diplomacy · Economic growth · Economics · International trade · Peacekeeping · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Population · Prosperity · Sociology · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · International Development and Aid · Law · Public Administration

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