Let us see if we can agree on something: Chinese involvement in Africa has had positive effects, just as it has had negative ones too. European, American, Japanese etc.

Whether one has been 10X or 50X of the other is not in my interest. African progress should not be anchored on the *better extractor. *

The logic expressed by Rodney in the 70s is close to what I also feel about china in Africa today even though the degrees might be different. I hope you get my refusal to see generalist comparisons as helpful to an African audience, and why it might be helpful to Europeans and Chinese, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Europe_Underdeveloped_Africa

[–] yogthos@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

There will always be negative and positive aspects of trade between countries. The main difference between the west and China is that the west has a long documented history of using coercion in Africa while China does not. Countries in Africa are free to make a choice whether they want to trade with China or not, and whether that benefits their countries. On the other hand, the west actively subjugates countries in Africa and extracts their resources at gunpoint. That's the key difference here.

[–] mwalimu@baraza.africa 2 points 2 years ago

I do not think this discussion is adding value at this point. I wish I had more time to engage in a productive way.