Submitted By: Peter Wu

I came across this article in the New York Times. Please click here (China Defends Oil Trade With Africa).

To briefly summarize, China was criticized by Western aid groups for exploiting oil resources in Africa while not doing enough to help the countries like Sudan with issues of civil war atrocities in Darfur.

China countered the criticism by stating last year’s crude oil export statistics out of Africa. China took 8.7%, while Europe took 36% and the United States took 33%. China also stated that the buying and selling of oil is conducted in reasonable market prices.

Reading this article quickly reminded me of Dr. Morris’s lecture last quarter when he showed us an article (also from New York Times I believe) of China getting a step ahead tying the Guanxi (relationships) with African countries.

Is China really exploiting Africa?

Is the West (with 69% total imports from Africa according to the stat figure above) worried that one day China will take away their share of oil resources from Africa? Should the West try to improve their diplomatic relationships with African countries before China becomes Africa’s best friend, and if so, what might it do in this regard?

What are your thoughts?