| A Good Man in Africa |
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| Written by Bryony Taylor | |
| Friday, 20 February 2009 | |
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As Chinese President Hu Jintao tied up his annual New Year African trip earlier this week, more than one eyebrow has been raised in the west regarding its agenda – skipping important countries for a clutch of also-rans. But with many voices, often African ones, becoming more prominent critics of Beijing's policies on the continent, it isn’t really surprising that China is seeking to broaden its relationships across the continent. While the rest of the world is battling to save failing economies, Hu's visits to Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius present new opportunities for ever- growing bilateral trade between the region and Beijing. In 2008 this figure jumped a staggering 45 percent to US$106 billion, much of it for energy purchases. The figure, however, belies the growing discontent in many African countries over China's so-called One Africa policy. Chinese workers have been kidnapped and murdered in some countries and China has been accused of generating a slave empire that is looting the continent of its energy and minerals. Beijing sees the continent as a market for the growing manufacturing surplus of the Pearl River Delta, which the Politburo's economy can ill afford. But the flow of goods into Africa is causing some of the same trade frictions that China faces with the west as China-manufactured goods overwhelm local industry, which can’t compete. For instance, Nigeria's minister of commerce and industry, Charles Ugwu, noted last October that the volume of trade between the two countries, outside of oil and gas, was in excess of $6 billion. The flooding of the market by cheaper Chinese goods has cut dramatically into Nigeria’s indigenous textile manufacturing industry. The Nigerian general secretary of the textile, tailoring and garment union, Issa Aremu said this has led to the closing of 65 textile mills and the laying off of a total of 150,000 textile workers over the past 10 years. Such figures have understandably caused protests and violence in some notably already unstable areas. They have also contributed toward a drop in popularity for Beijing and the need for China's first comprehensive country risk report - Sinosure. As Beijing trade has become a much more politically sensitive issue for the Nigerian government, the regime in Abuja has also fostered ties with Delhi, making it India's largest trading partner on the continent.
In Zimbabwe,
locals have coined a new term to describe the phenomenon of growing
Chinese imports. "'Zhing-zhong', means that something is
substandard," said Eldred Masunugure, the chairman of the
political science department at the University of Zimbabwe, Harare.
Protests
against the Chinese have not, however, just simply been peaceful
and/or resulted in the creation of new words. There has been a steady
progression toward more violent warnings against Chinese expansion.
Nigerian militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta (MEND) have warned Chinese companies to 'stay well clear'
of the Niger Delta or risk facing attacks. They have also claimed
responsibility for a car bomb attack near the port town of Warri,
stating that the blast was a "warning against Chinese expansion
in the region" and that "the Chinese government, by
investing in stolen crude, places its citizens in our line of fire."
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(39)
The real china
written by intelligent african , March 29, 2009
China wants africa's raw materials as cheaply as it can get them. I don't buy that altruistic rubbish for one second and any African that does deserves to be looted by the chinese. I definately believe that Chinese are extremely racist, lets face it, when have u heard of tolerent liberal chinese individual. i don't trust them, i fear them. I know the west, i understand the west. I have experienced the racisim first hand in chinese shops in africa, so i am not just pulling this stuff out of thin air. I predict the rise of china will be bad for Africa, very bad.
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US Aids
written by Lewinsky Clinton , March 04, 2009
US spends about 10 billion a month fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to subdue the local inhabitants. The rest of the US Aids are mainly for US arms for Israel and Eygpt, with the most advanced and lethal versions going to Israel.
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The scraps left for Africa will not help Africa to develop. However it must be recorded that the hated Bush did made some efforts to increase fundings to fight AID in Africa. report abuse
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SHAMEFUL THIEVES
written by Sadat , March 03, 2009
Why are the white people showing off other people's artifacts and antiques in their very museums eg British Museum?
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Don't these silly fools realise they are in fact showing off the past glory of mighty civilizations like the Chinese, Indian and Egyptians. And they? The ROBBERS ! The LOOTERS! Ha! Ha! Ha! report abuse
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Tanzanian
written by Aniweta , March 02, 2009
We welcome the Chinese. They came to us when we were poor in the 60s. They built the railway for us (for nothing but out of compassion & friendship) when none in the wealthy West would raise a finger to help us. Western aid always come with STRINGS - endless. The white men are but hypocrites! Africans today are more discerning. Don't worry. We know what they are up to when the condemn and criticize China for assisting Africans. We know their evil intention.
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Curtains
written by Sarkodog , March 02, 2009
Now with the world is falling deeper into economic s**ts, the Sarkozy lackeys are busily erecting Iron curtain in Europe and Bamboo curtains in developing countries. These sorts of people are only interested in saving their own political skins, much less caring a hoot for the people of Africa.
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Who's the Benefactor
written by Ali Baba , March 02, 2009
Don't be hookwinked by the West phoney balooney stuff.
Votes: +2
They colonised others when the were weak. From Asia to Africa, theyshipped their raw materials out to their home countries for a song; made coolies and labourers of the natives. Today they want to lecture us on morality. They must be joking. Do you believe the West have become better people or only more crafty? They had to get their butts out of the colonies only when the natives staged armed rebellions against them and that scared the s**t out of them. Take China for instance. The Chinese invented gunpowder for fireworks. The West used it to force opium upon the poor Chinese people then for its tea, porcelain and silk which they had no intention to pay for in hard cash except through legimitate gun boat enforced drug trafficing then. When China was embroiled in a civil war they came and carved out territorial concessions for themselves. So is everything history? And please, let bygones be bygones. Are they a really civilised poepl and remorseful or are they still wearing masks? You guess - Look at the recent sale of Chinese bronze antiques being sold by the French despite the Chinese protests. These are not western creations - looted and robbed from the Chinese museum! They even burnt the museum after the looting. Now you understand why the Chinese refer to them as babarians and hypocrties. If they were remorseful and want atonement they would have returned all stolen CHINESE artifacts to their rightful owner but alas , , . Action speaks louder than words! They took Zimbabwe to task because white landlords exploiting the blacks there were affected by the new laws. Just observe and watch their actions and you will begin to understand the real intention of the West. report abuse
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China is glorious
written by Free thinker , March 02, 2009
Everybody who smart know China only works hard for doing good in the world.
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China helps everybody but glorious China is still criticised Westerners who know nothing of glorious China criticise but all are wrong. China have 5,000 of history and China is the future of the world. Everybody will be happy when waving Chinese red flags report abuse
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the comments are so funny
written by f leung , February 26, 2009
I thought this was a decent, interesting article. But the comments took it to a whole new level. Genius. It's like a soap opera of western bashers and China lovers... it is very very funny.
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True friends
written by Mugabe , February 25, 2009
So long the Chinese do not do a phony cigar job on Africans, Chinese aids are welcome to build infra-structures and improve living standards. In turn, Africa are able to sell the Chinese many natural resources they need.
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China has been in Africa for decades!
written by Milton , February 25, 2009
For those who have not read up China's involement in Africa, China was in Africa since the 1960s, when the West did not even show any interest.
Votes: +3
China sent doctors, acupuncturist and railway engineers to Africa. Many in Africa are grateful for China's assistance, when China was poor. In those times during the time of Mao, anyone selected to go to Africa had no choice. It is the nation's choice and decision to go to Africa to help in the building of railways, hospitals and other infrastructure. Individuals have to sacrifice their private lives, their family and friends for the harsh and strange environment in Africa. Now, that the West sees that China has created a lot of goodwill, they are concerned about having lost the opportunity. And, we now have some African nations playing one power against another, claiming exploitation. These are the ungrateful people and nations, who have forgotten the sacrifices that China and the Chinese have made to contribute to the little development in their countries, at a time when they were shun by the Western countries. report abuse
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Who
written by Lewinsky , February 23, 2009
He is a good man and don't do a cigar job. Just buy the US Treasury bonds.
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Western Perception
written by Mao , February 23, 2009
Westerners on full stomachs go around creating troubles for empty stomached especially those people in Africa, Asia and Latin America. China will always maintain its principles of non-interferences, mutual respect and help bros to develop.
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That is a good man, boys. report abuse
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Westerners, stop preaching to China and go mind your own business., Lowly rated comment [Show]
Bogus capitalism
written by Zheng He , February 21, 2009
Crony capitalism has brought the entire world to its knee. No thanks to America. Stop preaching for heaven sake!
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China does not prop up any governments, they just do business, Lowly rated comment [Show]
Eat your hearts out.
written by Simba , February 21, 2009
China is the timely Saviour for Africa development, being flush with cash, have the appropriate technologies for Africa and practises non-interference as core policy. Let the old Western colonialists eat their hearts out.
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jj: it is simple, you can criticise your own family, but not your neighbour
written by Ying , February 21, 2009
A western country can criticise itself, but it too gets into a frenzy when another country criticise it. Like when Venezuela criticises the USA. Similarly, the Chinese will feel it is OK to criticise its own country, but will get upset if another country comes along to poke its nose into China and start leveling criticism on it. It is like your own family. You can criticise and scold your spouse and children. But if your neighbour make comments about your children or spouse, you will get very upset. The western allies have been a unipolar power for a long time, and have gotten used to criticising everybody else, and getting away with it. But the world now is multi-polar in economic power, and the world needs to adjust to that new arrangement,and there will be a lot of uncomfortable moments during the transition. It will get better only when these multi-polar powers can view each other as friends rather than as enemies. The more intertwine their economies, the better, since it will discourage one single country from doing anything rash. Already the USA and China's economy are so intertwined that none of these two will dare do something rash and stupid, as it will eventually affect itself.
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jj: ty visiting some western based blogs, and you see what comments they have about Asians and Arabs
written by Lian , February 21, 2009
JJ , everybod in the world is a racist to some extent. Some of the comments in the western based blogs will make you puke, as they call the Chinese, Indians, Arabs, etc by all kind of names, and level all kinds of accusations at the Asians and Arabs. Asia Sentinel is accessed by a lot of Asians due to the kind of news it publishes. Therefore a lot of Chinese, both China Chinese and oversea Chinese access this site. How do you expect the Chinese to react when we get insulted, get lectured, and get talked down upon? And of course there are alotof Chinese responses, as there is abig population of Chinese accessing this site.
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when is everyone so defensive?
written by jj , February 21, 2009
Why is it that as soon as China takes a little bashing in the press out roll the crazy 'we love China, the West were so much worse' people? Yes the West were, we all know that, stop banging the drum. It doesn't give China the right to fund regimes it wants to be in power, and as for this aid (some of it has been extremely good) but other parts have been ill thought out ...Zim's tractors for example.
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Most of the comments below are ill thought out too and fall down a very stereotypical road which shows some people's lack of understanding about all the details. I mean seriously, America and the West get bashed in the press everyday, do you ever see their (and not mine before you accuse me) governments demanding an apology? Get a grip and stop being so defensive. report abuse
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Li Peng : China is a capitalist country. You are out of date.
written by Ronaldo , February 21, 2009
China started ditching communism after Deng got into power. Under Hu, capitalism is accelerated. True, China is still a dictatorship, but it has been gradually loosening up. It is not wise for China to do a big bang jump into full democracy, as it will very likely fall apart into at least 5 different countries like what happened to the Soviet Union. Of course the western countries would love to see that, and they keep prescribing that medicine. Look at what IMF prescribed to Asia in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, and look at what they are doing today...the direct opposite. Communism exist in only a few countries today, like Cuba, a a couple more, but it is essentially dead. As for authoritarian states, the worst kinds are found in Africa, followed by the middle eastern states. So it is hypocritical of the western states to yell sanctions against China, while keeping their mouths shut about the UAE. The west do not like the Chinese competition, but they need the Arab oil, hence their hypocritical behaviour. The western nations have a pathetic history in Africa. First they came to colonize Africa for the supply of slaves, minerals, diamonds, oil etc and to use Africa for their Safari sport to hunt wild life fo the fun of it. Then the west was distracted by the Soviets, by China, by Vietnam, by Korea, by the middle east, and Latin America. They had forgotten about Africa. China spotted an opportunity to get supplies of raw materials from Africa, and they went there, all purely commercial. The west then got upset that China beat them to it. Furthermore, the Chinese engineers and technicians were willing to work in the harsh conditions in Africa, hands on. Whereas western contractors would likely be seen sipping wine in the restaurants and pubs, and subcontract all their work to Indian and Pakistani subcontractors. The competition is good for Africa. Contrary to accusations about China colonizing Africa, Chinese workers normally keep to themselves in their workers' quarters and do not cause trouble to the locals.This is likely due to their language problems,as well as safety problems, as the Chinese are quite small sized, and make easy targets for local criminals. After the Chinese competition, the west shouldbrace itself for another competitor called India. The world is no longer unipolar, but multi-polar, so westerners should get used to it, and quickly.
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Watch out for China!
written by Li Peng , February 21, 2009
Do not believe in what the communist state said but look at what it is doing!
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Beneath the benevolent look is the deep desire to conquer and colonize the world. Stop the spead of communism and dictatorship around the world! report abuse
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Shape
written by Ronaldo , February 20, 2009
Ha Ha ,the guard of honour looks flabby, and sports a big tummy and a pair of breasts.
Votes: -1
Which means that the statements that nobody came to visit Africa,until China came, is probably true. The guards of honour have been sitting idle for a long time with no visitors to "guard". Anyway, I agree that Africa needs to treat China well. China is one of only a few countries left who has the money to lend to you. If the Hillary comes knocking on your door, you better go hiding. Because she is here to borrow money, and if you got no money tolend her, she may not mind to borrow some diamonds, some oil or bannas ! And maybe she will sell you a couple of banks that will then go bust after you have acquired tha banks. Or maybe she will buy your African oil and pay you with worthless paper called treasury bills, which suddenly may become toilet paper when you try to convert those paper to cash. report abuse
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China doesnot have a history of colonizing,unlike the west
written by Mugambo , February 20, 2009
China had many opportuities to colonize many countries, but it never did. Their fleets traveled all the way to SEA, the ME, and Africa, but it did not colonize any country. I suspect Mr Anonymous must be a westerner, who when talking about Nazis and colonsts, really should point the accusing finger at the west and not at China. China's size grew when they were actually conquered by other countries. The Mongols came to conquer China, and Mongolia became part of China. The Manchus came to conquer China, and Manchuria became part of China. And talking about colonies, the French still maintain colonies in the Caribbean, and the British still are holding on to the Falklands. The west accuse China of propping up unpopular regimes. Actually China never have any active programs to prop up the regimes. It actually does NOT interfere,although it does trade with thoose regimes. The west have a much worse history of ACTIVE propping up of unpopular regimes. It propped up the Shah of Iran; it propped up Saddam Hussein of Iraq so that they could use Saddam to fight the Khoumeini govt of Iran; it propped up a whole bunch of Latin American unpopular govt, a whole bunch of African govt, and also a whole bunch of middle eastern unpopular govt. So when you talk about propping up unpopular and cruel regimes, the west should look in the mirror first. The westerners neglected Africa, treated us as sub-humans, and then suddenly get into a frenzy when they see China at our gates. They start to panic when Africa start signing contracts with China., and African businesses start setting up operations in China They start to panic when African students pop up in Chinese universities. True, the Chinese goods start appearing in our shops.But China did not force us to buy their goods. African bought Chinese goods on a voluntary basis. They did not point their guns at our heads to buy the goods. They did not come to annex our land to mine the oil and diamonds. They paid for it with hard cash.
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Middle Easterners.
written by Mr. Anonymous , February 20, 2009
Seems to be quite a few Middle Eastern posts here dragging in the off-topic of the Iraq War.
Votes: +0
I don't think the West would be as alarmed by this if it was India, not China, that is the new competition to the West for buying African resources. China's lack of ethics helps to prop up governments like those in Sudan and Zimbabwe, which hurt their peoples. While China has the right to trade with whom it chooses, the West doesn't have to like it. The West is not angry that China is providing competition, but that China is supporting crimes against humanity. Countries, both in the West and the East, keep secrets, that is true. China is still deliberately underestimating just how much it is paying to rapidly increase its military power. The United States did not come to rob Iraq's oil. If we wanted more oil, annexing Canada or Mexico, or even Venezuela (all of which provide more oil to the United States than any Middle Eastern country) would have been far easier. The USA was trying to control Iraq's oil, however. Trying to prevent the Middle East from trying another oil embargo like they did in the 1970s, and trying to prevent Saddam Hussein and other Middle Eastern leaders from using oil money to finance Islamist terrorism. So, the United States goal was not to steal oil, but to make sure oil kept flowing and that the proceeds from the sale didn't go into financing a war against the United States. As for military bases, the United States is set to withdraw soon. The United States already has a bad in Kuwait. While a base in Iraq would be a bonus, any idiot could see that the Iraq War, even using the optimistic estimates, would cost more than the benefits to be gained from an American base in Iraq. A military base was not a major motive for going into Iraq. report abuse
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Africa would be wise to be cautious.
written by Mr. Anonymous , February 20, 2009
Just as Europe exploited and manipulated Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, China is, and probably will continue, exploiting and manipulating Africa in the twenty-first century.
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Africans need to wise up. Either remove your corrupt leaders from power and elect more responsible governments if you want to choose the democratic route, or remove your corrupt leaders from power and install a more responsible autocracy (like China's) in its place. Otherwise, you may find China, with more people than the entire continent of Africa, coming more and more to view Africa as a tempting location for 'New China'. Just wipe out those natives (Belgian Congo, Take Two?), and ship over hundreds of millions of Chinese colonists. Chinese posters, especially mainlanders, don't give that cr@p about Chinese not being racist. Overall, Chinese are far more racist toward blacks than are whites, in the twenty-first century. China is acting like Nazi Germany prior to World War II. They feel humiliated by their 'Century of Humiliation' at the hands of the West, while they simultaneously combine that with a racial superiority complex (Chinese are the greatest, most wonderful people on the face of the whole Earth... blah, blah, blah, blah). Just as Germans felt humiliated by the victors of World War I (particularly France and Britain) while considering themselves racially superior. Don't forget that the largest numbers of the Nazis victims were not those humiliators, the French and the British, but Slavs. If China goes Nazi, don't think because you're black, brown, yellow, or other non-white that you'll be safe. report abuse
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Shape.
written by Mr. Anonymous , February 20, 2009
Hu Jintao looks to be in better shape than the two honor guard behind him.
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We welcome China to Africa
written by Mugambo , February 20, 2009
China treat us with respect. They don't come to lecture us and talk down on us.
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We welcome them. report abuse
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Mohammad Abdullah: I agree with you...
written by Kassim Yusri , February 20, 2009
The USA came to rob Iraq's oil. The excuse they gave was a lot fo hogwash about WMD, regime change, democracy, etc. At the end of the day, all they really wanted as to control the oil supply, and to have a military base out in Iraq.
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Amelia Adams: Every Country keeps lots of secrets
written by Mohammad Abdullah , February 20, 2009
Most countries keep a lot of secrets. USA hides tons of stuff from public view, be it the Gitmo scandals, the rendition scandals, Abu Ghraib, etc. They put out a lot of spins, and sell them as the truth. (pretty much like Joe Hamilton always shouting "the truth the truth". ). Every military in the world hide their actual spending. The only difference is that some of these countries like the USA, are better in packaging their lies.This is an area where China has not caught up in the game. China is not as sophisticated in packaging their lies, and tend to do it in a crude way. Just as they have still not learnt to double-speak in a sugary way, like the western propaganda machine.
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Asia Sentinel's quality of articles are dropping.
written by Mohammad Abdullah , February 20, 2009
Asia Sentinel is on the downward slidein terms of quality of articles. And that, I deduce, is because of the drop in quality of their pool of writers.
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Joe Hamilton: Speak for yourself
written by Zento , February 20, 2009
China gets a lot of respect these days. Even Hillary Clinton has to kiss ass when she visits China.
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Asia Sentinel is not very Asian, seems more like a Western Sentinel
written by Zento , February 20, 2009
The name Asia Sentinel is not quite appropriate for this website, where there are so many western writers who write with,of course, very western perspective.And you cannot blame them, because they are afterall, well, westerners. So either Asia Sentinel have more Asian writers writng with Asian perspective, ot it should change the website's name to something more appropriate.
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Guess who owns most of the mines, kill most of the wild life in Africa?
written by Zambri Yusof , February 20, 2009
Western nations cause the most destruction to the African environment. They own and operate the biggest and most number of mining outfits,whether it is mining for oil,diamond, or minerals. They lay waste the most acreage of land. Westerners also poach and kill the most number of protected wild life, either for their fur or trophies, or just pure hunting sports. So, don't be so quick to judge the Asian countries just stepping foot into Africa. Look in the mirror first before you speak. Like Yang Yang pointed out, the west have not come to terms with Asian competition yet. They still think it is the good old days where the west has monopoly in economic and military power. China's entry into Africa is good for Africa. It breaks western monopoly. Now African customers will have to pay market rates for their goods, and get to import stuff at lower prices too. No more selling minerals to the west for a song,and buying western goods at exorbitant prices.
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Action Speaks Louder
written by Bruce Lee , February 20, 2009
What do you expect from Westerners like Bryony Taylor.
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What motive? What agenda? The days of the Opium War, concessions, unequal treaties, etc. are gone but a new game has started. Once upon a time only manufactured goods were exported from the West into the 3rd World at unequal terms of trade. The rich then became richer, the poor poorer. Raw materials from the 3rd World were literally sold off to the West for a song. Today, cheap manufactured products from China flood the 3rd World. 2 things result - (1) the standard of living across the 3rd World has been raised. (2) theWest can no longer cheat the 3rd World by selling its products at exorbitant prices; markets lost as well. Little wonder why people like Bryony Taylor bears a grudge against China. Btw, check out how much China, as a developing country, contributes to the UN as well as as the aid it generously give, without stings, to many non-resource rich 3rd World countries. Unprecedented! report abuse
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...
written by Banlas , February 20, 2009
Silly article. Not worth a gram of salt.
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political forecasting is conjecture isn't it?
written by Amelia Adams , February 20, 2009
I thought the article brought up some valid points, why have the big countries been skipped? Yang Yang is right the West have caused irrevocable damage in Africa, but that is not to say that China is any better, nor does the author say that. (The name gives it away on the fact that they are Western just as you are obviously Asian, and one may also suggest bias).
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When you have a government like China which is as secretive as it is, how else are political journalists suppose to write their articles and thoughts without conjecturing? That's what it is about isn't it? Or does C Fong use crystal globes? report abuse
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Chinese leaders are using the methods of the Nazis !
written by Joe Hamilton , February 20, 2009
As long as the leaders of China use Nazi methods to control their country and interets, no one from China can expect getting any respect from anyone .
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Persecution, torture, rape and murder in your Police-State cannot be excused by the wrongdoings of others. Hu Jintao is rsponsible, like Hitler was and it is his orders that are being followed ! The similarities between the regime of the Nazis and that of China are shocking and must be condemned ! I am sure that a lot of people will not like what I am saying and will take up an opposite position. But the truth is the truth...!!! report abuse
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Western tale looking for negative angle on China
written by Yang Yang , February 20, 2009
This article is written by another of those westerners looking for anything negative about China. The west need to look in the mirror on what they have done in China. Their western oil companies have raped the land of Africa ( including Nigeria ) and cause irreversible damage to the environment. Since the writer chose to talk about Nigeria, that would be a good example of western Big Oil's rape of the environment. And the writer chose to talk about slave. Well guess who were the ones that enslaved Africans. For centuries, the westerners regarded the Africans as nothing better than apes, to be treated with disdain. Suddenly when China starts laying the red carpets for the African nations, the westerners are startled by competition from China. The westerners thought they had a monopoly in Africa, but that is coming to an end. Now the westerners have to pay market price for African goods, and they have to treat the Africans as human beings, or risk being kicked out of Africa.
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When was the last time any US or European head of state gone on extended oficial visits to Africa? report abuse
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