Que fait la Chine en Afrique ? (Mappemonde Ep. 2)
Summary
TLDRCe récit explore l'évolution des relations sino-africaines depuis la conférence de Bandung en 1955, marquant la solidarité entre pays du 'Tiers Monde'. Il met en lumière la transformation de la Chine en un partenaire économique majeur pour l'Afrique, surpassant les États-Unis avec un commerce excédant 143 milliards de dollars entre 1995 et 2017. Tout en reconnaissant les bénéfices mutuels, le document souligne les risques d'une dépendance économique et d'endettement croissant parmi les pays africains, à travers l'exemple de prêts chinois finançant d'importants projets d'infrastructure. Il questionne l'équilibre entre opportunités de développement et souveraineté, dans le contexte d'une nouvelle tentative de l'Afrique de forger son avenir loin de l'ombre coloniale, cette fois avec la Chine comme acteur clé.
Takeaways
- 🌍 La conférence de Bandung en 1955 a marqué le début de la coopération entre les pays d'Afrique et d'Asie, y compris la Chine, posant les bases de l'esprit de Bandung.
- 🤝 Depuis les années 60, la Chine a établi des relations diplomatiques avec de nouveaux États africains, soutenu des mouvements d'indépendance et proposé des projets d'infrastructures, comme la ligne de chemin de fer reliant la Zambie à la Tanzanie en 1965.
- 🗳️ En 1971, grâce notamment au soutien de 26 États africains, la République Populaire de Chine a été admise à l'ONU à la place de Taïwan, renforçant ainsi ses liens avec l'Afrique.
- 🌐 Entre 1971 et 2018, le nombre de pays africains reconnaissant Pékin plutôt que Taïwan est passé de 20 à 53, Burkina Faso étant le dernier en date en mai 2018.
- 📈 Les échanges commerciaux entre la Chine et l'Afrique ont explosé, passant de 3 milliards de dollars en 1995 à 143 milliards en 2017, faisant de la Chine le partenaire commercial numéro un du continent.
- 💰 La Chine a prêté 137 milliards de dollars aux pays africains entre 2005 et 2017 pour financer de grands projets d'infrastructure, comme le chemin de fer léger en Éthiopie et le nouveau train Nairobi-Mombasa au Kenya.
- 🏦 Ces investissements massifs ont cependant conduit à une augmentation préoccupante du niveau d'endettement dans certains pays africains, avec des risques de dépendance économique vis-à-vis de la Chine.
- 🌎 Les prêts chinois, souvent assortis de clauses de sécurité exigeant un remboursement en matières premières ou infrastructures en cas de défaut, visent à la fois des objectifs économiques et politiques, notamment l'extension de l'influence chinoise.
- 📚 À travers le soft power, notamment les Instituts Confucius et l'introduction de l'enseignement du mandarin, la Chine renforce sa présence culturelle et politique en Afrique.
- 🎖️ La construction de la première base militaire chinoise à l'étranger à Djibouti en 2017 signale une évolution de la stratégie chinoise en Afrique, s'alignant davantage sur les pratiques des autres grandes puissances.
Q & A
Quel événement a marqué la première rencontre des pays d'Afrique et d'Asie en 1955?
-La Conférence de Bandung en Indonésie en 1955.
Quels étaient les deux principaux messages véhiculés lors de la Conférence de Bandung?
-L'existence des pays du 'Tiers Monde' sur la scène internationale et la coopération entre ces pays pour un bénéfice mutuel.
Comment la Chine a-t-elle commencé à établir des relations avec l'Afrique dans les années 60?
-En établissant des relations diplomatiques avec de nouveaux États africains, en soutenant les mouvements d'indépendance et en proposant des projets d'infrastructure comme la ligne de chemin de fer reliant la Zambie à la Tanzanie en 1965.
Quelle a été la conséquence du vote de l'Assemblée Générale des Nations Unies en 1971 pour la représentation de la Chine?
-Beijing a été admis à l'ONU à la place de Taipei, grâce notamment aux votes de 26 États africains.
Quelle est la croissance du commerce entre la Chine et l'Afrique entre 1995 et 2017?
-Le commerce entre la Chine et l'Afrique est passé de 3 milliards de dollars à 143 milliards de dollars.
Quel est le montant total prêté par la Chine aux pays africains entre 2005 et 2017?
-137 milliards de dollars ont été prêtés par la Chine aux pays africains.
Quel est le principal risque associé à l'augmentation du niveau d'endettement de certains pays africains?
-Le risque est que ces pays ne soient plus en mesure de rembourser leur dette.
Pourquoi les prêts chinois sont-ils considérés comme essentiels pour l'Afrique?
-Ils sont adaptés aux besoins de certains pays africains et incluent non seulement des financements mais aussi l'expertise technique et parfois la main-d'œuvre.
Quelle est la stratégie de la Chine en cas de non-remboursement des prêts?
-La Chine peut exiger des clauses de sécurité qui permettent un remboursement sous forme de matières premières ou de prise de contrôle d'infrastructures.
Quel est l'objectif politique de la Chine avec ses prêts et investissements en Afrique?
-Créer un nouvel ordre mondial où la Chine serait la puissance hégémonique, en gagnant le soutien de nombreux pays africains et en influençant culturellement les populations.
Outlines
🌍 La Transformation des Relations Afrique-Chine
Ce segment trace l'évolution des relations entre l'Afrique et la Chine, débutant avec la conférence de Bandung en 1955, qui a marqué le premier rassemblement des pays d'Afrique et d'Asie pour affirmer leur présence sur la scène internationale et promouvoir la coopération Sud-Sud. Il souligne le soutien de la Chine aux mouvements d'indépendance africains et son besoin d'alliés pendant la période de reconnaissance à l'ONU, ce qui a abouti à une préférence pour Pékin au détriment de Taipei. Le récit met en lumière le changement significatif dans les relations sino-africaines depuis Bandung, marqué par une augmentation exponentielle du commerce et une influence chinoise croissante en Afrique, reflétant un partenariat qui évolue loin de l'ancienne dépendance vis-à-vis de l'Occident.
💰 Les Enjeux Financiers et Infrastructurels de la Présence Chinoise en Afrique
Cette partie explore la dimension financière de l'engagement chinois en Afrique, caractérisée par d'importants prêts pour le financement de projets d'infrastructure majeurs. Avec 137 milliards de dollars prêtés entre 2005 et 2017, la Chine se positionne comme un acteur majeur du développement infrastructurel sur le continent, mais cela soulève des préoccupations quant à la dette croissante de certains pays africains. Les prêts chinois, offrant à la fois le financement et les services de construction, répondent aux besoins critiques d'infrastructure tout en présentant un risque de dépendance commerciale. L'exemple de Sri Lanka est cité pour illustrer les conséquences potentielles de cette dette.
🌐 Objectifs Politiques et Culturels de la Chine en Afrique
Cette section met en avant les objectifs politiques de la Chine en Afrique, notamment dans le cadre de la création d'un nouvel ordre mondial avec la Chine comme puissance hégémonique. L'accent est mis sur l'utilisation du « soft power », avec l'exemple des Instituts Confucius et de la diffusion culturelle chinoise, notamment au Kenya. L'ouverture du premier bureau de la télévision nationale chinoise en Afrique et l'introduction de l'enseignement du mandarin dans les écoles kenyanes témoignent de cette stratégie culturelle. Parallèlement, la construction de la première base militaire chinoise à Djibouti révèle une dimension plus stratégique et militaire de l'engagement chinois en Afrique, marquant une similitude avec les actions des autres puissances mondiales sur le continent.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Bandung
💡décolonisation
💡Chine-Afrique
💡infrastructures
💡endettement
💡Nouvelles Routes de la Soie
💡soft power
💡dépendance commerciale
💡prêts
💡influence géopolitique
Highlights
Continent's transition from Western enslavement to looking towards the East for partnership.
Bandung Conference of 1955 marks the first major Asian-African meeting, laying the foundation for Third World solidarity.
China's early support for African decolonization and infrastructure aid, like the Zambia-Tanzania railway in 1965.
China's diplomatic success at the UN in 1971, gaining recognition over Taiwan with significant African support.
Sharp increase in African nations recognizing Beijing over Taiwan, influenced by diplomatic and financial pressures.
Rising economic ties, with China-Africa trade jumping from $3 billion in 1995 to $143 billion in 2017.
China's major lending to Africa for infrastructure, reaching $137 billion between 2005 and 2017.
Concerns over African countries' rising debt levels, with some reaching over 100% of GDP.
China's 'win-win' approach in Africa, balancing economic gains with significant infrastructure development.
Chinese loans' adaptability to African needs, offering 'all-in-one' packages of funding, expertise, and labor.
China's strategic use of loan security clauses, allowing repayment in raw materials or infrastructure control.
China's global ambitions under Xi Jinping, aiming for a new world order with Chinese hegemony.
Spread of Chinese soft power in Africa through Confucius Institutes and cultural influence.
China's increasing military presence in Africa, exemplified by the establishment of its first foreign base in Djibouti.
China's non-colonial approach in Africa contrasted with its growing political agenda on the continent.
Transcripts
It's the story of a continent
that has long been enslaved and exploited by the West.
Where the old railway was built by force and violence,
And which now has chosen to look to the East.
The new railway is built by consent and partnership
both between ourselves and China.
60 years after the beginning of African decolonisation,
a new Chinese order reigns in Africa.
The question is:
can the story work better this time?
First of all, let's go back to 1955, in Bandung, Indonesia.
It was here that 29 countries from Africa and Asia met for the first time.
One of them was China,
whose Communist Party proclaimed the People's Republic in 1949
but also Libya,
Ethiopia,
Liberia,
Soudan,
Somalia
and the Gold Coast, now Ghana.
All of them have lived through colonisation in one way or another,
and in Bandung, they came to say two things.
First,
the existence of "Third World" countries on the international scene,
as opposed to the two major blocs, Western and Soviet.
Second,
cooperation between these "Third World" countries for mutual benefit.
That Bandung spirit,
China was going to implement it on a particular continent,
Africa.
In the '60s,
while decolonisation was underway on the African continent,
it established diplomatic relations with new African nations,
supported independence movements in others,
and even offered a railway line
to link Zambia to Tanzania
in 1965.
But this generosity was not totally selfless.
It was actually the result of a problem:
China desperately needed allies.
Let's look at that.
You see, even today, there are two China:
the Republic of China, which controlled the continent until 1949,
but now only administers the island of Taiwan,
and the People's Republic of China, which has controlled the continent since 1949.
Of course, both of them claim to be the real China.
And that's not possible.
Therefore, in 1971,
the United Nations General Assembly had to vote
to decide which of the two would officially represent China at the UN.
And despite the efforts of the United States, Taiwan's close allies,
Beijing was finally admitted in place of Taipei
thanks, among other things, to the votes of 26 African states.
But its campaign did not end there.
Between 1971 and 2018,
the number of African countries recognising Beijing rather than Taiwan
increased from 20 to 53.
The latest one, Burkina Faso,
finally gave in to diplomatic and financial pressure from Beijing
in May 2018.
Now, only one African country maintains relations with Taiwan,
Eswatini, the former Swaziland.
By the way,
this way of using African countries to get a positive vote at the UN,
is well known by France.
In the '60s,
this was how France was able to avoid UN sanctions
for the war in Algeria.
But let's get back to that Bandung spirit.
The idea is that China and Africa
must stick together against the West.
What's striking is that 60 years after the conference,
this speech has hardly changed.
China and Africa have always formed a community with an extraordinary destiny.
Our commun past,
our common struggles
have led us to forge a deep friendship.
The truth is, since Bandung,
relations between China and Africa have changed significantly.
China is now the world's second largest economy.
As a result,
between 1995 and 2017,
the amount of commercial trade between China and Africa
increased from $3 billion to $143 billion,
which for China is low, but for Africa much higher.
As early as 2009,
China became the continent's largest trading partner,
ahead of the United States.
In Angola, in 2017,
it even represented 40% of trade.
In some countries,
the threat of commercial dependence is therefore very real.
This, once again, is reminiscent of the time
when the presence was essentially Western.
For a few years now,
it is not these trade flows that have been questioned,
but the money the Chinese have poured into the continent.
Between 2005 and 2017,
137 billion dollars have been lent by China to African countries.
The goal
is to finance large infrastructure construction projects.
In Ethiopia, for example,
China has lent $575 million for the construction of a light rail in 2015.
In Kenya,
$3.7 billion was lent in 2017
for the construction of a new train from Nairobi to Mombasa.
There are hundreds of examples
like these,
and above all,
more and more.
In just a few years,
China has become one of the continent's largest creditors.
The problem is that the level of debt in some African countries
is steadily rising.
In Zimbabwe,
debt increased from 48% of GDP in 2013
to 82% in 2017.
And in Mozambique, over the same period,
it doubled to 102% of GDP.
In total, according to the World Bank,
in 2017, 27 African countries presented
a worrying increase in the level of their debt.
The risk is that these countries will no longer be able to repay,
which is not good for the future.
There are African countries that are, from that point of view, highly indebted
and for which we may have a number of concerns.
Can we keep lending them like this?
However, both Chinese and Africans alike remain convinced:
China-Africa is a win-win situation.
A particularly win-win relationship.
We both gain.
The important thing to understand
is that this relationship can be a win-win situation.
When China lends money,
it's of course not out of philanthropy.
On each of the loans it grants, it makes a profit through interest.
For China,
Africa is therefore an opportunity for its significant financing capacities.
And for Africa,
Chinese money is a rare opportunity
to meet its huge infrastructure needs,
and thus stimulate its growth and development.
Because, and perhaps that's the core of their relationship,
without China, Africa would be very poor today.
Again, that deserves an explanation.
There are basically two reasons
why Chinese loans are essential for Africa.
The first
is that they are particularly adapted to the needs of some African countries.
Unlike the World Bank, for example,
China has little regard for the political situations
of borrowing states.
And most importantly, these loans are a kind of "all-in-one" product.
When China lends, it not only brings money,
but it also comes with its construction companies,
its technical expertise,
and in some cases, its own workforce.
And the second reason,
is that apart from China,
money is becoming increasingly scarce in Africa.
Other backers simply do not have the capacity to lend as much as China,
and especially now, they refuse
for fear of never being repaid.
With all this, a question remains:
why does China accept this risk
when other countries refuse?
As always with China,
the answer is both economical and political.
Let's start with the economy.
To protect its financial investments,
China sometimes requires its debtors to sign so-called security clauses.
These are guarantees
that stipulate that in the event of non-repayment of the loan,
a kind of barter takes place instead.
Basically,
rather than repaying in cash,
debtors must repay in raw materials
or even directly in infrastructure.
This is what happened in Sri Lanka in 2015.
The island is part of the project launched in 2014 by Chinese President Xi Jinping,
the Silk Roads.
It's a phenomenal project to connect China to Europe,
while at the same time lending money to finance infrastructure on this road,
which is a lot like what China is doing in Africa.
In 2015,
China lent several billion dollars to Sri Lanka
for the construction of a huge port in the south of the island.
Except that Sri Lanka, drowned in debt, could no longer repay.
As an alternative to reimbursement,
Beijing then offered to take control of the port
for 99 years.
As a result,
China did not lose any money and became sovereign over a territory
bordering one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world
for a century.
But Chinese loans in Africa could have another more...
political objective.
Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012,
the scope of China's ambitions has been reaffirmed.
The objective now is the creation of a new world order
in which China will be the new hegemonic power.
We will create a community of common destinies for humanity,
and initiate the reform of the global governance system.
However, to accomplish this, just like to exclude Taiwan in 1971,
the support of as many African countries as possible is essential,
but not only.
Now, what China also wants is to win the hearts of Africans.
And to do this, it uses a familiar technique:
"soft power".
In the last few years,
Confucius Institutes,
cultural centers that also serve as Mandarin schools,
have multiplied on the continent.
There are now 54 of them,
almost the number of French cultural institutes in Africa.
But if there is one place where Chinese cultural influence
is particularly visible,
it is Kenya.
Chinese culture is becoming more and more visible in Africa,
especially in Kenya,
where, for example, in 2005, the first Confucius Institute was opened.
In addition, China's national television
has just opened its first-ever office in Africa, in Nairobi.
Also, the Kenyan government has just decided
that children who are 10 years old can now learn Mandarin
from 2020.
In this quest to conquer African hearts,
China sometimes borrows from some old American recipes.
Here,
this trailer with a lot of explosions,
it's Wolf Warrior 2,
one of the most popular Chinese films ever made.
It is the story of a Chinese soldier who comes to Africa's rescue
with his extraordinary abilities.
I promise,
I will bring your mom back.
But unlike the West,
China has no colonial past with Africa.
And it doesn't hesitate to use that.
Let me be clear,
the "New Silk Roads"
are an open platform
for cooperation.
They are not designed
to serve any political agenda.
In practice, however,
China's political agenda is increasingly visible.
In 2017,
it created the very first Chinese military base abroad,
in Djibouti.
It had sworn that it would never do it,
refusing to reproduce the Americans' actions.
However, in Djibouti, military bases are beginning to jostle.
There is an American base,
a French one,
an Italian one,
a Japanese one,
and perhaps soon an Indian one.
Being in Djibouti means being in the big league.
I'm next to the others, I do like the others.
At least in this respect,
China's attitude in Africa
is increasingly similar to that of the other major powers
in the continent's history.
Thank you for watching this second episode of the Mappemonde series
and especially for choosing the subject of this video.
More than 20,000 of you voted on the YouTube page
and it was this subject that won.
For the others, we hope to be able to process them quickly enough.
Anyway, we always read the comments,
so if you have any feedback or other ideas on topics,
don't hesitate.
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