China's Involvement in Africa

China has been increasingly active in Africa, securing access to critical minerals, energy, and other strategic resources. But these actions have led to anti-Chinese backlash in some African countries — a reaction, and a new scenario, that China has struggled to adapt to.

Key Analysis
Activists protesting Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe
RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP/Getty Images
Activists hold a banner protesting a Chinese arms shipment to Zimbabwe
China, Zimbabwe: Cutting Losses on an Arms Shipment
April 22, 2008 1638 GMT
Zimbabwe's neighbors are blocking a Chinese arms shipment from reaching Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's regime. The incident has given African states an opportunity to sanction Zimbabwe's government and to demonstrate to African populations that they are standing up to what locals see as China's imperialistic ambitions. But China is willing to recall the shipment rather than add another public relations challenge to its plate. [more]
Zambian mine workers
Zambia: Copper, the Chinese and Electoral Strategy
April 9, 2008 1655 GMT
Copper miners in Zambia are expected to accept a raise from the mine's Chinese owners. [more]
Chinese worker overseeing construction in Ethiopia
China: Looking for More African Energy
March 17, 2008 2215 GMT
China is attempting to garner a greater proportion of its oil imports from Africa in order to insulate itself from the geopolitical turmoil of the Middle East. [more]
ZTE Protesters
China, Libya: A Chinese Telecom's First Step into Africa
January 11, 2008 1434 GMT
Chinese telecommunications equipment company ZTE and Libya's telecom regulator are planning to build the first-ever WiMAX wireless commercial data network in Africa. [more]
Sudanese Justice and Equality Movement Fighters
Sudan: JEM Threats Against Chinese Interests
December 11, 2007 2050 GMT
The Sudanese rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on Dec. 11 claimed an attack on a Chinese-operated oil field [more]
Chinese President and Zambian President
China, Zambia: Banking Acquisition and Energy Interests
November 28, 2007 2049 GMT
A Zambian official confirmed Nov. 28 that Standard Bank's Zambia unit wants to finance two years' worth of the country's oil imports to supply diesel for use in copper production. [more]
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