A Rising China Acts Irresponsibly And Is Detrimental To The World

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A Rising China Acts Irresponsibly and the Detrimental to the World

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A Rising China Acts Irresponsibly and is Detrimental to the World

Introduction

China is among the world’s rapidly growing economies with a growth rate approximately 10% in

the last 30 years since 2015. It is ranked as the largest exporter of goods as it leads in

manufacturing. Consequently, it is also among the largest importer of goods hence plays a

prominent role in the international trade. Due to its massive demand for manufactured goods, it

has looked up to Africa for its raw materials such as agricultural products, minerals, and

petroleum and in return, it offers vast amounts aids and loans. Therefore, this China /Africa

relation offers the Africa nations opportunities of development. Not only do Africa benefit but

also face adverse consequences from the interaction which are detrimental.

Climate change is a significant concern since China is one of the largest polluter of the

environment causing alarming effects to the world. Despite the efforts China has employed to

curb the climate change, the impacts remain detrimental to the world.

Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze China’s irresponsibly rising acts and the resulting

detrimental to the world. First, it will analyze the China/ Africa ties and its impact on sectors like

diplomacy and economy, as well as the problems and the opportunities that result from the

relations. The paper will then evaluate the contribution of China in global climate change.

China/ Africa Relations

Today in the whole of the African continent, the Chinese political and economic involvement is

probably the most significant development. China's outstanding growth and development offer a

chance to enhance development in the African continent. The African leaders are found of

welcoming the Chinese with open arms hence the continent has experienced rapid impact made

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by China. The China/ Africa relations date back to the 1950s when China signed an agreement to

enhance bilateral trade with various countries which are, Somalia, Algeria, Guinea, Sudan,

Egypt, and Morocco. It was known as the Sino-African relations which were later revitalized in

the 1990s as China aimed at globalizing its economy substantively (Dent, 2010). The Chinese

were against colonialism funding newly independent countries through the Sino-African relation

was meant to assist the developing countries in demonstrating solidarity. The Tanzam railway

project was funded by the Chinese with an interest-free loan (Song, 2015). Therefore with such

kind of relations, China went on to enjoy better ties with the African nations than the past

colonial powers. The relation has resulted in numerous consequences and despite the benefits the

continent has gained, there have been negative consequences faced by the African nations from

the interaction.

Positive consequences

Bilateral trade

In 1978, China became more open to the world and the Sino-African engagement was more

driven by commercial viability and less of the ideological interest. The dramatic rise of

industrialization and living standards increased consumption of raw materials and energy,

therefore, China depending more on imports of minerals and oil which part of it came from

Africa. By around 2008, the trade between African economies and China boomed to almost 10 %

of Africa's trade. With the help of the Chinese banks such as the China-Africa Development

Fund (CADF) have promoted trade and investment in Africa with the provision of financial

services. These investments highly contribute to African growth and development in various

sectors as China diversifies its trillions of external assets (Schiere, 2011). The trade Africa and

China increased from 2% to 5% between 2000 and 2012

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The African states have been receiving loans and grants which have led to the growth of their

economy. The establishment of the “Forum on Chin-Africa Cooperation” (FOCAC) strengthened

the relations with African head of states attending the ministerial meeting held in 2000 in

Beijing, a dialogue between the African nations and the PRC. The FOCAC forum in 2009, China

assured of providing $10 billion concessional loans to Africa with the aim of supporting Africa's

efforts to addressing global warming, achieving development objectives and overcoming

challenges in areas of epidemic ailments, energy, and food security. This relation has led to

closer ties in this 21

century. Around 800 Chinese corporations which are private companies in

Africa invests in banking sectors, energy, and infrastructure. Thousands of jobs in among the

nations have been created as a result of this Chinese companies. The relations are characterized

by imports and exports where China benefits from raw materials such as mineral ores,

agricultural products, and petroleum in exchange for manufactured goods and infrastructure

buildings. From the year 2008 to 2012 China was Africa’s largest trading partner. The African

continent should take the advantage of the opportunities offered by China to intensify investment

and trade ties (Pigato, 2015).

The African continent supplies one-third of the China's oil mainly coming from Angola and

Nigeria. In the recent years, the Chinese companies have invested in the energy sector,

production, and exploration deal with these countries reaching to more than $2billion.

Agricultural products such as coffee, cocoa, and cotton are supplied in large quantities in China.

Africa reaps significant benefits from commodity revenues and also the manufactured exports

from China lower the price of industrial inputs and consumer goods. China establishment of

Special Economic Zones in Africa enhances export diversification. The zones are supposed to

attract export-oriented production and investments in infrastructure which could motivate local

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manufacturing sectors. Due to too much debt accumulation from loans to fund infrastructure, the

RPC once cancelled debts of about $10 billion and backed the loans with resources.

China ensures peacekeeping through military and diplomatic initiatives to resolve unrest in

African countries to protect its increased investment. The Darfur crisis in Sudan, it participated

in providing security although Chinese diplomacy prohibits interference with internal affairs of

other nations. China offers training camps for the military for some African countries to promote

efforts to combat terrorist radicalism. Through the building of the new headquarters of the

African Union in Addis Ababa by the Chinese increased the political ties. It was through Africa

that China entered the United Nations in 1971.

Negative consequences

An Unbalanced Exchange

China's flourishing investment and trade relations with Africa does not satisfy or benefit all

countries equally. The heavily dominated nations with raw materials which contribute the

highest percentage of exports to China do not receive an equivalent amount of imports. The

relationship is unbalanced as china overlooks Africa to be of less importance than other trading

partners such as Asia which accounts for approximately 50 % of Chinese trade compared to less

than 5% for Africa. Due to domestic constraints such as lack of skilled labor, and inadequate

infrastructure limit the African exports. In the commodity sector, Africa faces substantial

competition since China has various sources for raw materials including from, Commonwealth

Independent States, Australia, and Latin America. China has failed to reach the levels as the

traditional donors, the United States and the European Union in terms of aid and investment.

Low- quality products flooding in Africa

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The African economies are harmed by the low-quality Chinese made end products which

threaten the local businesses and industries as they lose the market for their products. It leads to

adverse effects to trickle-down effects of the economy with many of the Africans losing their

jobs (Harneit, 2010).

Neocolonialism

The anti-China sentiments are based on facts among the African countries claiming that China is

looking forward to making Africa its "second continent" due to its ability to lure every African

country into trading with them. China like the past colonial powers has offered to build

infrastructures such as roads and railways through aids, investments, and loans. The African

leaders sign agreements to acquire billions of dollars allow China to obtain exclusive rights

which leave their countries with massive debts as the Chinese exploit the raw materials for their

industries. The growing Chinese population of about one million shows the level of exploitation

of the African nations. China happens to support the African dictators since they are the only

means to ensure their fortunes in Africa. It is seen to wreck the efforts of building democracy in

African countries such as Ethiopia. The Chinese firms which have led to the closure of local

business due to completion, happen to import consumer goods without duties hence cost jobs and

income for Africa.

Protest

The Chinese involvement in Africa has caused populism and an anti-Chinese fervour in various

communities across Africa where the Chinese have been accused of competing with African

development efforts in terms of labor and financial capital. The protest is also caused by

displacement of communities from their homes by the Chinese investors which happened in

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Sudan (Askori, 2007). Lack of contracts and reduced payments have lead Africans to looting

Chinese companies.

China and Climate Global Change

According to scientific evidence, global warming is caused by human-induced emission for

carbon dioxide (CO2). The burning of fossil fuels tied to human activities attributes to

approximately 2/3 of CO2 released into the air causing climate change. More than any other

point in human history emissions of CO2 from human activities are the highest, contributing to

global warming. The emissions happen to be 150 times more in recent years than it was in the

1850s. Some few years ago China's per capita emissions of greenhouses gases were quite low

and since the 1850s to 2000 it had only emitted 8 percent of the global emissions. Since 2006

China has become the largest emitter of CO2 more than all the western countries combined

accounting to about 20 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions. It is due to the rapid growth and

development of the Chinese economy which increasingly deteriorates the environment. Urban

central heating (UCH) exerts pressure on energy, economy and environment, and coal as the

primary source of the UCH in China (Wang, 2011). Over the whole industrial period since the

century, it has contributed up to 10% (Li, Bengang et al, 2016). It is estimated that China

will contribute to about 27% of the global emissions due to the over-dependence of fossil fuels

for electricity production and steel. The United States and India are second and third emitters

respectively. The three countries are the largest producer and consumer of coal which is the main

contributor of emission of CO2. The over-reliance of the coal and lack of pollution control

policies in the manufacturing of goods are the main contributors to China high emissions. The

vast demand for manufactured goods causes adverse environmental problems producing aerosols

in the atmosphere which have been the leading cause of Beijing smog. Therefore China is

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accountable for the disproportionate vast amounts of the aerosol particles emitted globally,

resulting in a strong cooling effect. As the western countries get rid of sulfates in order to

improve air quality, China's emissions of the aerosols are always on the rise consisting of 28%

sulfates. The rain and temperature patterns are changed by the minuscule particles produced by

burning oil or coal. The emitted gases from China spread to other regions, and the pollution leads

to undesirable climate effects. The western countries have come up with constant criticism

attacking China for the irresponsible act of failing to reduce the CO2 emissions which is

detrimental to the global climate.

However, according to China’s stance, it has acknowledged its position as the key contributor to

the global warming and will act responsibly in adopting global efforts to combat climate change.

China ratified both the Kyoto Protocol in 1992 and 2002 and the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which advocates for climate policies valuing

traditional, local and indigenous knowledge. Under the Protocol China as a developing nation is

subjected to no limit in emission. The UNFCCC is the central component enhancing governance

of the global climate where the established procedures of decision-making, rules, institutions,

norms, and networks have promoted cooperative action through funds development for climate

actions (Ford, 2016). The ratification efficiently made the stance regarding climate change more

active with the Chinese government in 2009, announcing its target of slashing carbon emission

by 40-45% by around 2020 from 2006 levels (Lo, A, 2010). Therefore through mitigation, China

is conducting programs that emphasise on self-inspection and voluntary services in its climate

change policy.

China has adopted series of measures and policies to counter climate change through its

development sustainable strategy. It has formulated China's National Climate Change Program

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(CNCCP), outlining specific objectives, basic principles and the guidelines for addressing

climate change. The CNCCP discusses the adverse impact of climate change on the Republic

People of China. It has also enforced severe efforts to combat climate change such as improving

energy efficiency and restructuring economy. The use of non-fossil as the primary energy

consumption by 2020 and providence of subsidies to new energy by 2009. Controlling of

population growth as it enhances forest management through afforestation and avoidance of

deforestation. Finally strengthening of laws and regulations, improving mechanisms and

institutions, raising public awareness and promoting climate change research (China, 2007).

China has shown great efforts in curbing the global climate change and to decrease the climate

change, and it will be useful if China joins treaties with other major emitters like the United

States. Through such conventions in 2007, it carried out ecological preservation and energy

conservation through the National Climate Change Program and National Leading Small Group

to Address Climate Change. China also targeted to reduce the consumption of energy per GDP

unit by 20% and to reduce the emission of CO

by 950 mt by 2010 (Wiener, 2007).

The National Development Reform Commission has established a national plan to underpin

China's strategies on climate change. The plan outlines the framework which includes

safeguarding measures, tasks, and targets to address climate change in the RPC (Nachmany et

al., 2014).

Conclusion

China is a populous country with a rapidly growing economy which depends on other regions

specifically Africa for raw materials. Therefore, as it gains the raw materials, it exports

manufactured goods to Africa hence developing economic and political ties. Majority of the

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African countries have rapidly expanded their economies from the interactions with China.

Although China has made a significant impact on African countries, it has been accused of

exploiting the natural resources of Africa something which has been termed as neo-colonialism.

The relation between Africa and China has been burdened with more challenges as the Chinese

investments have faced rejections from African communities because of the competition which

leads to closure of the local business. The African nations may have benefited but have been left

bleeding from vast amounts of debts owed to China.

China is the largest manufacturer and exporter of goods to other countries, as well as the largest

contributor to climate change. Over the recent years, China is suggested to have surpassed the

United States as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases leading to global climate change. The

over-reliance of the fossil fuels has been the leading contributor to the CO2 in the atmosphere

which later spreads to other regions. Moreover, China accepts its stance and adopts measures and

principles to enhance climate change policy and even participates in global summits in

organizations like the UN, where together with other nations sign treaties to reduce emissions of

CO2.

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Bibliography

Askouri, A., 2007. China’s investment in Sudan: displacing villages and destroying

communities. African perspectives on China in Africa, pp.71-86.

China, I., 2007. China's National Climate Change Programme. People’s Republic of China:

National Development and Reform Commission.

Dent, C.M. ed., 2010. China and Africa development relations. Routledge.

Ford, J., Maillet, M., Pouliot, V., Meredith, T., Cavanaugh, A. and IHACC Research Team,

2016. Adaptation and indigenous peoples in the United Nations framework convention on

climate change. Climatic Change, 139(3-4), pp.429-443.

Harneit-Sievers, A., Marks, S., and Naidu, S. eds., 2010. Chinese and African perspectives on

China in Africa. Fahamu/Pambazuka.

Li, B., Gasser, T., Ciais, P., Piao, S., Tao, S., Balkanski, Y., Hauglustaine, D., Boisier, J.P.,

Chen, Z., Huang, M. and Li, L.Z., 2016. The contribution of China’s emissions to global

climate forcing. Nature, 531(7594), p.357.

Lo, A., 2010. China’s response to climate change.

Nachmany, M., Fankhauser, S., Townshend, T., Collins, M., Landesman, T., Matthews, A.,

Pavese, C., Rietig, K., Schleifer, P. and Setzer, J., 2014. The GLOBE climate legislation

study: a review of climate change legislation in 66 countries.

Pigato, M. and Tang, W., 2015. China and Africa: Expanding economic ties in an evolving

global context. Washington: World Bank.

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Schiere, R., 2011. China and Africa: An Emerging Partnership for Development?–an overview

of issues (No. 125, p. 17). Working Paper.

Song, W., 2015. Seeking new allies in Africa: China’s policy towards Africa during the Cold

War as reflected in the construction of the Tanzania–Zambia railway. Journal of Modern

Chinese History, 9(1), pp.46-65.

Wang, L., Chen, X., Wang, L., Sun, S., Tong, L., Yue, X., Yin, S. and Zheng, L., 2011.

Contribution from urban heating to China’s 2020 goal of emission reduction.

Wiener, J.B., 2007. Climate change policy and policy change in China. UCLA L. Rev., 55,

p.1805.

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