United States: China Lacks ' Morals' in Africa Leaked Cable Says
The United States believes that China has "no morals" in its dealings with Africa, according to an assessment in a leaked diplomatic cable. The cable quotes Johnnie Carson, the US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, describing China as a "pernicious economic competitor" whose investments prop up unsavoury regimes.
"China is a very aggressive and pernicious economic competitor with no morals. China is not in Africa for altruistic reasons," Carson said in a February meeting with oil executives in Nigeria. "China is in Africa for China primarily," he said, according to a confidential cable written by the US consul-general in Lagos earlier this year.
Chinese investment in Africa has exploded in recent years, reaching a total of $9.3 billion by the end of 2009. Chinese state media say that more than 1600 businesses are investing in Africa in a range of industries, from mining to manufacuring.
But Beijing has come in for major criticism over its support for some governments on the continent. Many African leaders have praised Beijing for not lecturing them about human rights, something which Carson recognises as a problem.
"The United States will continue to push democracy and capitalism while Chinese authoritarian capitalism is politically challenging," Carson said. Beijing pursues a "contrarian" approach by dealing with the "Mugabes and Bashirs of the world", he said, referring to the Zimbawean and Sudanese leaders respectively.
Carson said the US had "trip wires" in terms of China's presence in Africa. "Is China developing a blue-water navy? Have they signed military base agreements? Are they training armies? Have they developed intelligence operations?" he said.
"Once these areas start developing, then the United States will start worrying," he said, though noting for the time being, Washington did not perceive China as a "military, security or intelligence threat".
China has not commented on any of the contents of the diplomatic cables, which were made public last month by the WikiLeaks whistleblower website.
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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2...
"China is a very aggressive and pernicious economic competitor with no morals. China is not in Africa for altruistic reasons," Carson said in a February meeting with oil executives in Nigeria. "China is in Africa for China primarily," he said, according to a confidential cable written by the US consul-general in Lagos earlier this year.
Chinese investment in Africa has exploded in recent years, reaching a total of $9.3 billion by the end of 2009. Chinese state media say that more than 1600 businesses are investing in Africa in a range of industries, from mining to manufacuring.
But Beijing has come in for major criticism over its support for some governments on the continent. Many African leaders have praised Beijing for not lecturing them about human rights, something which Carson recognises as a problem.
"The United States will continue to push democracy and capitalism while Chinese authoritarian capitalism is politically challenging," Carson said. Beijing pursues a "contrarian" approach by dealing with the "Mugabes and Bashirs of the world", he said, referring to the Zimbawean and Sudanese leaders respectively.
Carson said the US had "trip wires" in terms of China's presence in Africa. "Is China developing a blue-water navy? Have they signed military base agreements? Are they training armies? Have they developed intelligence operations?" he said.
"Once these areas start developing, then the United States will start worrying," he said, though noting for the time being, Washington did not perceive China as a "military, security or intelligence threat".
China has not commented on any of the contents of the diplomatic cables, which were made public last month by the WikiLeaks whistleblower website.
Read More
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2...
' Morals'
Are these the ' Morals' of paganChristian Colonialism?
Are these the ' Morals' of imposing paganChristian boundaries on African Territory, where nations were formed for Colonialist frenchenglishportugese sovereignity?
And; Are these the ' Morals' of imposing 'democracy' on sovereignTribes; with different cultures and languages----against one another?
Please, China is a Culture of 5000+ years that respects the Zimbabwean and Sudani right to self determination. Of Course trade is older than any europeanNotion of 'capitalism'.
The Chinese should be commended for their Balanced trade policies.