African Perspectives on ChinaAfrica Links Forthcoming in China

African Perspectives on China-Africa Links Forthcoming in China Quarterly, Summer, 2009

① Destruction of African industry and exports ② Gratuitous use of home country labor; Poor health, safety and environmental standards ③ Racism among Chinese ④ Provision of arms and political support to the continent’s dictators and genocidaires.

Surveys: African’s Perception of China-Africa Links • Surveys by US polling groups among Africans • A survey by Cameroon researchers. • A survey of 2, 000+ university students and faculty in nine African countries and Tianjin, China.

Our Findings: Africans are ① Not nearly as negative about China and Chinese people as Western media portrays ② Mostly positive about China/Africa links ③ More positive about these links than about links with the US. The Main Influences • • Africans own national political struggles Western media influence in their countries.

Pew Global Attitudes Survey： 2007, More favorable views of China in Africa than in any other region. • Nigeria - favorable to China: 59% in 2006 75% in 2007 79% in 2008 • Five of the seven countries most positive about Chinese economic influence were African 2008, Sub-Saharan Africa most positive about China • 87% of Nigerians, 77% of Tanzanians and 53% of S. Africans positive about Chinese economic influence

Gallup Survey: 2006, Chad 2007, Sudan China US Franc Favorable to country 52% 50% 28% Favorable to peoples 51% 48% 25% Chin US Favorable 48% 26% Unfavorabl 26% 51% Chines America Favorable 51% 38% Unfavorabl 21% 40% Cameroons Research: • 70% disturbed by Chinese migration, but • 92% accept that China helps Cameroon’s economy • 81% say they welcome Chinese products

Survey of African Students and Faculty • Largely favorable to links with China; • Chinese policies in Africa as more beneficial than those of Western countries.

Table 1: For your country, is China's path of development Except in South Africa, majorities in all countries viewed China’s development as a positive model Table 1: For your country, is China's path of development Country a very positive model Somewhat positive Irrelevant negative don't know Count Botswana 16. 4% 39. 2% 15. 5% 9. 5% 19. 4% (232) Egypt 39. 3% 36. 7% 11. 7% 6. 6% 5. 6% (196) Ethiopia 33. 0% 52. 8% 4. 6% 6. 1% 3. 6% (197) Ghana 44. 4% 38. 8% 4. 8% 2. 0% 10. 0% (250) Kenya 36. 2% 47. 4% 5. 6% 4. 6% 6. 1% (196) Nigeria 34. 5% 40. 6% 6. 1% 3. 6% 15. 2% (197) 3. 0% 43. 7% 1. 5% 2. 0% 49. 7% (197) Sudan 44. 0% 40. 5% 4. 4% 6. 3% 4. 8% (252) Zambia 22. 0% 52. 9% 8. 4% 10. 5% 6. 3% (191) 30. 9% (589) 43. 3% (826 7. 0% (133) 5. 7% (108) 13. 2% (252) 100% (1908) South Africa Total % Total Count

Table 2: How much of China’s and Africa’s interests are in common Ethiopian, Sudanese, and Kenyan perceived China has most, many or some common interests with Africa. S. Africans, Batswana, and Egyptians were least enthusiastic. Half of Zambian respondents saw most, many or some common interests with China; those who saw few or none often cited a fear of China reducing its population by Table 2: How much of China’s and Africa’s interests are in common sending migrants to Africa and/ or cultural differences, mainly a Chinese habit of keeping to themselves Count Don't Most Many Some A Few No know Country Botswana 5. 9% 11. 4% 25. 5% 22. 7% 18. 2% 16. 4% (220) Egypt 10. 2% 17. 3% 20. 9% 31. 6% 13. 3% 6. 6% (196) Ethiopia 17. 3% 30. 5% 36. 5% 9. 1% 1. 5% 5. 1% (197) Ghana 1. 6% 11. 2% 41. 8% 26. 5% 6. 4% 12. 4% (249) Kenya 15. 7% 29. 9% 35. 5% 15. 7% 1. 5% (197) Nigeria 8. 1% 19. 8% 39. 6% 27. 4% 1. 5% 3. 6% (197) . 5% 1. 0% 29. 4% 28. 9% 22. 8% 17. 3% (197) Sudan 36. 9% 23. 8% 22. 6% 8. 7% . 8% 7. 1% (252) Zambia 4. 1% 14. 8% 32. 1% 32. 7% 10. 2% 6. 1% (196) 11. 6% (220) 17. 7% (336) 31. 5% (599) 22. 3% (424) 8. 3% (158) 8. 6% (164) 100% (1901) South Africa Total % Total Count

Table 3: China is just in Africa for natural resources Zambia and Sudan top the list in strongly agreeing or agreeing that China is only interested in Africa’s natural resources, followed by Ethiopia and Botswana. Responses from Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria are divided between agree, disagree and neutral/don’t know, but few S. Africans agree. Table 3: China is just in Africa for natural resources Country strongly agree Agree Neutral disagree strongly disagree don't know Count Botswana 24. 9% 16. 5% 27. 8% 19. 0% 5. 1% 6. 8% (237) Egypt 16. 8% 20. 8% 23. 4% 25. 4% 8. 1% 5. 6% (197) Ethiopia 16. 3% 29. 6% 19. 9% 23. 0% 4. 6% 6. 6% (196) Ghana 8. 8% 20. 8% 27. 2% 35. 2% 1. 6% 6. 4% (250) Kenya 16. 8% 16. 2% 24. 4% 33. 5% 6. 1% 3. 0% (197) Nigeria 6. 6% 23. 4% 27. 4% 26. 4% 8. 6% 7. 6% (197) South Africa 1. 0% 6. 6% 38. 1% 31. 5% 4. 1% 18. 8% (197) Sudan 21. 6% 29. 2% 19. 2% 23. 2% 4. 0% 2. 8% (250) Zambia 23. 5% 34. 2% 19. 9% 15. 3% 2. 6% 4. 6% (196) Total % Total Count 15. 3 % (294) 22. 0% (421) 25. 2% (483) 25. 9% (496) 4. 9% (93) 6. 8% (130) 100% (1917)

Table 4: For Africa, China’s policy of "non-interference“ In each country, more people strongly approve or approve of “non-interference” than strongly disapprove or disapprove. Table 4: For Africa, China’s policy of "non-interference" is Country a good policy basically good, but with some problems more harmful than good quite harmful don't know Count Botswana 22. 2% 34. 3% 18. 7% 9. 1% 15. 7% (230) Egypt 34. 4% 23. 6% 19. 5% 7. 2% 15. 4% (195) Ethiopia 14. 3% 50. 5% 16. 3% 11. 2% 7. 7% (196) Ghana 24. 0% 32. 8% 13. 6% 19. 2% 10. 4% (250) Kenya 31. 1% 35. 8% 16. 6% 12. 4% 4. 1% (193) Nigeria 17. 3% 31. 0% 14. 7% 12. 7% 24. 4% (197) South Africa 12. 2% 31. 0% 19. 8% 13. 2% 23. 9% (197) Sudan 43. 2% 33. 6% 8. 0% 4. 8% 10. 4% (250) Zambia 29. 6% 36. 2% 18. 9% 8. 2% 7. 1% (196) Total % Total Count 25. 7% (490) 34. 2% (652) 16. 0% (304) 10. 9% (208) 13. 1% (250) 100% (1904)

Table 5: My view of Chinese doing small business in my country is Most respondents viewed Chinese small business as providing help or problematic help to local economic development Table 5: My view of Chinese doing small business in my country is helps with the local economic development Helps, but is also a source of problems for local people Is not helpful to local economic development generally harms the interests of the local people 14. 9% 43. 8% 17. 9% 17. 4% 6. 0% (235) 24. 0% 26. 5% 21. 4% 17. 3% 10. 7% (196) Ethiopia 40. 2% 40. 7% 6. 2% 7. 7% 5. 2% (194) Ghana 45. 2% 40. 4% 8. 0% 3. 2% (250) Kenya 59. 7% 24. 5% 5. 6% 7. 1% 3. 1% (196) Nigeria 44. 7% 28. 4% 12. 2% 8. 1% 6. 6% (197) 24. 4% 51. 3% 6. 1% 5. 1% 13. 2% (197) Sudan 38. 7% 28. 4% 14. 0% 10. 7% 8. 2% (243) Zambia 13. 8% 51. 0% 18. 4% 15. 3% 1. 5% (196) Total % Total Count 34. 0% (647) 37. 2% (709) 12. 2% (233) 10. 2% (194) 6. 4% (121) 100% (1904) Country don't know Count Botswana Egypt South Africa

Table 6: China's policies in the continent In seven of the nine countries -- the exceptions are Botswana and Zambia -- more people view China’s policies in Africa as generally or somewhat beneficial than otherwise Table 6: China's policies in the continent are Country Generally beneficial somewhat beneficial both beneficial & harmful generall y harmful don't know Count Botswa na 10. 2% 23. 0% 35. 0% 11. 1% 20. 8% (226) Egypt 16. 8% 25. 5% 39. 8% 5. 6% 12. 2% (196) Ethiopi a 14. 3% 41. 8% 35. 7% 3. 6% 4. 6% (196) Ghana 14. 4% 31. 6% 26. 0% 1. 2% 26. 8% (250) Kenya 26. 0% 38. 0% 28. 1% 3. 1% 4. 7% (192) Nigeria 19. 9% 31. 1% 34. 2% 3. 1% 11. 7% (196) South Africa 6. 1% 36. 7% 29. 6% 5. 1% 22. 4% (196) Sudan 30. 4% 37. 5% 19. 0% 5. 1% 7. 9% (253) Zambia 12. 2% 23. 0% 50. 0% 9. 7% 5. 1% (196) 16. 9% (322) 32. 0% (609) 32. 5% (617) 5. 3% (100) 13. 3% (253) Total % Total Count 100% (1901)

Table 7: China's policies in Africa compared with Western policies In all countries, more people view China’s policies in Africa as much more or somewhat more beneficial than Western policies Table 7: China's policies in Africa compared with Western policies are Country Botswana much more beneficial to Africa somewhat more beneficial to Africa about the same somewhat more harmful to Africa much more harmful to Africa don’t know Count 12. 6% 26. 9% 18. 8% 9. 4% 7. 2% 25. 1% (223) Egypt 18. 1% 29. 0% 26. 9% 7. 8% 4. 7% 13. 5% (193) Ethiopia 24. 9% 40. 6% 14. 2% 6. 6% 4. 1% 9. 6% (197) Ghana 19. 6% 21. 2% 3. 2% . 4% 36. 0% (250) Kenya 22. 1% 36. 9% 22. 6% 9. 2% 2. 6% 6. 7% (195) Nigeria 15. 2% 23. 4% 17. 8% 6. 1% 7. 1% 30. 5% (197) South Africa 3. 1% 31. 6% 35. 2% 2. 6% . 0% 27. 6% (196) Sudan 46. 4% 34. 1% 6. 3% 4. 4% 3. 2% 5. 6% (252) Zambia 13. 8% 29. 7% 30. 3% 10. 8% 3. 1% 12. 3% (195) Total % Total Count 20. 2% (384) 30. 0% (569) 21. 0% (398) 6. 5% (124) 3. 5% (67) 18. 8% (356) 100% (1898)

Table 8: Satisfaction with Chinese companies that work on large projects in my country In all countries more people feel very satisfied or satisfied than dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with Chinese projects Table 8: Satisfaction with Chinese companies that work on large projects in my country very satisfied neutral Dissatisfied very dissatisfied 8. 1% 23. 0% 38. 3% 21. 6% 9. 0% (222) Egypt 17. 3% 34. 2% 31. 1% 9. 7% 7. 7% (196) Ethiopia 13. 0% 54. 4% 20. 7% 9. 3% 2. 6% (193) Ghana 8. 9% 53. 7% 32. 5% 4. 9% . 0% (246) Kenya 13. 3% 55. 6% 25. 5% 5. 1% . 5% (196) Nigeria 12. 2% 44. 4% 33. 2% 9. 2% 1. 0% (196) . 6% 19. 3% 79. 5% . 6% . 0% (176) Sudan 23. 1% 48. 6% 17. 1% 7. 2% 4. 0% (251) Zambia 8. 2% 34. 9% 16. 9% 5. 1% (195) 12. 0% (224) 41. 4% (775) 33. 8% (632) 9. 5% (177) 3. 4% (63) 100% (1871) Country Count Botswana South Africa Total % Total Count

Table 9: Adaption of Chinese to the local society, compared to Westerners all countries except Zambia had more respondents who perceive Chinese as much more or somewhat more adapted than Westerners to local societies Table 9: Adaption of Chinese to the local society, compared to Westerners Country Botswana Much more adapted somewhat more adapted same Somewhat less adapted much less adapted don't know Count 26. 9% 22. 0% 17. 0% 13. 9% 10. 3% 9. 9% (223) Egypt 41. 6% 30. 5% 13. 2% 2. 0% 3. 0% 9. 6% (197) Ethiopia 22. 4% 30. 6% 10. 7% 16. 8% 4. 6% 14. 8% (196) Ghana 13. 2% 27. 2% 22. 0% 14. 4% 11. 2% 12. 0% (250) Kenya 14. 3% 26. 5% 14. 3% 23. 5% 15. 3% 6. 1% (196) Nigeria 15. 7% 32. 0% 29. 4% 8. 6% 7. 6% 6. 6% (197) South Africa 34. 2% 15. 3% 38. 3% . 5% 1. 0% 10. 7% (196) Sudan 33. 1% 31. 9% 9. 6% 6. 4% 11. 6% 7. 6% (251) Zambia 14. 8% 19. 4% 9. 7% 22. 4% 26. 5% 7. 1% (196) Total % Total Count 24. 0% (457) 26. 3% (500) 18. 1% (344) 12. 0% (228) 10. 2% (194) 9. 4% (179) 100% (1902)

Table 10: What is your impression of the Chinese present in your country? Majorities in all countries are impressed by Chinese as hardworking Table 10: What is your impression of the Chinese present in your country? not discipli ned hardwork ing discipli ned friendl y Unfriendl y Raci st opportuni ty seeker Selfi sh not soc ial Botswan a 64. 1% 5. 4% 4. 0% 16. 6% 5. 4% 4. 0% . 4% (223) Egypt 61. 7% 15. 3% 17. 3% . 5% 2. 6% . 0% (196) Ethiopia 87. 2% 3. 1% 4. 6% 1. 0% 3. 1% . 0% (196) Kenya 70. 1% 6. 2% 13. 9% 6. 7% 2. 6% . 5% . 0% (194) Nigeria 77. 0% 8. 7% 8. 2% 2. 0% 3. 1% 1. 0% (196) South Africa 74. 0% 6. 6% 18. 9% . 0% . 5% . 0% (196) Sudan 72. 7% 20. 2% 4. 3% 1. 6% . 8% . 0% . 4% . 0% (253) Zambia 75. 4% 5. 3% 4. 8% 7. 5% 4. 3% 1. 1% 1. 6% . 0% (187) 72. 6% (1192) 9. 2% (151) 9. 3% (152) 4. 6% (75) 2. 4% (40) 1. 6% (26) . 2% (3) . 1% (1) 100% (1641) Country Total % Total Count

Table 11: What effect do you think China as a rising power will have on Africa? All nine countries have more people who think the rise of China as potentially very beneficial or beneficial to Africa than otherwise Table 11: What effect do you think China as a rising power will have on Africa? Country potentially very beneficial to Africa potentially somewhat beneficial to Africa of no relevance to Africa Potentially somewhat harmful to Africa Potentially very harmful to Africa don't know Count Botswana 11. 9% 34. 4% 14. 2% 9. 6% 8. 3% 21. 6% (218) Egypt 18. 1% 34. 7% 29. 5% 5. 7% 3. 6% 8. 3% (193) Ethiopia 23. 6% 41. 5% 11. 3% 7. 7% 3. 1% 12. 8% (195) Ghana 23. 2% 42. 4% 11. 6% 7. 2% 1. 6% 14. 0% (250) Kenya 27. 6% 48. 4% 12. 0% 6. 3% 1. 6% 4. 2% (192) Nigeria 19. 9% 29. 3% 19. 9% 9. 4% 2. 6% 18. 8% (191) South Africa 5. 6% 47. 4% 1. 5% 3. 6% 38. 3% (196) Sudan 35. 1% 41. 8% 9. 6% 3. 2% 4. 8% 5. 6% (251) Zambia 17. 7% 42. 7% 17. 7% 11. 5% 1. 6% 8. 9% (192) Total % Total Count 20. 7% (389) 40. 4% (758) 13. 9% (261) 7. 0% (132) 3. 5% (65) 14. 5% (273) 100% (1878)

Table 12: Some people say China practices neo-colonialism in Africa More people in Botswana, Zambia, and Egypt agree or strongly agree than disagree or strongly disagree that China practices neocolonialism in Africa. In six other countries, more disagree with this view. Table 12: Some people say China practices neo-colonialism in Africa Country Botswana strongly agree neutral disagree strongly disagree don't know Count 15. 1% 14. 2% 23. 6% 12. 0% 7. 6% 27. 6% (225) 11. 7% 22. 4% 31. 1% 23. 0% 3. 6% 8. 2% (196) Ethiopia 6. 2% 14. 4% 25. 8% 32. 5% 13. 4% 7. 7% (194) Ghana 2. 4% 10. 4% 28. 0% 35. 6% 6. 8% 16. 8% (250) Kenya 6. 2% 15. 5% 26. 9% 30. 6% 10. 9% 9. 8% (193) Nigeria 5. 1% 10. 8% 28. 7% 24. 6% 5. 1% 25. 6% (195) South Africa 2. 0% 4. 1% 42. 9% 29. 1% 8. 7% 13. 3% (196) Sudan 5. 2% 8. 7% 19. 4% 43. 7% 16. 7% 6. 3% (252) Zambia 16. 4% 25. 4% 26. 5% 19. 0% 5. 3% 7. 4% (189) Total % Total Count 7. 7% (145) 13. 7% (259) 27. 8% (525) 28. 3% (534) 8. 8% (167) 13. 8% (260) 100% (1890) Egypt

Table 13: Some people say increased Chinese migration would benefit Africa Note that the question is put in terms of increased Chinese migration; those who disagree with that may still be fine with current levels of Chinese migration Table 13: Some people say increased Chinese migration would benefit Africa Country Strongly agree Agree neutral disagree strongly disagree Count Botswana 7. 8% 9. 6% 33. 5% 25. 7% 23. 4% (218) 9. 7% 11. 7% 26. 5% 37. 2% 14. 8% (196) Ethiopia 12. 4% 26. 3% 33. 5% 22. 2% 5. 7% (194) Kenya 13. 0% 28. 0% 30. 6% 19. 7% 8. 8% (193) Nigeria 8. 6% 26. 9% 39. 6% 19. 3% 5. 6% (197) South Africa . 5% 13. 3% 69. 2% 13. 8% 3. 1% (195) Sudan 9. 1% 31. 0% 21. 8% 30. 2% 7. 9% (252) 8. 7% (126) 21. 2% (306) 35. 8% (517) 24. 3% (351) 10. 0% (145) 100% (1445) Egypt Total % Total Count

In 9 African Countries: • Variation mainly comes from country, not demographic differences • Most consistently positive: Sudan, Ghana, Ethiopia and Kenya • Most negative: Botswana and Zambia • In between: Nigeria, Egypt, and S. Africa. In Tianjin, China: • Slightly less positive

Zambia • Opposition Patriotic Front’s anti-Chinese campaign 2006 - • The University of Zambia as opposition stronghold • Zambian media heavily relies on Western media Botswana • Botswana National Front and Botswana Congress Party MPs single out Chinese • The University of Botswana faculty support for BNF • Newspapers in Botswana owned or managed by whites with UK & SA ties

Sudan • $8 billion Chinese investment in energy industry 100, 000 jobs in the energy sector 50% revenues to the Sudan government • Sale of arms by China criticized in Darfur, but not generally in Sudan • Less influence by Western media • No sustained critique of China by opposition

Conclusion • Western media representations of strong African resentment of China or Chinese not proved • More appreciation of China’s role in Africa than Western role • Future research: a wider range of countries and panel data with multiple dimensions over time • Knowing African perspectives now essential to understanding China’s place in the world.