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

Destruction of African industry and exports ‚Gratuitous use of home country labor; Poor health, safety and environmental standards ƒRacism among Chinese „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 Not nearly as negative about China and Chinese people as Western media portrays ‚Mostly positive about China/Africa links ƒMore 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 ChinaUSFranc Favorable to country52%50%28% Favorable to peoples51%48%25% ChinUS Favorable48%26% Unfavorabl26%51% ChinesAmerica Favorable51%38% Unfavorabl21%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 Country Table 1: For your country, is China's path of development a very positive model Somewhat positiveIrrelevantnegativedon't knowCount 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) South Africa 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) Total % Total Count 30.9% (589) 43.3% ( % (133) 5.7% (108) 13.2% (252) 100% (1908)

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 sending migrants to Africa and/ or cultural differences, mainly a Chinese habit of keeping to themselves Country Table 2: How much of China ’ s and Africa ’ s interests are in common MostManySomeA FewNoDon't know Count 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) South Africa.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) Total % Total Count 11.6% (220) 17.7% (336) 31.5% (599) 22.3% (424) 8.3% (158) 8.6% (164) 100% (1901)

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. Country Table 3: China is just in Africa for natural resources strongly agreeAgreeNeutraldisagree strongly disagreedon't knowCount 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. Country Table 4: For Africa, China ’ s policy of "non-interference" is a good policy basically good, but with some problems more harmful than goodquite harmful don't knowCount 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 Country 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 don't knowCount Botswana 14.9%43.8%17.9%17.4%6.0% (235) Egypt 24.0%26.5%21.4%17.3%10.7%(196) Ethiopia40.2%40.7%6.2%7.7%5.2%(194) Ghana45.2%40.4%8.0%3.2% (250) Kenya59.7%24.5%5.6%7.1%3.1%(196) Nigeria 44.7%28.4%12.2%8.1%6.6%(197) South Africa 24.4%51.3%6.1%5.1%13.2%(197) Sudan38.7%28.4%14.0%10.7%8.2%(243) Zambia13.8%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)

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 Country Table 6: China's policies in the continent are Generally beneficialsomewhat beneficial both beneficial & harmful generally harmfuldon't knowCount Botswana 10.2%23.0%35.0%11.1%20.8%(226) Egypt 16.8%25.5%39.8%5.6%12.2%(196) Ethiopia 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) Total % Total Count 16.9% (322) 32.0% (609) 32.5% (617) 5.3% (100) 13.3% (253) 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 Country Table 7: China's policies in Africa compared with Western policies are 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 knowCount Botswana 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) Ethiopia24.9%40.6%14.2%6.6%4.1%9.6%(197) Ghana 19.6% 21.2%3.2%.4%36.0%(250) Kenya22.1%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) Sudan46.4%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 Country Table 8: Satisfaction with Chinese companies that work on large projects in my country very satisfiedsatisfiedneutralDissatisfiedvery dissatisfiedCount Botswana 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) South Africa.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) Total % Total Count 12.0% (224) 41.4% (775) 33.8% (632) 9.5% (177) 3.4% (63) 100% (1871)

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 Country Table 9: Adaption of Chinese to the local society, compared to Westerners Much more adapted somewhat more adaptedsame Somewhat less adapted much less adapted don't knowCount Botswana 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) Sudan33.1%31.9%9.6%6.4%11.6%7.6% (251) Zambia14.8%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 Country Table 10: What is your impression of the Chinese present in your country? hardworkingdisciplinedfriendlyUnfriendlyRacist opportunity seekerSelfish not social not disciplined Count Botswana64.1%5.4%4.0%16.6%5.4%4.0%.0%.4% (223) Egypt61.7%15.3%17.3%.5%2.6%.0% (196) Ethiopia87.2%3.1%4.6%1.0% 3.1%.0% (196) Kenya70.1%6.2%13.9%6.7%2.6%.5%.0% (194) Nigeria77.0%8.7%8.2%2.0%3.1%1.0%.0% (196) South Africa74.0%6.6%18.9%.0%.5%.0% (196) Sudan72.7%20.2%4.3%1.6%.8%.0%.4%.0% (253) Zambia75.4%5.3%4.8%7.5%4.3%1.1%1.6%.0% (187) Total % Total Count 72.6% (1192) 9.2% (151) 9.3% (152) 4.6% (75) 2.4% (40) 1.6% (26).2% (3).1% (1).1% (1) 100% (1641)

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 Country Table 11: What effect do you think China as a rising power will have on Africa? 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 knowCount 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. Country Table 12: Some people say China practices neo-colonialism in Africa strongly agreeagreeneutraldisagreestrongly disagreedon't knowCount Botswana 15.1%14.2%23.6%12.0%7.6%27.6%(225) Egypt 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) Sudan5.2%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)

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 Country Table 13: Some people say increased Chinese migration would benefit Africa Strongly agreeAgreeneutraldisagreestrongly disagreeCount Botswana 7.8%9.6%33.5%25.7%23.4%(218) Egypt 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) Total % Total Count 8.7% (126) 21.2% (306) 35.8% (517) 24.3% (351) 10.0% (145) 100% (1445)

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 The University of Zambia as opposition stronghold Zambian media heavily relies on Western media 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 Botswana

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.