China's expansive foreign policy

Question 1

What are China’s two foreign policies to develop infrastructure?

Answer 1

• Investment in Africa
• The ‘belt and road’ initiative

Question 2

What is China’s role in Africa?

Answer 2

To extract a range of raw materials, including energy resources, minerals and precious metals, to support industrial expansion in China.
E.g. investment in copper mines in Zambia

Question 3

How will China ensure a secure flow of materials to coastal ports?

Answer 3

Developing infrastructure

Question 4

How will China gain political support and stability?

Answer 4

By investing in poorer African countries to develop housing, healthcare and education

Question 5

What was China’s joint project with Ethiopia?

Answer 5

To build the Grand Renaissance Dam to provide HEP

Question 6

What was China’s investment in Kenya?

Answer 6

Development of the port of Mombasa in Kenya with a $14 billion road and a bridge link to Nairobi and on to South Sudan’s oil fields.

Question 7

What was China’s investment involving the Benguela railway?

Answer 7

Modernisation of the Benguela railway linking the Democratic Republic of Congo’s resources (cobalt and copper) to the Angolan port of Lobito by the Chinese Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC)

Question 8

What did the Chinese construct in Luanda, Angola?

Answer 8

A new international airport

Question 9

What is the Belt and Road Initiative? (BRI)

Answer 9

A project that involves building a netwrok of overland road, rail and pipeline corridors and maritime roads through ports and shipping lanes

Question 10

What is the purpose of the BRI?

Answer 10

To boost trade and and stimulate economic growth across Asia and beyond, into Europe and Africa.

Question 11

How much is the BRI project expected to cost?

Answer 11

$1 trillion +

Question 12

How many countries does the BRI involve construction in?

Answer 12

60+ countries

Question 13

What is the BRI sometimes described as?

Answer 13

The Modern Silk road

Question 14

What is the China - Pakistan Corridor?

Answer 14

A shared $46 billion project between the two countries to build a highway of roads, railways and pipelines from China to the port of Gwadar on the Arabian sea.

Question 15

What does the China - Pakistan Corridor do?

Answer 15

It gives China more direct access to imported commodities from Africa and also oil from Iran, whilst also bypassing the shipping lane choke point of the straight of Malacca.

Question 16

What is a notable feature of the BRI involving Europe and Asia?

Answer 16

A rail and road corridor into Europe that crosses central Asian countries and should help these landlocked economies to develop with improvised access to markets for their products.

Question 17

The Chinese have made a statement that has raised a number of geopolitical concerns. What was it?

Answer 17

They state that they are taking responsibility for improving international co-operation and that the trade generated may kick start a new era of globalisation.

Question 18

How will this be a form of economic imperialism?

Answer 18

This gives China too much leverage over smaller poorer countries.

Question 19

China will use its foreign exchange to finance many of the projects - what will they expect in return?

Answer 19

Input and repayment from countries it is investing in. Some countries - central Asia - will not be able to afford to repay.

Question 20

Why as part of the BRI - is China claiming sovereignty of the South China Sea.

Answer 20

It is believed energy supplies lie beneath the sea.

Question 21

How has sovereignty of the South China Sea been determined?

Answer 21

Based on a map drawn with a ‘nine dash line’ that encircles the reefs and atolls, such as the Spratly Islands that China lays claims to.

Question 22

Which other countries have territorial rights in the South China Sea and what other rights do they have?

Answer 22

Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam - fishing rights.

Question 23

What group are Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam members of ?

Answer 23

ASEAN

Question 24

What is the other impact of China’s increased commercial presence?

Answer 24

It is likely to lead to an increased military presence.