China_Trade_Patterns

Question 1

Two most important China’s foreign policies:

Answer 1

1) Investments in Africa
2) the “Belt and Road” Initiative

Question 2

What is China’s “clear objective” in Africa?

Answer 2

It has a clear objective to ** extract raw materials**
(energy resourcse, copper in Zambia, precious metals)

Question 3

Why would China invest heavily in the inland infrastructure in Africa and ports connectivity?

Answer 3

To ensure a secure transport of raw materials to the ports and then to China to process them [secondary sector]

Question 4

Give two examples of China’s infrastructural investments in Africa:

Answer 4

1. a joint project with Ethiopia to build the Grand
   Renaissance Dam to provide HEP
2. development of the port of Mombasa in Kenya with a
   $14 billion road and bridge link to Nairobi and on to
   South Sudan’s oil fields

Question 5

From the perspective of countries in Africa, give two negative aspects of Chinese investments :

Answer 5

a. Sending their own construction workers at expense of not training local workers (investments do not support employment)

b. **Buying up land **[less land for domestic food production]

Question 6

When was “The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” launched? By whom [name of the leader]?

Answer 6

In 2013’
By president Xi Jinping

Question 7

What is BRI? What is the difference between “belts” and “roads”? Describe the location of “belts” and “roads”:

Answer 7

a. The Belt and Road Initiative
b. The BRI is a project that involves building a
network of overland road, rail and pipeline corridors (the
‘belts’) and maritime routes through ports and shipping
lanes (the ‘roads’)

c. “Belts:) China- Kazakhstan-Russia-Belarus-UE
ii) China- Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey-UE

d. roads:) China-Singapore-India-Pakistan-Kenya- Suez Canal - UE

Question 8

Why is China trying to build a China-Pakistan Corridor, a connection to the Gwadar port in Pakistan?

Answer 8

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 Strait of Malacca ( Malaysia and Singapore - controled by the US)

Question 9

Why would Central Asia countires (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan) support China internationaly?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Comment on the following five geopolitical concerns connected with The Belt and Road Initiative
1. Economic imperialism
2. Debt
3. “nine-dash line”
4. ASEAN negotiations
5. military presence

Answer 10

● It is a form of economic imperialism that gives China
too much leverage over other countries, often those
that are smaller and poorer.
● Poorer countries, especially those in Central Asia, will not be able to afford to repay these debts.
● Part of the BRI includes China’s claim to sovereignty
of the South China Sea and the energy supplies
that are believed to lie beneath it. This is based on a
map drawn with a** ‘nine-dash line’** .
● The South China Sea is, by most definitions, in
international waters and so many other countries
including Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam
also have territorial claims as well as fishing rights.
These countries are all ASEAN members, but China
prefers to negotiate on an individual basis, which
restricts members’ ability to respond.
● China’s commercial presence is likely to lead to
expanded military presence.