week 9

Question 1

To Problem of Supplying Arms to Africa

Answer 1

Undermines development – taking away resources that could be used for much-needed development areas – education, health, agriculture
Destructive – life, destroys arable land
Puts arms in populations that shouldn’t have them – e.g child soldiers
Prolongs conflicts that could take a shorter time to resolve
Deprives the continent of resources
Slows the development in affected areas
Creates refugees instead of citizens building their communities
Destroys the cultural heritage

Question 2

Arms Sales are not Neutral

Answer 2

the non-interference policy of Chinese diplomacy puts Chinese arms exporters in a bind
* China needs profits and needs to protect its overseas interests!
* China will sell to one side, the ruling party to maintain the authoritarian stance!
* China does not follow set policies in transparency and sale of arms.
* Trans shipment controls are weak and unclear
* There are also middle men involved make it difficult to monitor

Question 3

Background to China’s Arms Status

Answer 3

Post Mao, Beijing’s arms exports focused on more commercial, profit-driven interests
● Following the end of the Cold War, and the poor performance of Chinese arms in the Iran- Iraq War and first Gulf War, reputation of Chinese-made weapons fell, so their industry suffered a decline
○ Russian, Ukranian and Belarusian weapons outcompete them
○ Beijing’s global arms exports dropped dramatically, couldn’t construct state of the art weapons systems
● Hence, Chinese weapons manufacturers have to compete in the market on the basis of price…relatively poor countries in the developing world are their main customers
○ Unable to compete at the top end of the market, Chinese arms producers have exploited a niche in the market

Question 4

China’s Arms Manufacturing at Home

Answer 4

70 percent of China’s SOE (state-owned enterprise) functioning at a loss; many are subsidized
* The state-owned arms industries are among the biggest losers
* 1993 – 2000, defense industry run at a loss, still running at loss
* Arms manufacturers owed lots of money – may never recoup!
* Meanwhile many employees dependent on the company for health care, housing, pensions etc
* China’s 5 old centrally directed corporation were replaced by 10 defense
-industrial enterprises

Question 5

China is focused on profits

Answer 5

Iran-Iraq war presented China occasion to develop reputation in cheap arms manufacture.
* Chinese arms producers have exploited this
niche
* The poorest and those who are denied by Western countries turn to China:
* ”China has no principles, only interests, driving its arms sales to the Third Word.”
Samuel Kim
* Lack of transparency in China arms industry makes analysis difficult

Question 6

Sudan Arms Conflict

Answer 6

Khartoum used currency generated by Chinese investment in Sudanese oil fields to finance conflict in the southern part of the country
China, the largest shareholder in the Great Nile consortium is the key player in Sudan’s arms trade
* China Player in the Sudanese civil war and the crisis in Darfur
* Sudan built 3 weapon factories to stop the rebellion
* The Sudanese Air Force equipped with $100 million Shenyang fighter planes, 12 supersonic F-7 jets

Question 7

Equatorial Guinea Conflict

Answer 7

Chinese specialists in heavy military equipment working with the local army despite the fact that the country has no heavy weaponry…assumption that Chinese arms exporters want to introduce such weaponry to Guinea in exchange for oil concessions or hard currency

Question 7

Zimbabwe Arms Conflict

Answer 7

China provided arms and security equipment for Mugabe’s regime to use against the people.
– In 2000 Chinese small arms were exchanged for eight ton of ivory
– In 2004 Mugabe sold US $1 million ivory for thousands of Chinese AK-47 rifles “in preparation for next elections” Sunday Times July 9, 2004

Question 8

Ethiopia and Eritrea conflict

Answer 8

between 1998 and 2000, the two were edging toward war. Chinese corporations sold nearly $1 billion in weapons to both (war claimed as many as 100,000 lives)

Question 9

DRC conflict

Answer 9

In 1997, furnished Laurent Kabila with arms and may have been supplying Kinshasa with weapons, frequently through Zimbabwean middlemen.
* Even in countries not torn apart by war, Chinese arms manufacturers have been accused of reckless arms sales and not being in control of their distribution

Question 9

Tanzania conflict

Answer 9

Chinese ship carrying 152 tons of ammunition and light weapons refused permission to unload; the cargo was destined for the Tutsi-dominated army
of Burundi.

Question 10

2018 FOCAC and China-Africa Defense & Security Forum

Answer 10

The main goal was to address and manage challenges to peace and security on the continent
– The conference was held in Beijing and 53 countries attended
– Continued strengthening ties and renewed pledge of billions of dollars in Chinese loans, grants
and investment
– Furthering its ambitions to be increase global influence
–Pledges to commit both sides to more intelligance sharing

Question 11

Running an annual anti-corruption course that aims to train 100 African officials by 2021

Answer 11

– Combat illegal ivory imports that China banned earlier in the year
– 100 million dollar commitment
– 25 million for military

Question 12

Blue Helmets and Bases

Answer 12

– Increasing Chinese presence in the African security sector
– Growing participation in UN peacekeeping operation
– Chinese peacekeepers serve in infantry and
policing

Question 13

Beijing is now the second-largest contributor to peacekeeping

Answer 13

– China has been serving mission in Africa for decades but on a small scale
– In 2013 they now serve more personnel than any
other permanent member of the security council

Question 14

Beijing set up the UN peace and Development Trust Fund allocating 11 million dollars for UN projects

Answer 14

AU initiatives to silence guns
– People liberation army
– 800-member standby force with the UN
– Training 2000 foreign peacekeepers
– Chinese production company launched a series called “Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion” showing the lives of Chinese blue helmets in Africa

Question 15

China has a direct defense and security cooperation with African counterparts

Answer 15

Having joint exercises, naval patrols, and exchanges
 Visiting other countries and working together

Question 15

Controversial Issues

Answer 15

PLA has a 36-hectare facility that has a ten-year lease at 20 million dollars annually
 Enables the PLA to project force and protect Chinese citizens
 Support base for Navel anti-piracy operation
 Peacekeeping in the south and humanitarian efforts

Question 16

In February 2018 China built a 30 million-dollar trainer center for the Tanzania military

Answer 16

More military activities mean more weapons sales
 China became the top supplier of arms to sub-Saharan Africa

Question 16

The first China and Africa defense and security forum happened in 2018

Answer 16

Brought the AU and 49 African states to discuss regional security and military cooperation
 Similar to FOCAC the purpose is to build personal connections with market Chinese hardware and position China as a supportive partner

Question 17

China banned ivory import but requires enforcement

Answer 17

FOCAC has a three-year plan under Interpol to combat the activities.
 These programs also promote weapons sales, having an influential role in sales of small arms, lights weapons and ammunition

Question 18

Drivers of Chinese engagement

Answer 18

Multiple reason for China growing security role
– supply and demand
– welling capacity of its military-industrial base
– Affordable arms
– Noninterference in matters such as government and human rights
– China needs to protect its own
– The present aims to showcase China as a major power, rebalance global governance, and give a greater voice to developing countries
A million Chinese live and work in Africa
the BRI is being supported by security related programs

Question 19

Will Chinese Aid Improve African Stability

Answer 19

China’s economic and political influence could deepen debt, enriching elites, widening disparities in forestry corruption, and stiff dissent
– Although Beijing is offering security sector cooperation that might help African states impose order and change at the cost of progress on accountable governance and human rights
– The new China International Development Cooperation Agency
– Could alleviate the challenges of security implications

Question 20

Author’s Opinon

Answer 20

China should be transparent with all actors involved
widen transparency to the African government, the Un, and the AU it should be with governments, civil society, and the media
strengthening African security forces in particular repressive and authorial regions will not make African peace

Question 21

China’s Controversial Weapons Trading

Answer 21

– China’s weapons trading with questionable regimes, especially in Africa, has drawn criticism from Western countries and human rights advocates.
– China’s weapon alliances with the governments of Iran, Myanmar, and Nepal have raised concern.
– Some experts warn that simplistic condemnations of China can be counterproductive

Question 22

The “Ship of Shame” case study

Answer 22

– The article focuses on geopolitical tensions surrounding a 2008 shipment of Chinese weapons to Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe during controversial elections and state repression
– The shipment was initially blocked by South African dock workers, spurring debates

Question 23

Ineffective arms embargoes

Answer 23

– The case highlights the failure of arms embargoes and the difficulty of controlling weapon flows even in high-profile cases.
– It shows the need for stronger international action against weapons proliferation in Africa

Question 24

Ambiguity of “resistance” and “shaming”

Answer 24

– The article argues China’s critics should call for broader disarmament rather than narrowly targeting China.
– It also shows the ambiguity around concepts like “global shaming” and “geopolitical resistance,” which have become important but polarizing tools in international affairs

Question 25

Understanding responsibility and moving beyond rhetoric

Answer 25

There is a need to move beyond rhetoric to address real-life consequences
– All actors should be challenged on ethical commitments to reduce militarization and conflict, not just China
– There must be a deeper understanding of complicity and responsibility in violence

Question 26

Robert Mugabe’s Regime

Answer 26

His policies led to the collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy through mismanagement, corruption, and
seizing white-owned commercial farms.
– Oversaw a catastrophic hyperinflation crisis, food
shortages, and a major cholera outbreak due to
crumbling infrastructure.
– Used rapae, torture, killings and “re-education” camps against political opponents during violent campaigns.
– Rigged elections repeatedly to maintain his grip on
power as his popularity plummeted
– Mugabe’s long authoritarian reign left Zimbabwe deeply impoverished and struggling with human rights abuses, repression of democracy, and economic ruin by the time he was forced from power

Question 27

Typologies of resistance and shaming

Answer 27

Different types of shaming can be identified based on activities exploiting symbolic legitimacy.
Three major types discussed:
* Arms embargoes
* Olympic protests
* Mining sector boycotts
Each type engenders different political risks and possibilities.

Question 27

China’s non-interfering alliance with Mugabe

Answer 27

China’s enduring support for Mugabe’s regime
* China has long-standing military ties with Zimbabwe dating back to the 1960s and support for Mugabe’s regime, widely criticized for human rights abuses
* China’s “non-interference” foreign policy is seen as enabling this alliance
– Zimbabwe runs a large trade deficit with China, but China gains tobacco, mining rights,
arms sales

Question 28

Arms embargoes as resistance

Answer 28

Grassroots movements in Africa demanded arms embargo against Zimbabwe, gathering 110,000 petition signatures.
* But some African politicians were skeptical, seeing embargoes as ineffective or antagonistic.
* US proposed UN sanctions including arms embargo, but faced resistance from Russia and China

Question 28

Cautions about “ethical” discourses

Answer 28

Scholars express caution about the imperialism inherent in any “ethical” discourse.
* Deterritorialization of responsibility can exculpate actors from blame.
* Absolute ethical theories are difficult; an “ethos of political criticism” is preferred

Question 29

China’s stance and deterritorialization of responsibility

Answer 29

China deflected criticism by noting it exports fewer arms than major powers like the US.
* But China exports to more conflict states, so choice of recipients is controversial.
* between 1989 and 2007 China exported to more ‘conflict-affected’ countries than to ‘non-conflict affected’ ones—28 of the former compared to 17 of the latter.
* China frames debate as “Africa versus Bush”, deterritorializing notions of responsibility

Question 30

Geopolitical hypocrisy?

Answer 30

Critics note US support for repressive regimes, military cooperation with Sudan.
* China and Russia condemn US “Star Wars” missile defense plans.
* US urged to “defy” Russia and China, seen as geopolitical hypocrisy by some

Question 31

Widening debate: Olympics and mining

Answer 31

Small arms embargo seen as important, as economic sanctions have issues.
* Some advocate Olympics boycott to link China’s complicities to consumerism.
* But critics see boycotts as hypocritical or “politicizing” the Games.
* China organizes protests against “politicization”, deflecting responsibility

Question 32

Western mining interests

Answer 32

British MPs have shares in companies operating in Zimbabwe, complicit in propping up regime.
* Withdrawing investments risks reducing revenues for public services, though this concern is mitigated in Zimbabwe.
* There are also risks, as in Sudan foreign companies replaced western ones, leading to less transparency.
* Linking mining boycotts to stopping violence has both ethical and pragmatic ambiguities.

Question 33

Towards a more critical geopolitics

Answer 33

Studying social movements contributes to critical geopolitics by investigating how they challenge state-centric notions of power.
* In the Zimbabwe case, resistance was flawed, with inappropriate comments undermining efforts

Question 34

Trivializing violence

Answer 34

A narrow focus on the arms shipment risks trivializing violence in Zimbabwe.
* Critics argue Western influences have been historically complicit in Mugabe’s regime and recent militarization.
* Israeli and other weapon transfers are also serious problems

Question 35

Need to move beyond “rogue” agents

Answer 35

Mugabe and China must be confronted, but so must broader complicities in violence.
* Critics of China should engage with more sensitive scholarship to be effective advocates.

Question 36

Russia and China veto UN sanctions

Answer 36

In July, Russia and China veto UN sanctions on Zimbabwe arms trade, accused of “standing with Mugabe”.
* Their refusal to condemn violence and governance issues enables Mugabe’s intransigence.
* If the opposition had influence, they would likely reexamine China’s ties.