FOCAC: RETOOLING THE AFRICA-CHINA RELATIONSHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The international systems of the twenty-first century are being adjusted to accommodate new stark realities. One such reality is the assertiveness of those countries spearheading the efforts to replace the vestigial bipolarity of the Cold War period with multipolarity. Those countries are demanding enhanced inclusivity in the running of the systems. One such country is China. China is using different strategies to align its foreign policy with the roles it is poised to play in the twenty-first century. For example, it has established the Confucius Institute (its own language and culture institute), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Belt and Road Initiative, China International Development Cooperation Agency, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS (in partnership with Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa). Specifically for Africa, it has established the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)---the platform it is using to coordinate its policy towards the continent. Established in 2000, this ‘Africa + 1’ forum has enabled China to firm its presence on the continent. For example, it now has diplomatic ties with all African countries, except Eswatini. Furthermore, it has become the continent’s largest bilateral trading partner. FOCAC is a win-win mechanism in that while it has firmed China’s presence in Africa, it has widened Africa’s access to Chinese aid. The article, sourced with qualitative data, concludes that China’s dwindling capacity for interest-free and low-interest loans will concomitantly nibble away at Africa’s enthusiasm for FOCAC.