AllGambian.net (Onalaska)
Bubacarr Ceesay
5 November 2006
opinion
As it turns out, it's what they call déjà vu altogether again. Africa is at the crossroads of a diplomatic battleground between competing powers for trade opportunities, as well as diplomatic leverage at the United Nations among other things. The outcome of this battle couldn't be more lucrative for many bankrupt governments across the continent.
In the end, many African governments will be laughing all the way to the bank. If only these funds will be utilized for the purpose of nation buildings to enhance the quality of living of the impoverished African people, and not the usual looting by the recursive supply of military turned civilian dictators and corrupt officials.
By dangling her seemingly vast wealth and wide array of resources before the eyes of salivating African leaders, China has now secured bilateral relations with all but five of the 53-member nations of the African Union. The Chinese are literally promising to pump in billions of dollars of aid packages to the 48 African countries they now see eye to eye in international relations.
As for what's left of Taiwan's bilateral relations on the continent, namely The Gambia, Swaziland, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Sao Tome and Principe, the battle for hearts and minds at the UN couldn't be more uphill. It would not be all too surprising to see Taiwan's relations further decimate by early next year with such gigantic packages dangling before African leaders. Who will choose French fries over a steak meal anyway? After all, international relations have always been about national interests.
In between, democracies will suffer right in the face of Uncle Sam's own mighty dollars, as neither wooers nor the wooed seem to have any concerns about minimum standard guiding principles in their newfound friendship.
But then, communist China should not be entirely blamed for demonstrating unwillingness to poke her nose in the internal affairs of partners like Dictator Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, or take a stand against the genocidal regime in Sudan. As is the general practice at the UN, China in an apparent show of solidarity with her protégé regime in Khartoum, recently abstained in a vote to send UN peacekeepers to Darfur,
On the other hand, Taiwan seem to careless about minimum standard guiding principles of democracy in their relations either, which is more of hypocritical, as the breakaway Island is claiming to champion democracy over communism, but at the same time turning a blind eye on that same principle elsewhere. At least we know where China stands, no surprises here. But which side does Taiwan belong?
This author has nothing against the good intentions of the people of Taiwan in extending a needed helping hand to the good people of Africa and elsewhere, but simply finds Taipei's diplomatic approach to be out of line with her stated desire for sovereignty and democracy at home. Taipei is loosing the diplomatic battle with China in part because of her failure to distinguish herself as an astute champion of democracy. Economically, there is simply no competition between the two.
On a final note, what is clear is that the ordinary African citizens, who are the intended beneficiaries of this generous gesture by the Chinese government, mostly have little or no say in how these funds will be utilized on their behalf. Let us hope that some of the African leaders will at least borrow a chapter or two from the Chinese success lesson as a rapidly developing nation as they wine and dine in Beijing with Chinese officials. Let us also hope that China's generous gift to the people of Africa will not find its way in private bank accounts of off the shores of the African continent. All we can do is just hope, and hope...
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