Protecting Africa from the Chinese: U.S. Media Print Coverage of Sino-African Relations, 2002-2012

Authors

  • Lena Tan University of Otago

Keywords:

China, Africa, U.S., media images

Abstract

Burgeoning and increasingly important political and economic links between China and Africa have been accompanied by greater media attention on various aspects of this relationship and in particular, its benefits as well as problems for African states.  While there are references to the bias against China in much of the western media’s coverage of Sino-African relations in the scholarly literature analyzing this relationship, surprisingly little systematic work has been done to analyze and discuss this coverage.  In this paper, I seek to fill this gap in the literature by providing a qualitative analysis and discussion of the recurrent themes present in the coverage provided by four main U.S. broadsheets on Sino-African relations from 2002 to 2012.  Specifically, this paper argues that the following images and narratives dominate the coverage of Sino-African relations in these newspapers: (a) an opportunistic and merciless China that is out to exploit Africa, (b) an Africa that has no agency and must be protected from the Chinese, and (c) a West that has the sole ability and responsibility to protect Africa from the Chinese.

 

Author Biography

Lena Tan, University of Otago

Lecturer

Department of Politics

References

African Progress Panel, ‘Africa Progress Report 2012’, available from http://www.africaprogresspanel.org/en/publications/annual-reports/annual-report-2012/africa-progress-report-2012-documents/ [accessed 27 Augst 2013].

African Development Bank (AfDB), ‘African Development Report 2012: Towards Green Growth in Africa’, 2013, available from http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/African%20Development%20Report%202012.pdf [accessed 27 August 2013].

Alden, Chris, China in Africa, London: Zed Books, 2007.

Alden, Chris, ‘China in Africa’, Survival, v. 47, no.3, pp. 147-164, 2005.

Aning, K and D. Lecoutre, ‘China’s Ventures in Africa’, African Security Review, vol. 17, no.1, pp. 39-50, 2008

Brautigam, D ‘Chinese Development Aid in Africa: What, Where, Why, and How Much?’, in Jane Golley and Ligang Song (eds.), Rising China: Global Challenges and Opportunities, Canberra: Australia National University Press, pp 203-223, 2011.

Brautigam, D. ‘Close Encounters: Chinese Business Networks as Industrial Catalysts in Sub-Saharan African’, African Affairs, vol. 102, pp. 447-467, 2003.

Breslin, S. and Ian Taylor,‘Explaining the Rise of “Human Rights†in Analyses of Sino-African Relations,’ Review of African Political Economy, vol. 35, no. 115, pp. 59-71, 2008.

Brookes, P ‘Into Africa: China’s Grab for Influence and Oil’, March 26, 2007 [online] available, http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/bitstreams/12139.pdf [accessed 27 August 2013].

Broomfield, Emma V. ‘Perceptions of Danger: the China Threat Theory’, Journal of Contemporary China, vol. 12, no. 35, pp. 265-284, 2003

Campbell, H., ‘China in Africa: challenging US global hegemony’, Third World Quarterly, vol. 29, no.1, pp. 89-105, 2008.

Copson, R. ‘China branches out’, LA Times, 13 April 2006.

Dixon, R., ‘Africa holds attractions for China leaders’, LA Times, January 31 2007.

Dixon, R., ‘Africans lash out at Chinese Employers’, LA Times, 6 October, 2006.

Downs, Erica S., ‘The Fact and Fiction of Sino-African Energy Relations’, China Security, vol. 3, no.3, pp. 42-68, 2007.

Downs, Erica S., ‘Who’s Afraid of China’s Oil Companies’, in Carlos Pascual and Jonathan Elkind (eds.), Energy Security: Economics, Politics, Strategy and Implications, Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2010.

El Gazzar, S., ‘China to lend Africa $10 billion’, Wall Street Journal, 9 November 2009.

Esteban, M. ‘A Silent Invasion? African Views on the Growing Chinese Presence in Africa’, African and Asian Studies, vol. 9, pp. 232-251, 2010.

French, H. (2005) ‘China wages classroom struggle to win friends in Africa’, New York Times, 20 November.

French, Howard W. ‘China in Africa: All Trade with No Political Baggage’, New York Times, 8 August 2004.

French, Howard W. and Lydia Polgreen, ‘Chinese Entrepreneurs in Africa Flourish where Others faltered, New York Times, 18 August 2007.

French, Howard W. and Lydia Polgreen, ‘China, filling a void, drills for riches in Chad’, New York Times, 13 August 2007.

Gerson, M., ‘China’s African Investments: Who Benefits?’, Washington Post, March 29 2011.

Goodman, P., ‘China invests heavily in Sudan’s oil industry’;‘Oil at any cost’, LA Times, 27 October 2006.

Goodman, P., ‘China invests heavily in Sudan’s oil industry; Beijing supplies arms used on villagers’, Washington Post, 23 December 2004.

Hagerty, James R. and Will Connors, ‘US Companies Race to Catch Up in Africa’, Wall Street Journal, 6 June 2011.

Hanson, S. ‘China, Africa, and Oil’, Washington Post, June 9 2008.

Hess, S. and Richard Aidoo, ‘Beyond the Rhetoric: Noninterference in China’s African Policy’, African and Asian Studies, vol. 9, pp. 356-383, 2010.

Holslag, J., ‘China and the Coups: Coping with Political Instability in Africa’, African Affairs, vol. 110, no.440, pp. 367-386, 2011.

International Energy Agency (2011), ‘Overseas Investments by Chinese National Oil Companies’.

Ismael, T.,‘The People's Republic of China and Africa, The Journal of Modern African Studies , vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 507-529, 1971.

Johnston, A.,‘How New and Assertive is China’s New Assertiveness?’, International Security, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 7-48, 2013.

Jopson, B. and Jamil Anderlini,‘China pledges $10 billion in low cost loans to Africa’, Washington Post, 9 November, 2009.

Kahn, J., ‘China courts Africa, Angling for Strategic Gains’, New York Times, 3 November 2006.

Kristof, N.,‘China and Sudan, Blood and Oil’, New York Times, 23 April 2006.

Kurlantzick, J.,‘China’s Charm Offensive’, LA Times, 23 June 2007.

LaFraniere, S. and John Grobler,‘China spreads aid in Africa, with a catch for recipients’, New York Times, 22 September 2009.

Lammers, E.‘How will the Beijing consensus benefit Africa?’,The Broker, 1 April 2007.

Le Pere, G. and Garth Shelton,‘Afro-Chinese Relations: An Evolving South-South Partnership’, South African Journal of International Affairs, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 33-53, 2006.

Lee, D. ‘China making big oil moves’, LA Times, 23 Jan 2006.

Lee, D, ‘China barrels ahead in oil market’, LA Times, 14 November 2004

Leggett, K., ‘Staking a Claim: China Flexes Economic Muscle throughout Burgeoning Africa‘, Wall Street Journal, 29 March 2005.

Liss, A. (2003) ‘Images of China in the American Print Media: a Survey from 2000 to 2002’, Journal of Contemporary China, vol. 12, no. 35, pp. 299-318, 2003.

Lumumba-Kasongo, T., ‘China-Africa Relations: A Neo-Imperialism or a Neo-Colonialism? A Reflection’, African and Asian Studies, vol. 10, no. 2/3, pp. 234-266, 2011.

Lyman, P., ‘China’s Involvement in Africa: A View from the U.S.’, South African Journal of International Affairs, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 129-138, 2006.

Mamdani, M., Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics and the War on Terror, NY, NY: Pantheon Books, 2009.

Mawdsley E., ‘Fu Manchu versus Dr Livingstone in the Dark Continent? Representing China, Africa and the West in British Broadsheet Newspapers’, Political Geography, vol. 27, no.5, pp. 509-529, 2008.

Maswana, J. ‘A Center-Periphery Perspective on Africa-China's Emerging Economic Links’, African and Asian Studies, vol. 8, pp. 67-88, 2009.

Mohan, G and Marcus Power (2008),‘New African Choices? The Politics of Chinese Engagement’, Review of African Political Economy, vol. 35, no. 115, pp. 23-42, 2008.

Montesquiou, A., ‘China builds up support in Algeria’, LA Times, 24 January 2010.

Nossiter, A., ‘Eager to Settle into China’s Embrace’, New York Times, 25 April 2010.

Nossiter, A., ‘Defying Pariah Status, Guinea Boasts of a Deal with a Chinese Company’, New York Times, 14 October 2009.

Oster, S.,‘Politics and Economics: Beijing Hosts Big Africa Summit as West Watches’, Wall Street Journal, 24 October 2006.

People Daily, ‘China’s Africa Policy’, January 2006, available http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200601/12/eng20060112_234894.html, [accessed on 27 August 2013]

Pierson, D., ‘China pledges more aid for Africa even after workers go missing’, LA Times, 30 January 2012.

Polgreen, L. and Howard W. French, ‘China’s Trade in Africa Carries a Price Tag’, New York Times, Aug 21 2007.

Renard, M., China’s Trade and FDI in Africa, Series No 126, Tunis, Tunisia: African Development Bank 2011, available from http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/Working%20126.pdf [accessed on 30 August 2013].

Sanger, D. ‘China’s rising need for oil is high on the U.S. Agenda’, New York Times, 19 April 2006.

Sautman, B. and Yan Hairong, ‘African Perspectives on China-Africa Links’, The China Quarterly, vol. 199, pp. 728-759, 2009.

Sautman, B. and Yan Hairong, ‘Friends and Interests: China's Distinctive Links with Africa,’ African Studies Review, vol. 50, no.3, pp. 75-114, 2007.

Snow, P., ‘China and Africa: consensus and camouflage’, in Thomas Robinson and David Shambaugh (eds.), Chinese Foreign Policy: Theory and Practice, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.

Taylor, I., ‘Sino-African Relations and the Problem of Human Rights,’ African Affairs, v. 107, no. 426, pp. 63-87, 2008.

Taylor, I., China and Africa: Engagement and Compromise, Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 2006.

Taylor, I., ‘China's foreign policy towards Africa in the 1990s’, The Journal of Modern African Studies, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 443-460, 1998.

Trofimov, Y., ‘New Management: In Africa, China’s expansion begins to stir resentment ‘, Wall Street Journal, 2 February, 2007

Vogt,H., ‘China’s influence on the rise in Africa’, Washington Post, 8 September 2008.

White, L. and Phil Alves, ‘China in Africa: A relationship of (un)equals in the Developing World’, South African Journal of International Affairs, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 55-62, 2006.

Wines, M., ‘China Pledges $10 billion in Loans to Africa’, New York Times, 9 November 2009.

Wines, M., ‘China’s influence in Africa arouses some resistance’, New York Times, 10 February 2007.

Yang, L., ‘Africa: A View from China’, South African Journal of International Affairs, vol. 13, no.1, pp. 23-32, 2006.

Yi, Edward and Xinsheng Liu, ‘The “China Threat†through the Lens of US Print Media: 1999-2006’, Journal of Contemporary China, vol. 21, no. 76, pp. 1-17, 2012.

UNCTAD, UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics 2012, available from http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/tdstat37_en.pdf [accessed 27 August 2013].

Downloads

Published

2014-04-15

How to Cite

Tan, L. (2014). Protecting Africa from the Chinese: U.S. Media Print Coverage of Sino-African Relations, 2002-2012. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Studies, 2(2). Retrieved from https://ajouronline.com/index.php/AJHSS/article/view/1125

Issue

Section

Articles