China builds its African empire while the 'anti-colonialist' Left looks the other way (minimum wage, cost)

[nightflight]

Imagine what would happen if America barged its way into a developing country, buttered up its homicidal dictator and agreed a back-of-the-envelope deal in which he signed over his nation’s mineral wealth in return for roads, railways and sports stadiums. Everyone would benefit, no?
No. The problem is that the infrastructure turns out to be worth a hell of a lot less than the minerals. Fortunately, Washington has had the foresight to top up the dictator’s Swiss bank account. Problem solved! As for the mining operation, the Americans really don’t want to be bothered by minimum wages or trade unions. They’re banned. And no complaints from the workforce, please, because no one wants a repeat of that “misunderstanding” in which an American mine supervisor opened fire on stroppy employees.
If the United States embarked on this sort of colonial experiment, it would produce a furious “Occupy Grosvenor Square” camp outside the US embassy and a withering play by Sir David Hare at the National. But since these things are actually being done not by America but by the People’s Republic of China across the entire African continent, the “anti-colonialist” Left just yawns.

China builds its African empire while the 'anti-colonialist' Left looks the other way – Telegraph Blogs

[Huckleberry3911948]

china is gaining enormous influence and power in the world all done w/o the cost of warfare.

[nightflight]

And China doesn't have the "collective guilt" thing the West indulges in.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

china is gaining enormous influence and power in the world all done w/o the cost of warfare.

Which is what the US used to do before the US took on the role that the British Empire previously held.

[noexcuseforignorance]

Originally Posted by nightflight

China builds its African empire while the 'anti-colonialist' Left looks the other way – Telegraph Blogs

Seriously? you can't come up with your own opinion? You have to post that of someone else? Sad.

[sacramento916]

Originally Posted by nightflight

China builds its African empire while the 'anti-colonialist' Left looks the other way – Telegraph Blogs

America already does all that, except it just doesn't build any infrastructure and instead gives all the money to the dictators.

[MIKEETC]

Originally Posted by nightflight

China builds its African empire while the 'anti-colonialist' Left looks the other way – Telegraph Blogs

We couldn't afford to do anything about it anyway.

[rimmerama]

China is planning ahead (decades ahead). Our politicians just decided it was too much trouble to reduce the increase of our deficit by 1 trillion dollars over 10 years.

[Hot_Handz]

real sobering stuff

[GlockUnderMyKilt]

It could go one of two ways. China's investment could have the positive effect of building productive capacity in Africa, thus making it more competitive globally. Or, China could repatriate all of the value created by its investment, eventually driving Africans to nationalisation.

Either way, I think China has more cause for concern in the long run than Africa. Either it's going do the same thing that America did - create the next LCC that'll eat its lunch, or it's going to get greedy enough to drive Africans to foreclose on China's investment.