BY YOSEF FREW MEKONNEN
While China is becoming a growing major power in the global politics, also major reaches of her hands is becoming visibly seen in the naturally rich and resourceful Africa with striking approaches like long term debt and fast and loose urbanizing contracts. Historically the unilateral connection with an explorative figure between the two emerged as northern African scholars travelled and stepped on the Asian world multiple centuries back. Though it might appear as it helps to take as those ages in setting the future light on their path, the naval fleet sailing in the eastern Africa coastal couple of decades after was a major geopolitical move back in the era.
The way that paved our historical connection for this nation seems like it is rewarding us back in a strategic way that was nearly impossible to analyze and predict some time ago. It still can’t be forgotten that standing for the defense of our sovereignty has been seen as China was one of the five states that didn’t accept the aggression of Italy on our nation.
The economic and political exclusionary tactic employed on both Asia and Africa by the more powerful nations can be also taken as one of the intensifying acts for the relation. And has helped both to run for a striving work to unchain their society and redefine the older status quo poster they were both forced to uphold.
Currently, the Ethiopia is in a legal and moral dispute where a western backed colonial agreement is wished to be imposed and practiced. While the nation and its citizens has shown a populist support for the right over the use over the Nile as being the major water contributor, the western pressure can still be visibly seen in the global stages. Aid cutting, media campaigns and uncritical lobbying still hasn’t helped change the Ethiopia’s stand. Since trying to practice “shake the ballot and then sell the bullet” isn’t for the first time.
With all the pushing hoping to try to corner us into submitting upon a modern-day colonial deal, China’s diplomatic alliance can still be seen as while they still stand firm on pushing in the negotiation ground for the African Union, as it’s the one that’s mainly responsible for dispute areas with a familiar character like these. And even the blockage of the pro-intervention measures with a pain of a fairness legal brush.
Our economic ties on the current rate can’t be taken easily too. Starting from a state funded construction of vocational schools, Chinese firms have undertaken dam projects worth more than 3.1 billion dollar in the first decade of the Gregorian millennium. And currently, the bilateral trade almost reached 7 billion dollar as the Chinese Foreign direct investment in Ethiopia has gone near 5 billion dollar.
Let’s also not forget that Ethiopia is one of the biggest loan takers from Africa, gaining more than 13.5 billion dollar in less than two decades, making China the biggest investing plus trade partner in Ethiopia.
Critique possibility can still be seen in the bilateral economic exchange and cloth ties. One of the major issues faced is that even though Ethiopia has profited from the longstanding association, unlike China its policy towards identifying the specific demands from China for the purpose of furthering our national interest hasn’t been cultivated well.
While predicting the upcoming relation holds variables like it did in the past but it sure shows that the domestic transformation we are looking forward to in sectors like technology, construction, energy and industry will tie Chinese fate with the rising star in the Horn, Ethiopia and even Africa.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
The Ethiopian Herald August 10/2021
