Xi Jinping’s Africa largesse cops heat at home

China has defended itself against criticism of its $84bn aid to Africa including that the money should have been spent at home.

China's President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Cape Verde's Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva before a meeting at the Great Hall of People in Beijing on September 6, 2018. (Photo by Lintao Zhang / POOL / AFP)

China has defended itself against criticism of its $US60 billion ($84bn) in aid to Africa including that it amounts to a new colonialism and that the money would have been better spent at home.

As China finishes a massive logistic exercise in hosting more than 50 African leaders and their entourages in Beijing this week, President Xi Jinping’s announcement of another big package of funding for Africa has generated some criticism at home.

Despite widespread positive coverage in the official media, China’s social media has contained criticisms of the latest handout to Africa, which doubles a $US60bn package to the continent announced three years ago.

“China is still a developing country,” Beijing law professor Zhang Qianfan posted online.

“The money comes from taxpayers. Why doesn’t the government invest more in education, medical care and agriculture?

“How can it be guaranteed that such expense is in the interests of the country?”

Announcing the package this week, Mr Xi said China would also be forgiving some of the debt of smaller African countries.

Professor Zhang questioned the constitutionality of the move, arguing it should have been discussed in the National People’s Congress.

Other bloggers voiced their criticism, although much of it was closed down later by censors.

“You should first raise your own children,” one posted. “There have been so many natural and man-made casualties ­recently, can you please take a look at low income people?”

“$US60 billion is money that we earned!” another wrote. “Tell me who is causing the suffering of China’s everyday people?”

China has justified its aid by arguing it is better to teach someone to fish than to fish for them.

“What Africa is lacking most is a wise leader,” one blogger posted. “Maybe we can donate this one to Africa.”

Beijing economics professor Hu Xingdou said there were many poor Chinese who could still not afford proper medical care or education. “Aid to Africa is necessary but it need to be done within China’s capabilities.”

But officials argue the aid is a key part of south-south co-operation and will help the development of Africa as a market for Chinese goods. They reject suggestions that represents an exercise in economic colonialism, saying the money is being handed out without conditions or desire for political interference.

“These moves should be seen for what they are,” the editor of the China Daily wrote yesterday. “They are endeavours to boost mutual benefit and not examples of ‘neocolonialism’ or ‘waste of money’.”

The paper quoted three professors who argued the financial assistance would help the African nations help themselves, they were a great example of “south-south” synergy and the money would help China by boosting trade for both China and Africa.

They argued the aid was not creating a “debt trap” for recipient countries because it was ­invested only in projects that had passed “rigorous feasibility tests from both sides”.