China and Taiwan go tou to tou in Africa

"The mischievous effects of an earthquake or deluge, a hurricane, or the eruption of a volcano, bear a very inconsiderable proportion to the ordinary calamities of war, as they are now moderated by the prudence or humanity of the princes of Europe, who amuse their own leisure, and exercise the courage of their subjects, in the practice of the military art." -- Edward Gibbon

Stumbled across this article in a South African newspaper that discusses the rivalry between new colonial power China and Taiwan in Africa as China scrambles to replace the US as the continent's dominant neo-colonialist.

During the trip, Chad and China signed deals worth $80-million, including aid, the African country said.

China also agreed to give Guinea Bissau $60-million in agricultural loans, forgive $30-million in debt to Benin and another $11-million in debt to the Central African Republic, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said.

China's Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday China had donated "office supplies and stationery" worth $64 000 to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations with two dozen countries, including four in Africa. The oil-producing Saharan nation of Chad was formerly a fifth Taiwan ally, but broke ties last summer and switched to China.

Chinese and African officials have confirmed some aid figures. Wu declined to say how Taiwan determined the full total.

Taiwan has recently decided to make its own donations. It just pledged to Kenya, Malawi and Swaziland medical aid for drought relief and poverty alleviation. Kenya is in line for about $2-million worth of aid and Swaziland for $2,85-million, Wu said.

The sustained stupidity of the US invasion of Iraq will surely mystify future historians. Great states have collapsed, but surely the US under Bush is the first nation to go out and commit suicide when there was absolutely no reason to do so.

I've noted before how the pernicious effects of the Iraq stupidity are squeezing Taiwan, and here is another example. As the Bush Administration obsesses over its lost war in Iraq and the upcoming insanity over Iran, it has withdrawn from Africa, creating space for China to intervene. This forces Taiwan to put more resources into countering China's moves against its allies in Africa.

[Taiwan] [China] [Kenya] [Africa]