China’s Quest for Natural Resources: The Environmental Impact on Africa >>> Will Ferrall From November 3rd to 5th, 2006, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit (or FOCAC) was held in Beijing, China. During this summit, China promised Africa five billion dollars worth of loans and credit towards development and aid, and a plan was crafted that would make Africa China’s single largest trading partner (with trade values totaling over 100 billion) by 2010 (Alden 2). Also during this summit, Zhang Shigang, China’s deputy representative to the UNEP1, addressed the growing international concerns over his country’s impact on Africa’s environment. In this speech, Shigang noted that “China, whose environment suffered considerably in its rapid economic development over the past decades, wishes Africa would learn from its lessons and is willing to share with Africa its recent experience in environment protection” (qtd. in Xinhua 1). This was an interesting statement from China, which in its quest for natural resources had done much to negatively impact Africa’s environment. Zhang Shigang’s comments might have been mere government rhetoric, which China is well-versed in, or perhaps it was a true commitment to save Africa’s environment. The former is probably closer to the truth. By examining China’s recent developmental relationship with Africa, as well as the environmental implications of this relationship, one thing is clear. China’s self-serving drive for natural resources is destabilizing Africa’s environment. China, like all sovereign nations, has long had an interest in securing enough natural resources to ensure its functional survival. Unfortunately, reports from China’s Ministry of Land and Natural Resources have indicated that China’s ability to domestically provide enough of these resources is diminishing. For example, the Ministry projects that by 2020 Chinese crude oil production will be able to meet only 34-40% of demand, and the shortage of coal will be 700 million tons (Manji 17-18). With 1.3 billion people to support, and millions more on the way, China has been forced to branch out from complete self-sufficiency. In order to do so, China has taken a path well tread-upon by European colonial powers, and has turned to Africa for its natural resource needs. Unlike these colonial powers, however, China allows government-controlled and private companies to do business with African nations, rather than taking control and administering the continent itself. Over the past twenty years, this Chinese business with Africa has grown substantially. There are currently over 800 Chinese companies operating in 35 African states (BBC 1). Before continuing on, it might help to explain just how China has gained this foothold. In exchange for the natural resources it desires, China has contributed a significant amount of money to develop Africa. Generally, this development comes in the form of new oil pipelines or road-systems (which, of course, facilitate the movement of China’s resources),
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