South Africans' view of China

There is a sense that we are witnessing a shift in power dynamics from the Occident to the Orient, with a new world order emerging.

China, acknowledged as one of the pioneers of the ancient world and today, one of the fastest growing developing nations, remains under-discussed with most talk about China limited to its products, its migrant communities and the continual state repression that has reached mythical proportions.

Hard workers

Karen Lotter, a photographer and web designer, say that she thinks that China is the next superpower, if not a superpower already.

"The Chinese work hard, have an independent currency and seem to be getting in all over Africa as partners. It seems like they are working with the 'natives' but only time will tell if they are not just becoming another colonizing power," says Lotter.

"So I don't know - poor old Africa needs a Daddy. I mean she has been raped and molested by everyone else - I just don't know if China is going to turn into a good daddy or an abuser," she adds.

Too much power?

Lotter says that she is however overawed by China's history, development and potential.

"I guess I am a bit awed at everything about China, first of all because I don't know that much about them and because everything seems so huge", she adds.

"But what does scare me is that the Chinese leaders are very powerful and I don't think they are much different from African leaders or European leaders or South American leaders or US leaders - they are arrogant men who believe they have the right to do as they please and take what they want without consequences," she concludes.

Rashaad Amra, a Masters student in Economics at the University of Stellenbosch, says while he does not believe that the US and EU are any better with regards to their international policies, China does come across as more authoritarian than Western nations.

"China seems to have a more brazen approach towards citizen rights, freedom of expression and respect for international regulations," says Amra.

"China's rising dominance may mean that when her interests are at stake she may be willing to take even stronger and harsher actions to secure them, than for example the US's invasion of Iraq which resulted in a catastrophe despite significant domestic dissent and opposition, which China does not even allow," Amra concludes.

Good alternative

Mymoena Arnold, a former radio presenter from Cape Town says that she is pleased that there is an alternative superpower emerging that offers a refreshing socio-economic system in contrast to that of the West.

But she says that China's role in Africa to date has been more about itself than about developing Africa.

"China's role in Africa to date is no different to that of other foreign entities in the migrant/immigrant sector - they saw an economic gap and filled it - just like we South Africans did in the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand.

"I have never had the privilege of visiting China but met many Chinese people and I admire their determination and perseverance."

She adds that the Chinese appear to be a peace-loving nation.

"Generally they strike me as peace-loving people until you tread on their 'territory and property' then they are very capable of striking back," Arnold adds. Chinese people are extraordinary entrepreneurs – and are hard taskmasters and they appear to prefer looking after their own business with limited hired help.

She says she imagines China to be one, unified culture.

"I imagine China itself as a densely populated regimented society which only has two class extremes but one culture," says Arnold.

How does China affect me?

Sanusha Naidoo, an expert on Chinese studies says that the common man in South Africa is ambivalent about China, as "he is unsure on how China affects his livelihood", especially with so much talk about cheaper goods and lowered job opportunities

Naidoo says that people understand that China wields considerable influence on much of Africa's resources, but are inherently skeptical about China's realm of control.

"China is synonymous with cheap goods and that the Chinese way of doing things involves some sort of exploitation. Of course, there is a different value system, but of course we wonder about how the Chinese are able to be create successful development programs," adds Naidoo.

"China is often considered an exotic, foreign country, but when people come to China, they are often shocked by the level of development. What they don't see at first is the poor, undeveloped parts of China, and they later realize that there are three or four sides to China," says Naidoo.

Author: Azad Essa
Editor: Grahame Lucas