1. Sensationalism and rhetoric: Chinese-Japanese
“rivalry” in Africa
10 March 2014
CCS COMMENTARY:
Admittedly, in the short term, the competition for attention, resources,
and allegiance from Africa could help corrupt elites throughout the
continent entrench their power. On the other hand, it gives African
governments and companies greater bargaining power when negotiating
international deals (it also takes away some excuses of ”Western
dominance” and thus increases the responsibility of local elites for
development). Growing trade and investment promote economic growth
– some of the fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa – and
forces other countries with vested interests in Africa, the United States
of America, for example, to re-evaluate their Africa strategies and
develop policies that might actually benefit both sides. Above all else, competition between nations for
resources and influence is normal and should not be filtered through the lens of sensationalist rhetoric as this
could have damaging implications for real academic analysis and policy development.
Sensationalism, a staple of China-Japan relations, now in Africa
China and Japan have, over the past year-or-so been engaged in a steadily escalating stalemate over a series of
uninhabitable rocks in the East-China Sea. The hostility this generates and the accompanying outrageous
remarks made by politicians and other commentators has turned sensationalism into a staple of many reports
on relations between the two, especially in their respective domestic media outlets. Indeed, there is an
argument to be made that this sensationalism is actively blocking diplomacy. A growing trend, outlined by Jin
Kai in an article for The Diplomat, is for diplomats from either country to try presenting the other side in an
unflattering light within the international media or in other public settings. Certainly, the most ridiculous
examples were the Harry Potter comparisons in the British media. Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to
Britain, wrote an op-ed which compared Japan to Voldemort, the villain from the popular Harry Potter series
of books and films. This was promptly followed by an op-ed from Liu’s Japanese counterpart, Keiichi Hayashi,
who said that, in fact, China is really “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named”. Ultimately, regardless of how apt either
party thought the comparison was at the time, it was an infantile comparison which made both sides look a
little foolish.
Inevitably, this sort of discussion has filtered into reports on Chinese and Japanese engagement with Africa. In
China, Prime Minister Abe’s trip is part of a sinister plot to “contain China in Africa” and cosy up to African
Image: spyghana.com
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Prime Minister, recently visited Ethiopia, Mozambique and Cote D’Ivoire as part of
his Middle East-Africa tour (Mr Abe also visited Oman). His trip prompted a flurry of media reports
and academic analyses outlining how tensions between Japan and China were spilling over into Africa
and that the continent is now at the centre of a geo-political tug-of-war between the East-Asian powers.
This is very lazy analysis. It is reflective of a Cold War mind-set which sees Africa, not as a collection of
independent states with their own agendas, but as a proxy battleground for the world’s larger
economies to act out their rivalries. For African nations, international competition for natural
resources and geo-political influence is, by and large, a good thing.

2. The Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) at Stellenbosch University is the leading African research
institution for innovative and policy relevant analysis of the relations between China and Africa.
For more information, please check the CCS website: www.sun.ac.za/ccs
or contact us under ccsinfo@sun.ac.za
Robert Attwell
Affiliate
Centre for Chinese Studies
Stellenbosch University
states to win votes for Japan’s bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. A
further example of the over-the-top rhetoric coming to Africa was Xie Xiaoyan’s, China’s ambassador to
Ethiopia, identification of Prime Minister Abe as Asia’s biggest “troublemaker” and his dire warnings of
resurgent Japanese militarism – something which, he should have recognised, is pretty low on the list of
African concerns.
Meanwhile, in Japan, Chinese engagement with Africa is reported as being neo-colonial in nature, a resource
grab which benefits the African political elite at the expense of African people. Obviously, neither view is
particularly nuanced. Sensationalism and vitriolic rhetoric do not make for good analysis. Similarly, when
discussing their respective engagement with Africa, there is a danger of over-emphasising the fact that China
and Japan are rivals in East-Asia. This is only one aspect of either country’s interests in the African continent.
Trade, aid, development, investment, security, international business and academic and cultural exchanges
are more important issues for all concerned parties than this Cold War-esque, balance-of-power game which
many media and other commentators seem to think is playing out across the African continent.
The view from Japan
Prime Minister Abe visited Mozambique, Ethiopia and Cote D’Ivoire during his recent Africa tour. Abenomics
– a plan to stimulate the Japanese economy after years of stagnation – was the platform on which Mr Abe was
elected and consequently economic exchange is the primary focus of Japan’s Africa strategy. In all his
meetings with officials from the three countries, he pledged increased official development assistance and
encouraged the deepening of diplomatic and commercial ties. Additionally, he pledged to invest in African
human capital by offering scholarships for African students to study and work in Japan. For Japan, Africa is no
longer just a top destination for ODA but an attractive place to invest. For example, the presence of vast
natural gas deposits in Mozambique is especially attractive to Japan. Ever since the meltdown at Fukushima,
Japanese reliance on nuclear power has become a hot-button issue and the government is finding ways to
diversify Japan’s energy supply. Additionally, Africa’s growing middle class makes the continent attractive to
Japanese manufacturers looking for new markets.
When looking at Chinese and Japanese engagement with Africa, we need to see past the rhetoric and focus,
instead, on the full picture. Making use of opportunities requires a clear head – and Africa has more
important things to focus on than media flurries.