China’s top diplomat heads to Africa as West’s attention dwindles

China’s leading diplomat started his yearly New Year visit to Africa on Sunday, following a 35-year tradition, to subtly bolster Beijing’s significant influence in the resource-rich region as Europe’s involvement declines and America’s fluctuates.

As global capitals and investors prepare for the imminent return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, and as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East along with domestic issues preoccupy German and French ministers, analysts note that Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s presence in Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Chad, and Nigeria underscores China’s steady involvement in Africa.

Wang’s trip, lasting until Saturday, also coincides with the world’s second-largest economy increasing its financial backing for the debt-stricken continent, while aiming to secure additional critical minerals agreements and locate markets for its exports.

“The choice of countries to visit each year seldom adheres to any external reasoning,” remarked Eric Orlander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project. “(However) it echoes in Africa as a testament to China’s enduring dedication to the continent, unlike the strategies of the U.S., United Kingdom, and European Union.” “China genuinely holds that Africa has not been an overlooked continent, but instead a reservoir of energy and a region rich in development opportunities,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated at a routine press briefing on Monday.

With China’s economic slowdown, Africa presents a crucial opportunity for its state-owned infrastructure companies facing project shortages due to cash-strapped local governments postponing expenditures, as well as a market for its electric vehicles and solar panels, sectors where the U.S. and EU claim it has surplus capacity. The more than 50 votes from Africa at the United Nations could further support Beijing’s initiatives to transform multilateral institutions and reframe global standards to better align with its priorities, especially regarding matters such as human rights .

Although U.S. President Joe Biden’s December journey to Angola marked his sole trip to sub-Saharan Africa during his presidency, China prioritizes Africa in its diplomatic agenda. “China has emerged as a key player in Africa’s policy landscape, serving both as a participant and a source of inspiration,” stated Hannah Ryder, founder of Development Reimagined, a consultancy owned by Africans. She referenced how candidates competing for the leadership of the African Union Commission have praised Beijing’s potential to enhance Africa’s manufacturing sector and China’s history of promoting mass education in the lead-up to the election in February. The commission serves as the secretariat for the 55-member African Union.

According to Ryder, Wang’s choice to travel to the Republic of Congo, which this year assumes the role of co-chair for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that outlines the framework for China-Africa relations, also highlights China’s dedication to fulfilling the results of last year’s summit, where China committed $51 billion in new financial aid. Analysts state that Beijing is starting to assert its influence on critical regional security matters, which partially accounts for Wang’s trip to Chad.

Last month, France initiated the pullout of its military from the Central African nation after its government abruptly terminated a defense cooperation agreement that had positioned it as a crucial Western ally in combating Islamic extremists in the area. “According to Orland, China has proven to be a dependable and steady ally for the emerging military regimes in the Sahel and West Africa.”  For the French and Americans, who perceive a weakening of Western influence in the area, China’s role is regarded as ‘contentious,’ yet African viewpoints differ significantly.