Plight of Chinese in Africa

choi

(1) Terence McNamee, the Real Frontline of the Chinese in Africa. Financial Times, May 8, 2012 (op-ed).
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/10c9bf ... d-00144feab49a.html

Excerpt in the window of print: The only way to prevent relations from worsening is for China to stop pretending its mass of small traders doesn't exist

Quote:

"'Every day, we carry our hearts in our hands.' You hear this Chinese idiom across Africa; it means to live in fear. As one young man said recently: 'Every week the police and immigration come and extort money from us, but the Chinese embassy does nothing, they just look down on us. Why do we have to live as if we are thieves?'

"Most Chinese traders arrived in Africa in the past 10 years after failing to find work in China’s hyper-competitive job market. The poorest and least educated of China’s diaspora, they have forged their own pathways in the continent through family and village networks. * * * Chinese traders also know that if they don’t make it in Africa, they have nowhere else to go. Nearly all plan to return to China eventually or resettle somewhere other than Africa, once they have earned enough money.

Note:
(a) Angola
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola
(capital Luanda; official language Portugese; independent from Portugal in 1975; section 1 Etymology)
(b) Botswana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana
(official Language English; independent from UK in 1966; for name meaning, see section 8.1 Language)


(2) Kathrin Hille, 'Princeling' Generals Suffer in Aftermath of Bo's Downfall; China's military; Purging of former Chongqing chief is affecting the armed forces' leadership succession. Financial Times, May 8, 2012.

Excerpt in the window of print: 'Those in the military seen as close to Bo Xilai have dropped him [Xilai]'  Bo Zhiyue [no relation], National University of Singapore

My comment: BBC Chinese last night gave a terrific summary in Chinese, so much so that there is no need to read the original.