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Published 1st December 2008

Vol 2 (AAC) No 2

Zimbabwe

Go East, old man

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures
Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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The meltdown in Harare means that Beijing is no longer prepared to bail out President Robert Mugabe – diplomatically or politically

Asia is responding to President Robert Mugabe’s calls for solidarity in the time of cholera – but not in the way that Harare had envisaged. The economic meltdown and spread of cholera across Zimbabwe and into South Africa has emboldened China, India and Japan – which have been promoting the virtues of Asia’s non-intervention in African politics – to make increasingly direct criticisms of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) regime.

Never mind the yuan, feel the ideology

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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President Mugabe's 'Look East' policy fails to make any impact on Zimbabwe's economic decline

Ideological rather than commercial motives led to the 2003 launch of Zimbabwe’s ‘Look East’ policy, but as the country’s economic position has deteriorated, Harare has tried to woo...

The power of the provinces

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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The devolution of decision-taking on trade and foreign relations allows regional governments and companies to form their own ties with Africa

The provincial leaders who have driven China’s economic boom and commercial charge into Africa insist that history is on their side. Ancient China’s Emperors – powerful as they...

The twins and trade

The provinces are twinned with African countries but it is more than just the usual polite and friendly gesture common in Europe

The twinning of provinces and cities in China and Africa is central to Beijing’s strategy of allowing provinces to take a lead role in trade matters. For Beijing,...

Tokyo's plans

JICA President Sadako Ogata says that Japan will speed up, scale up and spread out Japanese assistance to Africa

Sadako Ogata, President of the newly reorganised Japan International Cooperation Agency, says that the JICA is now the best funded national development agency in the world. Her job,...

The waiting list

Taiwan is financially out-gunned by China and a diplomatic truce may now be its only option

The diplomatic battles between China and Taiwan – often played out on African soil – are on hold. There is no formal truce yet because China’s strategists...

Nkunda's anti-Beijing card

Congo's rebel General Laurent Nkunda demands that the Kinshasa government cancels all China contracts

China’s billion dollar contracts in Congo are at the centre of a new propaganda front in rebel General Laurent Nkunda’s war against President Joseph Kabila’s government in Kinshasa....

Crumbling cement

China's biggest deal yet with a commercial African manufacturer is scaled back

Worsening international economic conditions, tighter credit lines and Nigeria’s weak industrial policy have led to a sharp cutback in the US$3.3 billion cement manufacturing deal between China’s Sinoma...

Pointers

Tenzin Gyatso

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet

Though the Dalai Lama has recently hinted at retirement, his capacity to ruffle China’s feathers is undiminished. His lecture in Lagos, Nigeria, on 28 November passed without incident...

Deepak Kapoor

23rd Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army

The 26 November terrorist attacks in Mumbai that left 164 people dead and more than 300 wounded took place during General Deepak Kapoor’s African goodwill tour, but he...

Vu Tien Loc

Chairman, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry

In August 2008, the sun shone brightly on the Beijing Olympics. With Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping providing behind-the-scenes muscle, the government forced factory closures and enacted draconian traffic...

Liu Qi

Secretary, China Communist Party

In August 2008, the sun shone brightly on the Beijing Olympics. With Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping providing behind-the-scenes muscle, the government forced factory closures and enacted draconian traffic...

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