Abstract
China has long been an aid provider, although the recent and remarkable surge in China’s foreign aid has important implications for the global aid architecture. It relies on aid principles that diverge in many ways from those of traditional Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donor countries, particularly in relation to non-interference, mutual benefit and non-conditionality. China’s foreign aid also relies on a mixing of economic cooperation, trade and investment deals. While several Western scholars have examined the Chinese development cooperation system, few voices from China have been heard in European and North American journals and media. This chapter aims to offer a Chinese perspective on the evolution of China’s foreign aid. It focuses on the aid principles that have thus far informed Chinese development assistance, highlighting the successful outcomes achieved so far in Africa and South-East Asia. The chapter also addresses the main shortcomings of the Chinese approach, by recommending the improvement of institutional transparency, and strengthening of dialogue with DAC donors, all with a view towards learning from past experiences and exchanging best practices.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Beijing Review (1983) ‘Zhao Ziyang s Four Principles of Economic and Technological Cooperation’, Beijing Review, January 24, p. 19.
Bosshard, P. (2007) China’s Role in Financing African Infrastructure (Berkeley: International River Network).
Brautigam, D. (2008) Chinas African Aid: Transatlantic Challenges (Washington, DC: The German Marshall Fund of the United States).
Brautigam, D. (2009a) The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
Brautigam, D. (2009b) ‘China’s Challenge to the International Aid Architecture’, World Politics Review, 1(4), pp. 1–10.
Brautigam, D. (2010a) China, Africa, and the International Aid Architecture, Working Paper no. 107 (Tunis: African Development Bank).
Brautigam, D. (2010b) ‘China Overseas: “Export Hordes of Experts” or “Teaching How to Fish”?’, Norrag News, 44, pp. 53–6.
Burke, C., L. Corkin and N. Tay (2007) China’s Engagement of Africa: Preliminary Scoping of African Case Studies. Angola, Ethiopia, Gabon, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia (Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch, Centre for Chinese Studies).
Cabello, D., F. Sekulova and D. Schmidt (2008) World Bank Conditionalities: Poor Deal for Poor Countries (Amsterdam: A SEED Europe).
Chin, G.T. and B.M. Frolic (2007) Emerging Donors in International Development Assistance: The China Case (Ottawa: International Development Research Centre, Partnership & Business Development Division).
Editorial Board of the China Commerce Yearbook (2010) China Commerce Yearbook (Beijing: China Commerce and Trade Press).
Goldstein, A.N., N. Pinaud, H. Reisen and X. Chen (2006) The Rise of China and India: What’s in it for Africa? (Paris: OECD Development Centre).
Huang, M. (2007) ‘Chinese Foreign Aid System and Its Trends’ (Zhong Guo Dui Wai Yuan Zhu Ji Zhi: Xian Zhuang He Qu Shi), International Economic Cooperation (Guo Ji Jing Ji He Zuo), author’s translation.
Huang, M. and J. Lang (2010) ‘China’s Foreign Aid to Africa and Its Challenges’ (Zhong Guo De Dui Fei Yuan Zhu Ji Qi Mian Lin De Tiao Zhan), International Economic Cooperation (Guo Ji Jing Ji He Zuo), author’s translation.
IOSC-PRC (Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China) (2011), China’s Foreign Aid (Beijing; IOSC-PRC) http://www.scio.gov.cn/zxbd/wz/201104/t896900.htm (accessed on 10 November 2011).
Johnson, A., B. Versailles and M. Martin (2008) Trends in South-South and Triangular Development Cooperation (New York: United Nations Economic and Social Council).
King, K. (2007) China’s Aid to Africa: A View from China and Japan, lead paper to the seminar on ‘China’s aid to Africa’ organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Tokyo.
Kjollesdal, K. and A. Welle-Strand (2010) ‘Foreign Aid Strategies: China Taking Over?’, Asian Social Science, 6(10), pp. 3–13.
Lancaster, C. (2007) The Chinese Aid System (Washington, DC: Center for Global Development).
Li, X. (2009) China’s Foreign Aid to Africa, http://www.iprcc.org.cn/ppt/2008–05–13/1210662570.pdf (accessed on 1 December 2011).
Lum, T., H. Fischer, J. Gomez-Granger and A. Leland (2009) China’s Foreign Aid Activities in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service).
MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China) (2010) China’s Progress Towards the Millennium Development Goals (Beijing: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, United Nations System in China).
MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China) (2009) The High-level Dialogue of Foreign Aid Between China and the United States, Foreign Aid Communication, no. 11.
MOFCOM (2010) The Great Achievements of China’s Foreign Aid in 2009, Foreign Aid Communication, no. 1.
MOFCOM (2011) The New Development Stage of Chinds Foreign Aid in 2010, Foreign Aid Communication, no. 1.
Naidu, S. and H. Herman (2008) ‘China and India in Africa: Challenging the Status Quo?’, Pambazuka News, no. 394, http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/50252 (accessed on 10 November 2011).
OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development)/African Development Bank (2007) African Economic Outlook (Paris: OECD Development Centre).
Sato, J., H. Shiga, T. Kobayashi, H. Kondoh (2010) How do ‘Emerging Donors’ Differ from ‘Traditional’ Donors? An Institutional Analysis of Foreign Aid in Cambodia, Japan International Cooperation Agency Research Institute (JICA-RI) Working Paper n° 2 (Tokyo: JICA-RI).
Shinn, H. (2006) Africa and China’s Global Activism, paper presented at the National Defense University Pacific Symposium ‘China’s Global Activism: Implications for U.S. Security Interests’.
Ssenyange, E. (2010) South-South Development Cooperation: A Challenge to Traditional Aid Relations? (Quezon City: The Reality of Aid/Ibon Books).
State Statistical Bureau of the People’s Republic of China (2003–10) China Statistical Yearbook (Beijing; China Statistics Press).
Weston J., C. Cambell and K. Koleski (2011) China’s Foreign Assistance in Review: Implications for the United States (Washington: US-China Economic and Security Review Commission).
Woods, N. (2008) ‘Whose Aid? Whose Influence? China, Emerging Donors, and the Silent Revolution in Development Assistance’, International Affairs, 84(6), pp. 1205–21.
Zafar, A. (2007) ‘The Growing Relationship between China and Sub-Saharan Africa: Macroeconomic, Trade, Investment, and Aid Links’, The World Bank Research Observer, 22(1), pp. 103–30.
Zhu, T. (2001) ‘Nationalism and Chinese Foreign Policy’, The China Review, 1(1), pp. 1–27.
Copyright information
© 2012 Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Huang, M., Ren, P. (2012). China’s Foreign Aid and its Role in the International Aid Architecture. In: International Development Policy: Aid, Emerging Economies and Global Policies. International Development Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-00357-7_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-00357-7_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-00340-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-00357-7
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)