CHINAS AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: A TOOL IN RESHAPING GLOBAL NORMS

The document examines China's use of large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa as a tool of economic statecraft to challenge Western-led global norms and promote a 'democratised' global order. It analyzes the role of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and compares African initiatives with similar Chinese regional forums in the Arab world, Central Asia, and Latin America. Despite a slowing domestic economy and falling commodity prices affecting resource-rich African states, the author contends that China's strategic geopolitical goals ensure the continued resilience of its African investments.

• China utilizes 'economic statecraft'—the use of economic tools to achieve foreign policy and geopolitical goals—to challenge Western liberal norms and the existing global order, which it perceives as biased.
• The Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) serves as a low-level multilateral vehicle for China to promote its international relations norms through consensus building, though most projects are implemented bilaterally.
• China is the largest single source of infrastructure financing in Africa, with investments estimated at approximately $13.9 billion annually between 2011 and 2013.
• China's economic slowdown, termed the 'New Normal', and the drop in commodity prices have negatively impacted African economies, particularly resource-rich states like Angola, where oil-backed loans are under pressure.
• Despite its economic slowdown, China continues to increase and diversify its pledges to Africa; at the December 2015 Johannesburg forum, it pledged $55 billion for infrastructure and development, including a $10 billion production capacity co-operation fund.
• China's engagement in Africa is part of a broader global strategy of 'multilateral regionalism' that includes similar infrastructure-led forums with the Arab League (CACF), Central Asian and Eurasian nations (SCO), and Latin American and Caribbean states (CELAC).

APA

du Plessis, R. (2016). CHINAS AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: A TOOL IN RESHAPING GLOBAL NORMS. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-35.pdf

Chicago

du Plessis, Rudolf. CHINAS AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: A TOOL IN RESHAPING GLOBAL NORMS. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2016. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-35.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=du Plessis |first1=Rudolf |title=CHINAS AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: A TOOL IN RESHAPING GLOBAL NORMS |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2016 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-35.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{duplessis2016chinas, author = {du Plessis, Rudolf}, title = {{CHINAS AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: A TOOL IN RESHAPING GLOBAL NORMS}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Policy-Insights-35.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }