China – Africa historical cooperation, in the eyes of an African.

Let me be clear, the purpose of my articles in not aimed at drawing parallels between China and United States of America. However, I have to also admit that it is very difficult to talk about China’s success, in isolation of the USA; the two world’s biggest economy. The US’s most entertaining citizen Donald Trump has not helped me either. There is so much of him on cable news and since he cannot finish an argument without mentioning China, the two, for good or for worse seem linked. In similar vein it is difficult to talk about China is isolation of the west altogether.

1970, China’s admission to the UN:

In 1970, the Tanzanian Salim Ahmed Salim, at the age of 28, when most young men of his age what they had in mind was love and soft life, Salim was then a Tanzanian permanent representative to the UN. That was the time when China was seeking membership of the UN. It is the young 28 year old Tanzanian who led the African Group to support China’s admission. Albania had submitted the motion leading to UN resolution 2758. The People’s Republic of China was admitted to the UN in 1971! China’s admission to the UN was, thanks to African support which had more than 30 members to the UN with voting rights

Declassified conversation of two future Republican American presidents, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, making racist remarks about Africa’s celebration of China’s admission to the UN, are there for all to listen to. Reagan then the governor of California referring to African delegates who celebrated China’s admission as “monkeys” and asking Nixon to do something about it are on record; and Nixon referring to the celebrating Africans as “ tail wagging dogs”. Four months later, Nixon was visiting China. I don’t want to be as vulgar as he was, but wouldn’t the same terminology actually qualify to this quick change of mind?

Africa’s voting almost entirely as a group made them a force to recon with despite the lack of veto powers. China did not forget that Africa was a friend in need and a friend indeed.

Black Africa tries to flex its muscles on the world scene.

Ten years later,  after China entry into the UN with African support, almost 40 years  ago, the same  sub-Saharan African  Salim Ahmed Salim, then more mature in age at 38,  ran for Secretary- General of the world most powerful body -The United Nations, against the two-term incumbent, Kurt Waldheim of Austria. Salim was then serving as President of the United Nations General Assembly; a rotational position. He had the support of the Organisation of the African Union (OAU) and the then Non- Aligned Movement.

Naturally, Salim was opposed by the then USA Republican President Ronald Reagan, who years earlier had referred to him and his African colleagues as “monkeys”. Regan Republican administration in the United States was against this candidature for a ‘simple crime’! He was a sub-Saharan black, a Muslim, an East African from a socialist front line state, Tanzania. Tanzania was the training ground for all liberation forces in Southern Africa, the South African Africa National Congress (ANC), and ANC’s leader Nelson Mandela was on American Terrorist group. Tanzania, and by extension China,  were also supporting  the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) , the Rhodesian – Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF), was winning the war. In the middle East, like Nelson Mandela, the Chairman of the Palestinian liberation Front, Yasser Arafat was also on American “terrorists” list. Thank God that mother Teresa was in Calcutta helping poppers and lepers, but if she was trying to liberate an oppressed people, she would be too on the terrorists list by the American security agencies. 

 And so as the young African diplomat Salim Ahmed Salim, the OAU candidate was trying to break UN glass ceiling by being the first black Sub- Saharan Africa Secretary General. Regan’s administration regarded him as an anti-American radical who was hostile to apartheid South Africa. At that time majority of independent African countries also supported the right to Palestinian statehood. Very surprisingly contrary to the belief that socialists/ communist countries are always together, the Soviet Union also opposed to Salim for his activism and his pro-China stance.

 Salim won the first round of voting with 11 votes to Waldheim’s 10. As expected, Salim was vetoed by the United States, China in solidarity, with OAU and Tanzania in particularly vetoed Waldheim. Many UN members having realised that the United States was mercilessly opposed to Salim, they dropped him after the first round. OAU had no veto, and 40 years latter, it still has none, so it had to depend on one and only friend in UN Security council, China.  China on behalf of Africa, albeit with its personal interest wouldn’t relent, as the selection deadlocked for 6 weeks over a total of 16 rounds of voting. The deadlock finally ended when both Waldheim and Salim were forced to withdraw from the race, opening up the selection to other candidates. When Salim showed intensions to offer his candidature years later, France was clear that it would veto him so he did not stand.

I most times wonder about the western narrative that tries to trace China –Africa cooperation in the recent years and claims of a China that has neo-colonial intentions in Africa when in reality it was China that stood with Africa to fight against western colonialism and other historical imperial injustices.

China and Africa have walked a long journey of brotherhood and friendship together, and today, the friendship and cooperation is more stronger and bearing fruit for the betterment of the people of both China and Africa.

Mweusi Karake is a veteran journalist and former head of Public Relations/Corporate Communication at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

For comments or opinion email us on;  info@africachinareview.com