China is acting generous again.
After a recent visit to three African countries, Kenya, Zambia and Angola, Mr. Chen Deming, the minister of commerce of PRC announced that China is planning to waive 168 debts in 33 African countries as part of the China-Africa joint endeavor to aid Africa’s future development. Mr. Chen told the Xinhua News Agency that China would provide as generously as she can, as usual, to African countries, without requesting any additional political conditions. China would especially grant support to Africa’s social development projects and public welfare undertakings (i.e. schools, hospitals, sports facilities).
Responses on the internet (that is, Tianya) are mixed with anger, confusion, praise and indifference. Some Chinese netizens blame the Chinese government for giving billions of dollars away to powerless third-world friends just for a face-lift in the international community. Some wonder why the government could just waive debts incurred outside of China while ordinary citizens have to struggle with heavy mortgages and taxes. Some claim that the government is playing an enormous “chess game” and Africa is one of the important steps towards ultimate diplomatic victory. Some show sympathetic understanding to this action and reason that China might as well waive the debts as Africa is in no way paying (or planning to pay) the money back anyhow.
Here is the news:
Could you please post a link to the Tianya discussion?
There are three Tianya threads on this topic at the moment. But it seems that the discussion is not that heated.
1, [热点资讯]中国计划免除33个非洲国家的168笔债务,大家怎样看http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/content/develop/1/229227.shtml
2, [热点资讯]外交部:中方已免除对非洲国家150笔债务
http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/content/develop/1/229836.shtml
3, [经济杂谈]中国继续扩大援助非洲规模 不附加政治条件(转载)
http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/content/develop/1/229221.shtml
and another thread that’s related to investment in Africa:
『经济论坛』 [热点资讯]投资非洲
http://cache.tianya.cn/publicforum/content/develop/1/129843.shtml
Thanks!