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Africa News on Nov. 26, 2018
Monday, November 26, 2018
VietPress USA : News source: www.reddit.com
China has undeniable soft power - economic, financial, trade and culture. We here in Africa feel the "Middle Kingdom's" influence every day. In the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the technology we use - everywhere.
It's dejavu really - 200 years ago European traders were flooding our states and kingdom's with European goods like Dutch wax, Calico, guns and new crops like maize, cassava etc.
The Europeans had set up trading posts in coastal cities and were willing if not dependent on the local kings authority to trade. As trade got more lucrative however, they invested more in 'securing' their new found opportunities.
In fact the Europeans attitude changed from largely compliant foreigners to truant and aggressive as they acquired the ability to fend off attackers. Worse still as their ability to deploy sizeable numbers of troops from home improved, so the balance of power shifted.
By the late 19th Century Britain, Spain, France and Portugal could deploy thousands of troops anywhere in the world within 9 months. With advanced ships, improved navigation technology and superior weaponry - doom was spelt out for our ancestors.
And so it is today, the Chinese are largely respectful traders, business people and investors. For as long as they rely on our states to do business. We must however be away that China will invest in global power projection.
They will try and build a navy that can reach every port on earth in a matter of weeks. They will build an airforce that can reach every nook and cranny of this globe.
When they do this, the Dragon would have got his wings. And if we are not prepared to meet strength with strength, they will crush us as there ancestors did.
So while the dragon has stubby wings- we must invest in defending our selves!
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I always tell them for 400 years that word has kept my people down. They ought to be ashamed of themselves! There is no excuse for this in the 21st century!
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