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Abstract
Beijing's political ‘charm offensive’ in Africa has ostensibly made China a major player on the continent. The source of this success in China's African policy is sometimes seen in China's political and economic ‘attractiveness’. It is true that China is building a positive image targeted to the audience in Africa, promoting for example the vision of ‘win-win’ mutual economic benefits from cooperation. This endeavour is close to the concept of ‘soft power’. However, soft power is about dynamic relationships between an agent and the subject of attraction. Hence, the general growth of Chinese soft power and its success depends not only on whether China can sell its image to African states, but also whether African states are willing to buy this.
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Notes
1. In 1997, the State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC), modelled in part after the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), was created as a ‘super-ministry’. In 2003, SETC was broken up, and some pieces were merged with the Ministry of Foreign Trade to become the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).
2. Official Development Assistance (ODA) is defined as grants or loans to countries and territories which are: (a) undertaken by the official sector; (b) promoting economic development and welfare as the main objective; and (c) at concessional financial terms (if a loan with a grant element of at least 25%). In addition to financial flows, technical co-operation is included in aid. Grants, loans and credits for military purposes are excluded. Transfer payments to private individuals (e.g. pensions, reparations or insurance payouts) are in general not counted.