The Analysis Of Liberia–China Relations: Who Benefit Greatly?

By Josephus Moses Gray 

Being wary of zero-sum game and
protectionism in the international balance of power, those at the helm
of power in the country need to acutely reflects on a parable which says
“The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers” while
another saying goes, “History, if not forgotten, can serve as a guide
for the future,” and third parable goes: “Delicious soup is made by
combining different ingredients”.

 

Therefore we should seize the historical
opportunity presented in the new era of China-Liberia relationship for
the realization of the nation’s pro-poor. Assistant Professor Josephus
Moses Gray offers insightful analysis regarding
the most beneficiary of the new era of China-Liberia relations and the
story of unique friendship.

 

The new era of friendship subsisting
between the two countries-Liberia and China, should move forward against
all odds, build on open and inclusive friendship through exchanges and
mutual understanding by fostering partnerships
based on dialogue, common interest and non-confrontation. At the peak
of this level, our leaders need to be proactive not reactive; they
should not wait for their counterparts from Beijing and other great
capitals or investors to identify Liberia’s needs of
interests.

 

Our leaders, especially those at the
corridor of power, should be fully aware of the international balance of
power and win-win cooperation, and should pinpoint Liberia’s priorities
areas of interests of modernizations, industrializations
and economic growth; if President Weah’s pro-poor philosophy which
literally means poverty reduction is to be achieved. Those at the helm
of key positions of state powers and others assigned at the notion’s
diplomatic missions abroad need to be ahead of the
game, be farsighted and proactive and not place themselves in the
position of a“push and start”.

 

 Considering the nation’s
economic inertia, the right policy at the right time by the right people
at the right place should institute and that those at the helm of
states’ power be proactive
by knocking on the doors of vibrant Chinese financial institutions like
the Bank of China for economic growth and human resource and
infrastructure developments. To achieve this goal, the right people with
the requisite skills, experience, qualifications and
education need to be accorded the task and place in the rightful
position of national duty.

 

       The Chinese
government has captured the attention of many African countries
including Liberia due primarily to Beijing’s reasonable approaches
towards socio-economic and infrastructural
development, and the ways in which the Chinese government practices
win-win diplomacy and is foreign aid’s policy. Beijing’s “win-win”
diplomatic style has featured greater accommodations with several
African countries like Liberia.

 

      The Chinese President,
Xi Jinping, in his recent book title: The Governance of China, II, page
598 paragraph two disclosed that from 1950 to 2016, China provided
foreign countries with
over RMB400 billion in aid, and will continue to increase assistance.
According to him, China has contributed on average over 30 percent of
global growth each year and revealed that in the coming years, China is
expected to importUS$8 trillion worth of goods,
attract US$600 billion in foreign investment, and made US$750 billion
in outbound investment.

 

       With the swift rise
of overall strength of developing countries and the increase of
South-South cooperation, Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC) has
momentously advanced into
a new platform for China and African countries to strengthen
multilateral discussions for win-win cooperation. FOCAC has recognized
the continent’s growing standing in the global community of principles
and shared humanity, its development potential for China
and Africa.

 

       As a manner of
reflection, Liberia historically had strong bilateral ties with China
and African countries; since the country became member of FOCAC, it has
seen a complementary interaction
between south-south cooperation and the current bilateral cooperation.
In this regard, Liberia and China have relished exceptional economic
cooperation over the decades.

 

     The current
administration in Liberia needs to play a pivotal role as a key member
and at the same time ensure that Liberia’s interest and membership in
FOCAC are protected for a win-win
cooperation. It is important that Liberia’s representatives to this
year’s September FOCAC be proactive and understand the dynamics of
contemporary politics if Liberia is to benefit from FOCAC’s dividends,
just like other African countries like South Africa,
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

 

      From the perspective
of economic benefits, Liberia should take advantage of FOCAC to present
its case for economic improvement, infrastructure and human resource
development, and not
to be spectators while other African countries diplomatically showcased
their economic needs. Presently, Liberia’s GDP accounts as one of the
less compared to over 40 African countries.

 

       FOCAC was established
in 2000 during the heat of the Liberian bloodiest war; since then FOCAC
has served as an important engine in promoting China-Africa cooperation
in all fields since
then. The FOCAC summits in Beijing in 2006 and in Johannesburg in 2015
pushed China-Africa economic cooperation to new heights. In order to
encourage African industrialization, China also established the
China-Africa Fund for Industrial Cooperation, with a
startup capital of $10 billion and increased capital of $5 billion each
to the China-Africa Development Fund and the Special Loan for the
Development of African SMEs.

 

      Our leaders to the
September’s FOCAC needs to critically reflect the ten plans of FOCAC
which include principles and shared values and should understand that
the Forum has gone beyond
the original realm of economic cooperation to reach much wider realms,
such as international politics and geostrategic structure that promotes a
win-win cooperation. 
FOCAC has become a mechanism of collective consultation and
dialogue between China and friendly African countries, providing a new
platform of friendly exchange and cooperation between China and Africa.
Besides bilateral channels, I am deeply convinced
that with the concerted efforts of China and Africa, the forthcoming
FOCAS Summit in September this year is bound to bring out more practical
results, and breathe new vitality into the friendly relationship
between China and Africa.

 

      Recent trends
confirmed that China-Liberia relations are moving ahead in a very
positive way, based on a vision of the community of a shared future,
mutual support and equality grounded
on a common historical struggle against imperialism and national
independence. A closer strategic alignment between China and Liberia and
in areas of key focus such as economic cooperation will produce win-win
cooperation for both nations.

 

     The new era of
friendship between China and Liberia enjoyed sound and all-around growth
in 2013 during the former regime of ex-president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
The two countries had frequent
political exchanges. In March 2012, Johnson Sirleaf sent a
congratulatory letter to Xi Jinping on his election as Chinese
President. Notable progress was made in business ties as well as
people-to-people, cultural and military exchanges between the two
countries.

 

         Before the Johnson-Sirleaf’ administration to inaugurate diplomatic ties with China, 
ex-president Charles Taylor despotic government switched ties to
Taiwan Strait (Republic of China). Mr. Taylor thoughtlessly thought that
ROC could help to boost his authoritarian government’s development
agenda. But the former regime of Charles Gyude
Bryant once National Transitional Government of Liberia severed
diplomatic ties with ROC and reestablished relationship with Beijing.

 

      Years back as a
reflection, former Speaker of the House of Representative Edwin Snowe
reportedly met covertly with the Taiwanese Government officials in the
Republic of Gambia. The Snowe‘s
secret visit caused a forceful storm of disapproval and negative
reactions because many Liberians felt that Mr. Snowe’s unilateral action
undermined the ex-president Johnson-Sirleaf administration’s
recognition of one China policy. China is happy to remain
in Liberia as long as Taiwan is out, the former Chinese Ambassador to
Liberia has said during my interaction with him in my previous capacity
as Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs and Diplomacy at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia. China
sees a small window of opportunity to consolidate its influence and
project its power.

 

     For example, Chinese
companies have been working in the Liberia thus engaged into visible
bilateral projects including infrastructural construction of public
buildings, sports stadium,
health delivery and educational facilities across the country,
telecommunications sector and is now about to complete the construction
of Sixty Million United States Dollars Ministerial Complex and the New
Terminal at RIA. It has refurbished and decided the
Annex of Capitol Building.

 

     Whilst as the United
States continues to debate the merits of aid to Liberia, China will
continue to fill a major gap in several areas of interventions. While it
is too early to predict
precisely whether Chinese long-term rendezvous in Liberia will produce a
positive influence, the impact of China in the country is highly
visible in several developmental areas including roads rehabilitation,
constructions of bridges, hospitals, schools, sports
stadium, agriculture facilities, and investments projects.

 

       All of these projects
create opportunities (include jobs) for the current administration to
fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people. Chinese Government
growing popularity Liberia
is due to the soft power approach in the region and the speed of which
it responses to developmental requests by unpunished countries like
Liberia. 
Nowadays, China remains a shining and deeply admired posture in
the realm of mutual respect for others to be master of their own destiny
and captain of their own future. Indeed, that’s praiseworthy. 
For instance, during the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus,
China was the first to respond with medical aid and cash. In July 2011,
the project of Bang Iron Mines in Liberia undertaken by Wuhan Iron and
Steel (Group) Corporation was put into operation.
In September 2011 China, for the first time, sent a 140-strong riot
squad to Liberia for the UN peacekeeping operation.

 

         China’s
relationship with Liberia is a strong example of how China is using soft
power to successfully and deftly broaden its influence in Africa. China
gains at least short-term
popularity by answering the request of the Liberia Government
especially in time of urgent need and long-term solution the country’s
numerous infrastructural needs. 
In the views of Liberians, China is not only a credible and
willing international partner but also a strategic option for the
country’s development. On the other hand, the Liberian market is
relatively small in comparison to many African markets. Ordinary
Liberians feel that Chinese-made commodities are not durable.

 

        There have been
enthusiasms from Liberians for goods made in the United States compared
to that made in China. Liberian consumers, workers and small businesses
are worried about the
economy.  The perceptions of Liberians toward Chinese made products are fewer enthusiasms.

 

         According to the
Chinese Nation Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China’s industrial output
expanded 6.8 percent in May 2018. Its data also showed that country’s
GDP rose to 80 trillion
yuan (about 12.3 trillion US dollars), over 13 million jobs were
created, more than 700 million of which 10 million rural residents were
lifted out of poverty.

 

        China maintains diplomatic relationship with 54 of the 55 African states while 
Africa is the largest overseas destination for Chinese but the
lack of well defined and effective policy formulations by African
governments and leadership are pulling the continent backward, while the
issue of widespread corruption, extortion fees and
illegal payment demanded by African custom officers, immigration
personnel and state actors which perpetually exist without a decisive
punishment are also killing Africa’s growth, state actors in Beijing
have said with no particular reference to any African
country.

 

       In the face of
China’s remarkable achievement, how can Liberia take advantage of
exceptional bonds of friendship with China to access BRICS contingency
reserve of US$100 Billion offers
member states and US$110 Million set apart for development in Africa
for the current year of 2018 by the Bank of China and the addition
Chinese US$14 Billion investment in Africa.

 

         Although Liberia is
not a member of the bloc but the George Weah’s regime can use its
friendship with China and other’s BRICS members like India, Russia,
South Africa and Brazil to
seek assistance in the form of loan. BRICS through its New Development
Bank (NDB) offers a new choice for all the developing countries in their
pursuit of self-sustainable development and the NDB African region
office in Johannesburg has committed US$15 Billion
for loan purposes.

 

        Besides BRICS,
Chinese Government also tabled lots of financial opportunities for FOCAC
member countries to seek loan or financial assistance. 
These financial openings were actually explained by Mr. Lu Lei,
Deputy Administrator of the State Administration of China Foreign
Exchange, during the recent China-Africa Think Tank Forum held in
Beijing. He told the forum of 350 scholars from China
and Africa that trade and investment between China and African states
need to be increased, but said the process must be based on honesty,
sincerity and clear policies conformity with the principles and shared
values in pursuing core interests.