China in Africa

The Christian Science Monitor is publishing a series on Chinese influence on Africa.

Todays article:

Wau, South Sudan - She named her baby daughter Siwei Liu, which means "be aware of danger." The young Chinese mother had just passed the United Nations exams and knew she would soon be leaving China's Hubei Province for places unknown and dangerous.

Less than six months later, Fang Liu, a lawyer with the Chinese police forces, packed her suitcase, waved farewell to her husband and baby daughter – and set off for South Sudan. "It was," she says solemnly, "a very long way away."

Ms. Liu, today a UN police observer, was joined by 435 other ­engineers, medics, and transport specialists, ­all of them part of China's contribution to the 10,000-strong UN force charged with monitoring the peace agreement here until 2011.

The Sudan mission is the longest-ever peacekeeping mission the Chinese have joined to date – but not their only one.

Playing a far more active role in UN peacekeeping than ever before, 1,809 Chinese troops, police, military observers, and others are deployed worldwide. The majority – 1,273 – are here in Africa, building roads, setting up clinics, patrolling troubled villages – and generally trying to show that China wants to be considered part of the international community when it comes to doing the right thing by this continent....

Other links here:

Part 1 - 06/25/07 China focuses on oil wells, not local needs China boosts African economies, offering a 'second opportunity'

Part 2 - 06/26/07 How China's support of Sudan shields a regime called 'genocidal' Activists press China with 'Genocide Olympics' label Part 2 - 06/27/07 China takes up civic work in Africa Young Chinese idealists vie to join their 'peace corps' in Africa