Quote: (01-01-2012 02:30 PM)scotian Wrote:
Although they do prop up and support some pretty rogue characters like Mugabe in Zim and Al-Basir in Sudan, it seems to get better results than the west's paternalistic policies of foreign aid! Not too sure all Africans like Chinese though, I've heard some horror stories about Chinese mine managers shooting striking workers at copper mines in Zambia!
The latest scandal is a bunch of Chinese mine managers in the Copperbelt found in a room with some early-teen girls. That didn't go over too well.
I find the Africans like the money and infrastructure (new giant soccer stadiums popping up all over), but the two communities are very stand-offish towards each other. It wouldn't surprise me down the road if there are some big riots against the Chinese, but unlike the white man 50 years ago, there is no military to stand in the way of serious trouble from the locals.