Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.
4) Critically analyse Africa as the rising China’s sphere of influence.(250 words)
Why this question:
Sino-African relations are a vibrant, two-way dynamic in which both sides adjust to policy initiatives and popular perceptions emanating from the other. China is both a long-established diplomatic partner and a new investor in Africa. Chinese interests on the continent encompass not only natural resources but also issues of trade, security, diplomacy, and soft power. Thus it is necessary for us to examine the rising China’s sphere of influence in Africa.
Key demand of the question:
The question expects us to critically analyse the rising influence of China in Africa and its effects.
Directive word:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin with brief introductory lines on the current engagements of China in Africa.
Body:
- Narrate the context of the question, provide for a backgrounder – Chinese President Xi Jinping enfolded his Europe tour earlier this week, which saw Italy signing up for China’s Belt and Road Initiative. What was evident was European concern over China’s spreading influence, riding allied on investment, particularly in Africa.
- Explain how China’s interests have been in energy and infrastructure, besides mines, with little backward or forward linkages in the host economy of Africa.
- Explain the flux in African condition – Debt, if unserved, can lead to Chinese takeover of assets.
- Role of India in such a scenario.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
