cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/1474382

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Local and international experts and diplomats on Wednesday discussed in Taipei what they called China’s “bad governance model” in Africa, criticizing it for creating unpayable debts for countries in that continent.

They highlighted Taiwan’s model in Somaliland as an alternative, at a half-day symposium, themed “China’s Bad Governance Model for Africa – Alternative Visions,” which was organized by the Taipei-based non-governmental organization, Taiwan Inspiration Association.

• Citing the example of Zambia, as the landlocked African country is widely considered “Ground Zero” for China’s Investment on the continent. Its Patriotic Front government assumed power in 2011, and Zambia has worked hand-in-hand with China on a number of major construction programs.

• Unfortunately, as part of these China-Zambia deals, only Chinese companies were allowed to compete, meaning the profits were ultimately shared by Chinese companies and government officials, while ordinary Zambians received none of the benefits.

• In total, Beijing provided more than US$10 billion in loans to Zambia during the Patriotic Front administration – from 2011 to 2021 – which was as much as 50 percent of the country’s GDP.

• An alternative to China’s bad governance model, is the relationship between Taiwan and Somaliland, according to Taiwan’s representative to the East African state Allen Lou (羅震華). Lou praised Somaliland as the “only country to say no to China in Africa.”

• In contrast to the Chinese model in Africa, Taiwan’s model of cooperation focuses on “people centric, knowledge transfers, and capacity building,” Lou said at the symposium. Ultimately, Taiwan wants to create a model in Somaliland to win more friends in East Africa, the envoy said.