Internet censors shut down debate while state media talks up the tangible efforts of its economic commitment to African nations
China has defended its decision to pledge another US$60 billion in funding to African nations amid criticism that the money should be spent at home.
Quick-fingered internet censors suspended comments on news reports about the funding on Weibo, China’s Twitter equivalent, on Tuesday while state media outlets touted the tangible benefits of investing in Africa.
While Beijing fended off external accusations of neocolonialism, the enormous financing promise drew ire at home over China’s expanding foreign investments, in the midst of an economic slowdown and the spectre of further battering from the escalating US-China trade war.
Chinese President Xi Jinping made the funding pledge at the start of the three-yearly Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on Monday.
The commitment included an exemption for some nations’ existing debts and added to US$60 billion in loans and grants already promised to Africa in 2015.
In separate microblogging posts, online commenters angrily compared Monday’s pledge with domestic spending on education and the disadvantaged.
“You should first raise your own children,” one commenter wrote. “My God, there have been so many natural and man-made casualties recently, can you please take a look at our low-income people?”
“US$60 billion is money that we earned!” another wrote. “Tell me who is causing the suffering of China’s everyday people?”
In one biting meme on social media, netizens set Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s comments that China would not waver in its economic commitment to Africa alongside Education Minister Chen Baosheng’s quotes that the country had limited funds and could not “exceed its own stage of development”.
