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On Tue, 15 Jul 2008, nada wrote:
> On Jul 15, 12:20 pm, John Holmes <jhol...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> On Tue, 15 Jul 2008, nada wrote:
>>> Chinese state capitalism in action...wannabe imperialists:
>>
>>> China steps up investment in Congo as war in east continues
>>> By John Farmer and Ann Talbot
>>> 15 July 2008
>>
>>> The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the process of receiving $9
>>> billion of Chinese investment in what has been dubbed Congo=92s
>>> =93Marshall Aid Plan,=94 a reference to American refinancing of Europe
=
at
>>> the end of the World War II.
>>
>>> The Chinese are not concerned with rebuilding the economy in Congo
>>> after the destruction of the 1998-2003 war, in which more than five
>>> million people died, mainly from disease and starvation. The accord
>>> between China and DRC signed on January 28 is meant to provide China
>>> the much needed cheap resources for its booming economy=97and the
Congo
>>> elite greater op****tunities to enrich themselves.
>>
>>> China=92s Ex****t Im****t Bank, Exim, pledged finance for major road and
>>> rail construction projects and for the rehabilitation of its mining
>>> sector, badly damaged by years of war, corruption and neglect.
>>> According to re****ts, China has already dispatched 5,000 containers
>>> holding mining equipment to renovate mines involved in Katanga
>>> province. Oliver Kamatu, DRC planning minister, said $3 billion will
>>> go towards bringing mining back into operation and $6 billion on
>>> infrastructure projects.
>>
>>> Full:http://wsws.org/articles/2008/jul2008/cong-j15.shtml
>>
>> Weird posting, David.
>>
>> This is *much* better than one would have expected from the Chinese
>> Stalinists.
>>
>> After the US-sponsored war which killed some 4 million people, the
>> Chinese are rebuilding, clearing the mines, doing all the things that
>> the USA should be doing and isn't and never would.
>>
>> A Marshall Plan for the Congo. Cool!
>>
>> The source says they aren't really concerned with the people of the
>> Congo so much as China's needs? Well, what do you expect? They are
>> Stalinists, after all.
>>
>> -jh-
>
> These investments help nobody but the Chinese companies involved. As
> is well known, Chinese companies work on a profit and loss system,
> just like US or French companies do. They are known as ruthless
> exploiters of their workforces, again, no different than imperialist
> ones. They are akin to Taiwanese and Korean companies who are
> *notorious* for violence against their workers, anti-unionism and part
> time work.
>
> The Chinese are *practicing* at being imperialists. And doing a good
> job, I might add.
>
> David
>
Hasty reading on my part. I thought they were clearing minefields, not=20
just clearing out mines. But still, nine billion in investment and=20
rebuilding of infrastructure seems likely to help the Congolese=20
economy a lot, and therefore the people of the Congo. The assertion by=20
the Northites that this "Marshall Plan" is "not concerned with=20
rebuilding the economy" seems based only on their political=20
prejudices, not any facts in the posting.
The Chinese companies investing in Africa are, my impression is,=20
privately owned, and therefore wannabe Chinese imperialists, and have=20
been known to ruthlessly exploit workforces, not least in China itself=20
of course. I recall we had a posting here on apst a few months ago in=20
which a Chinese embassador to one on the African countries gave 'em a=20
public slap on the wrist for giving China a bad name.
But that nine billion in investment surely mostly was from the=20
government, not from the companies, and must be largely in the form of=20
aid or low-interest loans, as the Congo is far too broke to be able to=20
get that much aid any other way.
-jh-
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