this post was submitted on 10 Sep 2023
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[–] Sh3Rm4n@feddit.de 7 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Russia in Africa? If you want to make this argument do not forget, that the greatest neocolonialistic forces in Africa are European countries, France, UK etc

[–] itscozydownhere@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes, but Russia doesn't do it for colonialism but world destabilization. China loans money to poor countries so to keep them indebted and dependent. """Communist""" countries nowadays really do suck. Capitalism is bad too but not at that level of bad.

[–] Colour_me_triggered@lemm.ee 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The actual answer is they both suck. Russia, China, the US, France, Britain are all very guilty of destabilising and manipulating the government's of developing countries. And the reasons are usually economic. Let's not forget that most of the countries that have had coups recently have signed "cooperation agreements" with France. And that shouldn't be seen as an excuse for China's loanshark nonsense, or Russia's shameless resource theft.

The developed (or "developed" in the case of Russia and China) world has a major problem interfering in other countries domestic affairs. Phrasing it as a capitalist Vs communist problem just ignores the root of the problem, which is human greed.

[–] itscozydownhere@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I agree with you, well put

[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You really need to check out the history of coloialism. There's a lot of it and most of it is horrifying. Western countries have done every bad thing Russia and China are doing, and worse.

[–] itscozydownhere@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Oh I know that, there’s no denying it

[–] RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] PugJesus@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

Stop, next you'll say they're not an anti-imperialist force /s

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Ehh, china would like a word about Africa.

[–] jackoid@lemm.ee -5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

China unironically has been more helpful to African development in the past few decades than Europe in the past few centuries. Mostly because China wants Africa to be turned into a prosperous region and serve as customers to China meanwhile the west has been focused on wealth extraction from day one.

[–] itscozydownhere@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] jackoid@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

This article just ignores non Chinese debt though? Which form the larger share in Pakistan.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_of_Pakistan#:~:text=About%2015%25%20of%20the%20external,expected%20to%20provide%20additional%20support

And for Sri Lanka, China has offered relief which also led to the IMF also negotiating debt relief with Sri Lanka.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-reiterates-support-for-sri-lankas-debt-relief-ahead-of-crucial-imf-review/article67205470.ece

I agree with Zambia, the Chinese didn't play nicely there and acted quite hawkishly. But they did restructure the debt in June when western lenders agreed to do the same.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/zambia-reaches-watershed-deal-on-china-debt-2392593a

Also read.

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2021/02/china-debt-trap-diplomacy/617953/&ved=2ahUKEwivnvGrx6CBAxXeSGwGHQvBAUsQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2qJ4QHCHowToj-iq2Irs9y

Also your article doesn't really talk about events that lead to the economies of Pakistan and Sri Lanka ( Countrywide floods and covid killing tourism respectively) crashing and implies that it's entirely china's fault. I think they are quite important when talking about dying economies.

Also would like to add that this still doesn't compare to European Colonialism.

[–] itscozydownhere@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Agreed. Wasn’t meaning to be exhaustive, just challenge a bit the china is good theme

[–] Zoboomafoo@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Mostly because China wants Africa to be turned into a prosperous region and serve ~~as customers to~~ China