this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2026
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I do know China meddles in Africa a lot. I think because they are interested in resources, maybe mining or oil?
I read in the past that a lot of the Sudanese groups that pillage and fight with a lot of South Sudan are funded and given firearms or something by China or Chinese groups. I think this was more prominent around 15 years ago when South Sudan was trying to be independently recognized.
Side note: I also remember reading that George Clooney used to fund some kind of satellite thing that helped South Sudanese track movements of North Sudanese so they could preemptively avoid attack.
China definitely meddles. But yeah, probably nowhere near the degree the US does.
China has mutual development projects in Africa, the reason is because in the long run mutual development benefits everyone.
These are soft power projection projects. You would recognize them as such if it were the US doing it (which we used to before Trump decided it was woke), so why do you stick to the Chinese state narrative here?
Those 2 things are not mutually exclusive. In fact, genuinely helping poor countries develop is a pretty good way to gain soft power.
No one here, and I do mean no one, is saying that China isn't gaining anything from doing that. But that doesn't mean it's bad for the other party or hides some nefarious secret purpose either. Diplomacy isn't a zero sum gain where if China gain from a deal therefore the other party has to lose to compensate, that's not how international relations work.
Because China isn't imperialist, it isn't dominated by finance capital and isn't super-exploiting the global south. Imperialism isn't a policy preference, it's what happens when capitalism reaches its domestic limits. China doesn't have the same economic forces that push the US Empire into imperialism.
China does gain international credibility from these mutual cooperation projects, sure, but since they are mutually beneficial that isn't a bad thing. Further, Trump still exerts soft power, it wasn't because it was "woke" but because it's expensive and imperialism is declining. The US Empire is pivoting towards hard power now that US soft power is dying.
Are you comparing economic collaboration with installing military bases?
China has exactly one foreign military base. It's in South Africa. They are very happy with it and there's no contention.
By contrast, US military bases in Japan are notorious for raping, kidnapping, and other abuses of locals.
No. China does not also "meddle" in the rest world.
I'm not comparing Chinese influence to US. Both can exist and both can be bad. I don't believe I've ever read of lots of bases or invasions by China (though they do practice invasions with Russia sometimes). But they have in the last 10-15 years equipped a lot of Sudan with more than simple economic influence. Guns. Weaponry. Resources that allowed Sudan to oppress South Sudan. Well-documented since like 2010.
I mean you did compare them and you're still comparing them. You're saying they're both bad. That's literally a comparison.
China is selling arms to anyone and everyone that wants them. Is that meddling or mercantilism?
By comparison, the US is committing mass murder almost daily.
No, they're not both "bad". The US is atrocious and China is selling weapons to bad people.
Oh you know that? That's something you know? How exactly do you know that? Did it come to you in a dream?
Shit I've read here and there for years. You know, like most people that arent fucking dickheads.
Here's one single easily googled example: https://grimshawreview.lse.ac.uk/articles/10
And that's merely the intro. But I know you don't care.
Note: I have zero opinion or knowledge on this article. It's merely one example. There are lots easily found.
Gyude Moore: “China in Africa: An African Perspective” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5uzxV8ub9k