China invests in African countries that have some sort of natural resource that would benefit it. eg: in exchange for access to Gabon's iron ore reserves, China's developing railroad and port infrastructure. This sort of interaction happens across Africa, and some call it a "resources-for-infrastructure" model. Chinese officials say it is a mutually beneficial interaction, but some critics call it a new form of colonization.
There are a number of problems that have arisen with China's activities, leading some African populations to become skeptical. China has been criticized for low labor safety standards, poor quality of buildings, roads and other infrastructure, counterfeit products, and land grabs following projects. There are also complaints that China brings laborers from abroad, rather than employing local laborers.
But we cannot ignore the positives here. There are tangible infrastructure benefits to China's engagement - just look at how Chinese built roads have had a positive impact on transportation and commerce in Kenya. China is investing in places where many avoid - including DRC and Somalia; China gave millions in military aid to the AMISOM peacekeeping forces in Somalia. Complete facts and figures on China's investments in Africa, however, are unknown.
China's economic interest in Africa is clear but political motives are yet unclear. It seems China has a deliberately un-political relationship with African countries. This can be positive in some cases, allowing for more sovereign decision making by governments, but also has downsides. Unlike Western countries, China does not emphasize good governance and anti-corruption in its engagement with officials. This is why undemocratic governments in particular prefer working with China. Nevertheless, these governments should recognize the huge importance of good governance and anti-corruption for their own national development and progress, regardless of outside pressure.
