African countries should think long and hard before falling into Chinese debt traps. I think India or even Japan will be much safer option for them.
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China's sprawling Belt and Road Initiative has made developed nations anxious about losing influence in the developing world. The U.S. and the EU are each advancing their own new strategic initiatives to support development in emerging economies.
Meanwhile, in a development that has so far attracted little publicity, Japan and India have been gradually fleshing out their own joint program to support African development -- the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor plan -- which offers real potential to bring economic benefit to Africa.
The push by Tokyo and New Delhi is motivated in good measure by their concerns about China's rising global influence and a desire to cement the strategic partnership between two of Asia's largest democracies. But making the AAGC effective will require the two governments to pitch their plan as complementary to the BRI so that African nations are not asked to choose sides.
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The alternative to Chinese debt for Africa from Japan and India
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China's sprawling Belt and Road Initiative has made developed nations anxious about losing influence in the developing world. The U.S. and the EU are each advancing their own new strategic initiatives to support development in emerging economies.
Meanwhile, in a development that has so far attracted little publicity, Japan and India have been gradually fleshing out their own joint program to support African development -- the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor plan -- which offers real potential to bring economic benefit to Africa.
The push by Tokyo and New Delhi is motivated in good measure by their concerns about China's rising global influence and a desire to cement the strategic partnership between two of Asia's largest democracies. But making the AAGC effective will require the two governments to pitch their plan as complementary to the BRI so that African nations are not asked to choose sides.
...
The alternative to Chinese debt for Africa from Japan and India