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1 [1] (January 31, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/govesia0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Serv Informing thej gs tive dabate scne 1914 China and Sub-Saharan Africa The People's Republic of China (PRC, or China) maintains bilateral diplomatic ties with all countries in sub-Saharan African (Africa hereafter) except Eswatini, Taiwan's sole diplomatic partner in Africa. These ties, often dating to the Cold War, have grown in scope and diversity since the launch in 2000 of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Some Members of Congress have asserted that China's activities in Africa threaten U.S. foreign policy and national security interests. The Biden and first Trump Administrations both emphasized geostrategic competition with the PRC in their national security and regional strategies. The first Trump Administration established Prosper Africa, a U.S.-Africa trade and investment expansion initiative, in part to counter PRC economic clout in Africa. The Biden Administration maintained the initiative. Such issues remain pertinent; at his nomination hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of China using conditional finance, debt diplomacy or debt traps, and bribery to incentivize governments, including in Africa, to diplomatically ally with China in multilateral fora. PRC interests in Africa appear to prioritize expanding trade, finance, and investment ties and securing international support for PRC positions and policies. Africa's commodities, including critical minerals, make the region important for PRC industries and manufacturing. Many PRC firms are active across Africa, meeting often sizable demand for PRC goods and services, notably including building and road construction and digital communications infrastructure. Much of China's extensive commercial activity in Africa is aided by PRC state-backed credit, often tied to the use of PRC-origin firms' goods and services. African governments' approaches to the PRC focus primarily on economic interests (e.g., export growth and access to capital and inexpensive goods). Geopolitical and political motivations-such as international partnership diversification, concord in selected policy areas, or shared rejection of sanctions and human rights criticisms-also drive ties in some cases. Opinion polls in Africa show a wide range of views on both China and the United States, and while survey perceptions of both are often are broadly similar, in some cases China has drawn marginally or significantly more positive views regarding its economic and political influence or reputation. Interstate Relations I . .V FOCAC, the most comprehensive PRC-Africa cooperation channel, consists of triennial summits, ministerial conferences, and official thematic fora (e.g., on trade, health, defense, law, and media). At the most recent FOCAC summit, in 2024, the PRC pledged $29.6 billion in credit lines, and $11.3 billion in undefined assistance. It also pledged at least $9.9 billion in PRC company investments in Africa; ten partnership initiatives in varied areas, such as a clean energy and green development initiative; training; and duty-free access for many least- Updated January 31, 2025 developed African countries. China also claims several bilateral strategic and other partnerships in Africa; maintains a mission to the African Union (AU) and special representatives to sub-regional groups (e.g., the East African Community); and cooperates with African states in UN and other multilateral groupings. Economic Relations In 2023, China's goods trade with Africa totaled $240 billion, while U.S.-Africa trade totaled $47 billion (see Chart below). China's top African trading partner in 2023 was South Africa, accounting for $56 billion or 23% of PRC trade with the region. Other leading PRC trade partners included Angola, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). China's chief imports from Africa included fossil fuels and metals, including precious metals and critical minerals. PRC firms have invested in mining operations across Africa (e.g., cobalt mining in DRC) and import a large share of Africa's mineral production. These materials, crucial for a range of strategic PRC and U.S. industries, have helped China to become a major global mineral processor and establish a dominant position in many global critical mineral supply chains. Figure I.China & U.S. Goods Trade with Sub-Saharan Africa -0-China UnitdStates 200 c~150 2014 2uih 016 z017 201S 2019 2020zv 202 ~2 2023 Source: PRC & U.S. official trade data via Trade Data Monitor China's economic activity in Africa focuses especially on mineral- and oil-producing countries and is mediated, in part, by China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a multifaceted foreign economic policy and investment program. (See CRS In Focus IFi 1735, China 's One Belt, One Road -Initiative: Economic Issues.) In Africa, only Eswatini and Mauritius have not joined the BRI. China and Mauritius share a 2019 bilateral free trade agreement and the Southern African Customs Union and China have a customs cooperation agreement. PRC-origin finance provides Africa access to non-Western- backed capital and has undergirded economic ties. Between 2006 and 2024, PRC entities provided nearly $102 billion in large ($ 100 million or higher) non-bond investments in African countries, with 75% going to the mining and energy sectors, American Enterprise Institute China Global ze