The role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in China's Lebensraum into Africa through economic expansionism (2000-2018)

Abstract

As the global economic system has become more integrated, interconnected, and interdependent, China's policy in Africa has shifted from being influenced by the Cold War to being impacted by increasingly interconnected and interdependent global economic systems. At the beginning of the 21st century, China's foreign policy in Africa was centered on two interconnected aspects: (1) the capturing of the continent's economy, and (2) the ascent of China to a higher position in the international hierarchy. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is a forum that was initially established in Beijing in October 2000. Its purpose is to coordinate China's dealings with those African states that do not have diplomatic connections with Taiwan. Building up alliances in Africa was the primary motivation behind the establishment of the FOCAC in the first place. It is necessary to investigate if China's concept of peaceful development, which emphasizes the need for a positive-sum game and friendly collaboration, is merely a strategy that China employs to hide its 'mostly economic actions' in many regions of the world. This is because China's concept of peaceful development emphasizes cooperation and a positive-sum game. Because of the attention that is being paid to Africa, it is necessary to investigate the degree of reciprocity that exists in the bilateral relations between China and Africa. To accomplish this objective, the theoretical framework employed by the researcher include theories of Neo-mercantilism, Liberalism, and Marxism. The present research collects information from a wide range of secondary sources, including books, journals articles, and reports that are pertinent to the subject matter now being investigated. This study also has far-reaching consequences for Latin America and Southern Asia, which are less developed because China is spreading its footprints over the world, reportedly using its financial power to create connections with smaller states under the guise of "peaceful development." This study helps leaders and academics from different continents to comprehend the pros and cons of working with a powerful Chinese state. The study, thus concludes with the suggestion that the FOCAC can reshape the perception of China's economic involvement in Africa by highlighting a mutual dedication to sustainable development and progress, achieved through cooperative and accountable actions.