Topic: Chinese workers in Africa
Anonymous A started this discussion 1 month ago #131,815
2024: Chinese workers are leaving Africa in droves to find a better life: Report
https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/chinese-workers-are-leaving-africa-in-droves-to-find-a-better-life-report/lqg11pn
2025: Chinese workers return to Africa as lucrative job opportunities beckon
https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337009/chinese-workers-return-africa-lucrative-job-opportunities-beckon
What are your thoughts on this?
https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/chinese-workers-are-leaving-africa-in-droves-to-find-a-better-life-report/lqg11pn
2025: Chinese workers return to Africa as lucrative job opportunities beckon
https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337009/chinese-workers-return-africa-lucrative-job-opportunities-beckon
What are your thoughts on this?
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 49 minutes later[^] [v] #1,408,886
I'd be watching for any 'emerging market' funds drumming up noise or someone looking to score contracts to build there. This doesn't really sound like a humanitarian article.
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 16 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,888
@previous (B)
> This doesn't really sound like a humanitarian article.
The difference in approach between the US and China is interesting.
> This doesn't really sound like a humanitarian article.
The difference in approach between the US and China is interesting.
Anonymous D joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 5 hours later, 6 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,902
China just wants to buy up land. They don't give a shit about the job market.
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 6 hours later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,918
@previous (D)
Do you have a link to any data about this?
I found one website that says that China owns 7% of African land, but the article doesn’t have a date (the website always says "African land 2020" no matter what page you’re on). It also doesn’t have any links to an original source and appears to be from some sort of investment related company. But so far it’s the only link I’ve found that gives an actual number instead of saying "China is buying land" or "China isn’t buying land."
https://african.land/blog/article/how-much-land-does-china-own-in-africa-b88
Do you have a link to any data about this?
I found one website that says that China owns 7% of African land, but the article doesn’t have a date (the website always says "African land 2020" no matter what page you’re on). It also doesn’t have any links to an original source and appears to be from some sort of investment related company. But so far it’s the only link I’ve found that gives an actual number instead of saying "China is buying land" or "China isn’t buying land."
https://african.land/blog/article/how-much-land-does-china-own-in-africa-b88
Anonymous E double-posted this 1 month ago, 7 minutes later, 13 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,919
@previous (E)
I’m not sure I trust that source though since it says:
"The total area of Africa is approximately 1.2 billion acres, of which 71% is covered by land and 29% is covered by water. The total area of land that China owns in Africa is approximately 186,000 square miles (465,000 square kilometers). This is around 7% of the total land area in Africa."
When I googled it, it said the land area of Africa is 30.37 million square kilometers, and 100(465,000 / 30.37 million) = 1.5%. Then 1.2 billion acres is 4,856,227.71 square kilometers. I’m not sure why they’re saying Africa is 6 times smaller than it actually is. Unless they’re only counting farmland. And how is 30% of Africa water?
Actually, I think that’s a bad source. Idk why google AI recommends that as the top result…
I’m not sure I trust that source though since it says:
"The total area of Africa is approximately 1.2 billion acres, of which 71% is covered by land and 29% is covered by water. The total area of land that China owns in Africa is approximately 186,000 square miles (465,000 square kilometers). This is around 7% of the total land area in Africa."
When I googled it, it said the land area of Africa is 30.37 million square kilometers, and 100(465,000 / 30.37 million) = 1.5%. Then 1.2 billion acres is 4,856,227.71 square kilometers. I’m not sure why they’re saying Africa is 6 times smaller than it actually is. Unless they’re only counting farmland. And how is 30% of Africa water?
Actually, I think that’s a bad source. Idk why google AI recommends that as the top result…
Anonymous E triple-posted this 1 month ago, 3 minutes later, 13 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,921
Tbh, I can’t find data on the US or Europe owning land in Africa either. It’s weird how opaque this is…
Anonymous E quadruple-posted this 1 month ago, 7 minutes later, 13 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,922
I guess it depends on what acquiring land refers to. Because I know there are some countries like Nigeria where foreigners can’t own land, but they can be leased land. I find a lot of articles saying "yes China is doing this" or "no China isn’t doing this" but even for leasing I’m still not finding numbers.
Anonymous E quintuple-posted this 1 month ago, 4 minutes later, 13 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,408,923
From 2018, but this gives a number for how many hectares China is leasing from African countries.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329324576_What_is_the_role_of_China_as_land_grabber_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa_Between_reality_and_myth_a_literature_overview
5,566,960 hectares = 55,669.6 square kilometers
I just realized it ends with
"The presence of China in Africa is not going to slow down at any point in the future, however, the lack of grounded resource is a limit to a fully understanding of Chinese intention in Africa,that surely as assumed by the main researchers of this field new to be filled."
Which is completely unhelpful.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329324576_What_is_the_role_of_China_as_land_grabber_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa_Between_reality_and_myth_a_literature_overview
5,566,960 hectares = 55,669.6 square kilometers
I just realized it ends with
"The presence of China in Africa is not going to slow down at any point in the future, however, the lack of grounded resource is a limit to a fully understanding of Chinese intention in Africa,that surely as assumed by the main researchers of this field new to be filled."
Which is completely unhelpful.
(Edited 3 minutes later.)
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 1 month ago, 8 hours later, 21 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,409,005
I bless the quality of life… down in Africa