China & South Africa: Comrades in Arms

Eva Nolle, Talya Parker 

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Abstract 

China and South Africa’s relationship has reached new heights since establishing ties in the 1990s, culminating in South Africa’s appointment as a Comprehensive Strategic Partner in 2010. South Africa is now China’s largest trading partner in the Africa, the greatest recipient of Chinese investment and arguably China’s greatest ally on the continent. Through all this, China has managed to cultivate a substantial influence over South Africa, it’s politics and economy. This influence can be seen through the ANC’s relationship with the Chinese Communist Party, the South African economy’s overreliance China and South Africa’s defence of China’s strategies on a regional level. Despite the skewed relationship, South Africa is heavily reliant on China’s investment and ongoing commitment to assist them, creating incentive to not slow down this growing influence of China in South Africa.