The reason why there are 100,000 Africans in Guangzhou is because China started reaching out to Africa in the early 2000s. And why is that? I know that the ignorant Chinese members here probably do not understand why Africa holds such an important part of Chinese foreign policy but it is exactly because the Chinese leaders then had the foresight to understand that there will be a day that comes when the White Western world, threatened by China's rise, will spurn China and seek to isolate and crush it. When that day comes, China could not be dependent on Western markets nor could they be dependent on its ties to the West solely. Therefore, Africa was seen as a tremendous opportunity because it was largely written off by the West. Africa's lower level of development provided ample ground for young and inexperienced Chinese companies to start venturing abroad, gaining experience operating in foreign soil and taking market share from more advanced counterparts from the West and Japan. Africa's development is an important part of Chinese foreign policy because China needs a market to replace Western markets and that is why China has sunk billions into building infrastructure in Africa. Out of all the corners of the world, China is deeply hated by the White Western world and its East Asian neighbors. Look at favorability polls, China is DEEPLY HATED. Where China does best is in Africa and the Middle East. People there tended to have more favorable views of China. That is why the Western media is focused on making China appear anti-Muslim and anti-Black.
However, look at the responses of the ignorant Chinese members on this forum and they are working hard to reinforce the view pushed by the Western media that China is a racist, hateful country. And the reality is, China IS an extremely insular nation with little understanding for other cultures or races. Don't get me wrong, Chinese people by and large are friendly to foreigners and violence against foreigners is very rare. However, as we can see here, when there is a lack of institutional protections and cultural awareness for the rights of individuals and universal values, fear can quickly transform into xenophobia and racism and cruelty.
This is in part a product of China's history, size, environment and also a lack of education. There will be Chinese members who justify their racism by saying, "Well, all East Asian countries are racist, look at Japan, S. Korea, etc". Well, Japan and S. Korea are satisfied being appendages of the Western world. They are vassal states. Are any of them competing with the United States to ascend the throne of global power?
China is NOT READY to be a superpower if its people remain this insular and dense. The members here only reinforce this fact. They are EXTREMELY DENSE and do not understand that they are in fact helping their enemies ruin their own image and harm their own interests. When it comes to soft power, the United States is a quick witted star attorney while China is a down syndrome patient.
If the Chinese government wants a leading role in the world, then it will have to build an awareness of universal values and a culture that can appeal universally. It has to make sure its system and its society are tolerant of all cultures and can deal with all races and cultures in a fair and just manner.
