Surge in financing, corrupt practices suggest destabilizing colonization efforts 
In the wake of violent uprisings in numerous Islamic countries around the globe, American national security is rightly a focal point of the media's concern. But after rioting and protests subside and the world settles down, where should foreign policy attention focus? The answer is sub-Saharan Africa, one of the most underdeveloped regions. This is not because it is a national security threat, but because China may be systematically colonizing those resource-rich countries.
Trade between Africa and China has increased from $10.8 billion in 2001 to nearly $170 billion in 2011, more than fifteen-fold. In 2010, China invested an estimated $100 billion in various parts of Africa. Though the United States also financially supports numerous countries around the world, there is a major difference between the two strategies. The U.S. generally provides military and humanitarian support (food, clothing, medical supplies, etc.) to needy nations. China builds roads, hospitals, universities, and recently, soccer stadiums. So instead of simply supporting a nation, China leaves monuments of their support, emblazoned with icons of Chinese culture.
On the surface, this may seem innocent: China, strapped for resources and attempting to enter new markets, forms stronger relationships with African countries. But is this really what is happening? Human Rights Watch has reported that mines under Chinese management are less safe and have worse labor conditions than those run by other nations. In April, a Chinese manager at a copper mine in Zambia was killed when workers demanded their wages be increased to minimum wage. Leading up to that, armed Chinese guards killed two Zambian miners protesting slave-like wages.
According to a 2008 piece by the UK's Daily Mail, employee mistreatment is not China's only crime. Gated Chinese communities where no blacks are allowed are popping up around the continent, dams have been carelessly built causing flooding of nature preserves and forests are being destroyed with up to 70 percent of Chinese timber coming from Africa. In oil rich Angola, a $3.5 billion, 500,000 person city constructed by the Chinese sits largely empty. Could there be plans to slowly move parts of China's burgeoning population to Africa?
Furthering the instability of the continent is China's willingness to cavort with corrupt dictators and governments. China is the primary consumer of Sudanese oil, of which much of those proceeds are used to buy Chinese weapons and armored vehicles, contributing to the violence in the region and circumventing U.N. arms embargoes. Zimbabwe's ruthless dictator Robert Mugabe earned support from the army through a $200 million loan from China.
More examples of human rights breaches could certainly be mentioned. One fact, however, is certain: Chinese colonialism in Africa would be a threat to global peace.
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