Ian Taylor is senior lecturer in international relations at the University of St. Andrews. He wrote following essay on the ChinaDialogue:
China’s environmental concerns at home have driven Beijing’s quest for resources overseas, argues Ian Taylor. The country must consider the ecological impact of its logging and oil extraction in Africa.
“There are real fears that further environmental damage may be caused by resource-hungry Chinese companies, facilitated by corrupt government agencies.”
China’s exponential expansion into Africa is well known and has been the subject of numerous reports. But China’s environmental footprint on the continent has not yet been fully addressed. And this is becoming an increasingly hot topic within Africa.
Examples abound where Chinese companies have been caught flouting conservation laws and collaborating with criminals in the exploitation of Africa’s natural assets. While western agents also do the same, the lack of a powerful environmental lobby within China that can effectively critique Beijing’s actions in Africa ¬≠is a real worry. [Full Text]
