From the Washington Post:
The killings of nine Chinese oilmen in Ethiopia’s desolate Ogaden Desert have provided a bloody reminder that China’s worldwide pursuit of raw materials has taken it into some rough neighborhoods where goodwill proclamations may not be enough to avoid getting caught up in local conflicts.
Exposure to the military and political struggles that convulse Africa is one of the prices this fast-developing country is paying for its growing power and profile on the world stage. It is a new sensation for most Chinese, who are used to considering their country an economic actor that, unlike traditional powers, avoids interference in the political and military affairs of foreign nations. [Full text]
