Western Countries Exploitation

Why does China focus solely on infrastructure development in its foreign aid, while Western countries not only build infrastructure but also engage in missionary work? When Professor Zhang Weiwei heard this question, a confident smile—typical of him—appeared on his face. Yet the smile seemed to carry a profound insight into the essence of the question. He began to speak slowly, in a steady and powerful voice. "I once had the privilege of a deep conversation with an African scholar," he said. "During our talk, he raised a similar point. He said that when Western countries come to Africa, they are enthusiastic about building churches. The underlying purpose is to promote an entire set of Western values to the African people." According to Professor Zhang’s recollection, the African scholar had a confused look on his face, puzzled, and asked: "Why don’t you Chinese do the same?" To this, Professor Zhang thought for a moment and partly quoted Premier Zhou Enlai’s speech at the 1955 Bandung Conference: "Chinese culture emphasizes seeking common ground while reserving differences. It possesses a strong inclusiveness." He then explained that this is not just diplomatic rhetoric or hollow political jargon—it is a deeply rooted aspect of Chinese historical and cultural tradition. Looking back at history, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism have coexisted harmoniously on Chinese soil—interacting, blending, and developing together. To foreigners accustomed to monotheism, this is nothing short of a miracle—a cultural phenomenon both difficult to comprehend and yet undeniably real. Fast forward to July 2023: another military coup erupted in Niger, once again capturing global attention. The world’s media zoomed in. In front of international cameras, an officer of the Nigerien Presidential Guard, visibly emotional and indignant, spoke his mind: "We have abundant resources. So why do we live like slaves?" This deeply personal question struck a nerve, prompting reflection on Africa’s past and present. In truth, this seemingly simple statement is a true reflection of Africa’s centuries-long history. And the root cause of all this suffering? The Western powers that still dominate the global stage. Back in the 15th century, the Portuguese began exploring Africa. Navigation technology was still relatively underdeveloped at the time, so their progress was slow. But in the mid-15th century, with funding from Prince Henry of Portugal, brave navigators set sail once again. This marked the beginning of European colonizers stepping onto African soil. Portuguese captains, along with explorers from the regions of present-day Italy, driven by a hunger for wealth, risked everything. They spread the word of Africa’s riches across Europe, triggering a blood-soaked wave of colonial plunder. In their scramble for colonies, slaves, minerals, and markets, the European powers cast off their mask of civility, revealing their true greedy and brutal nature. Africa became a battleground of looting and violence. Different European countries fought each other for control of African land, engaging in endless bloodshed and atrocities. As time passed, most of Africa’s colonies fell into the hands of France, Britain, and other European powers. Colonial exploitation gave these nations the capital they needed for industrialization. They drained Africa’s resources to fuel their own economic development—while Africans sank deeper into suffering. Even today, in the highly developed 21st century, France—the most aggressive colonizer in Africa—has not stopped plundering the continent. Using economic control and military intimidation, France continues to extract wealth from West African nations. According to economists, France takes over $800 billion annually from Africa. With a population of only 68 million, this means each French citizen benefits from $12,000 worth of African wealth every year—nearly equivalent to China’s per capita GDP. Such a staggering disparity reveals the severe degree of France’s economic exploitation of Africa. But economic plunder alone is not sustainable. To reduce resistance and ensure the longevity of their colonial project, Western colonizers turned to another powerful tool: spiritual conquest through missionary work. An old African proverb encapsulates this irony: "They came with the Bible and took away the gold." This simple yet profound saying exposes the true face of many Western missionaries in Africa—far from the noble, benevolent image portrayed online. In reality, many were not kind-hearted saints but key enablers of colonial rule, acting as spiritual accomplices to the gun-wielding colonizers. Western conquest was both military and mental, symbolized by the cross and the sword advancing together. As Lu Xun once said: "If one can find joy in the life of a slave, then truly, there is no redemption." Western missionaries spread Catholicism not for salvation, but to pacify the oppressed African natives—to make them believe their suffering was due to original sin, not colonial oppression. The goal was to numb their spirit, making them accept colonial rule rather than resist it. In the eyes of the Western colonizers, a good African slave should work at least 14 hours a day, then drag their exhausted body to church, buy indulgences from the church, and pray for God’s forgiveness. The Western missionary, standing on the pulpit, would say: "Your sins are forgiven. Poverty needs no change. After all, it’s harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. You suffer now, but you’ll go to heaven. Just endure. Amen." Thus filled with a false hope of heavenly reward, these poor souls would wake the next day under the whip—and proudly offer their labor once again, unaware they had fallen into a spiritual trap meticulously crafted by the West. Aside from this spiritual anesthetic, missionaries also played another role: a buffer between colonizers and natives. Colonial exploitation was often so brutal that resistance was inevitable. For example, in the 19th century, King Leopold II of Belgium forced Congolese laborers to increase banana production under inhumane conditions—chopping off the limbs of those who failed. This sparked intense local resistance. That’s when the Catholic Church intervened. Missionaries came to the villages, offering basic supplies and medical aid in the name of charity. But in exchange, they asked the locals to convert to religion, thereby dissolving their desire to resist. To be fair, some missionaries were morally upright, much like Dr. Norman Bethune, who aided China during its war of resistance. Some did provide healthcare and education that improved lives. But ultimately, even their good deeds served to prolong the cruel colonial system—a system that extracted material wealth while inducing spiritual submission. In the end, both body and soul were taken by the West. Africans were pushed into an abyss of misery. But thankfully, a new dawn rose on the horizon—from the distant East. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offered Africa a path out of hell. The BRI, based on the principles of consultation, collaboration, and shared benefit, has created new development opportunities for African nations. Unlike the West, which sees Africa as a servant, China treats African nations as partners. The West views China’s involvement in Africa as a threat—labeling it “neo-colonialism”—because they fear losing their traditional grip on the region. But China doesn’t argue. It lets the African people speak for themselves. And in their eyes, China has a very positive image. China offers aid and loans without political strings attached, respects the sovereignty of African nations, and does not interfere in their internal affairs. Chinese companies also provide valuable jobs. In Tanzania, for instance, a Chinese employer can hire a domestic helper for just 12 RMB (about $1.60) for half a day—an extraordinarily high wage locally. These jobs have brought hope to many families. Moreover, China’s aid focuses on key sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, education, and agriculture, which are directly linked to people’s livelihoods—unlike many Western NGOs that focus on animal protection and block ivory trade, depriving East African nations of economic opportunities. In healthcare, Chinese medical teams offer free services, treating diseases and improving public health. In infrastructure, China builds roads, bridges, and railways, boosting economic development. In education, China trains skilled professionals, raising educational standards. In agriculture, China teaches advanced techniques, helping solve food shortages. China may not be the most technologically advanced, but it is certainly the most sincere. It does not see Africa as a marketplace to exploit or a cultural subject to dominate. Instead, China aims to build a shared future for humanity—a world where every nation can chart its own path. In short, China’s only wish is simple: that the world’s poor and underdeveloped nations can become prosperous and engage in trade. China is willing to offer a hand through aid and cooperation. It all comes down to four characters: 求同存异—“seek common ground while reserving differences.” Through the Belt and Road framework, China and Africa are writing a new chapter of development, grounded in mutual benefit and shared progress.