Don't Write Off China's Medical Diplomacy in Africa Just Because Nigeria Isn't Happy About It
There's no doubt that the tremendous backlash against the plan to send an 18-person Chinese medical team to Nigeria is catching Beijing off guard. After all, this isn't how it's supposed to go. In Italy and Serbia, Chinese medical staff were received like heroes coming to save the day.
That's definitely not the case in Nigeria, where politicians, doctors, journalists, and others have all voiced their strenuous opposition. It's the same on social media where thousands have registered their unfiltered anger over what they perceive as an insult to Nigeria's national pride.
U.S. and European journalists, commentators and Twitterati at large are also picking up on the controversy, seemingly eager to suggest it's representative of a broader trend. "#China's #codiv19 diplomacy is backfiring everywhere and, clearly, also in #Africa," declared emerging market analyst Alicia Garcia Herrero on Twitter in response to the dustup.
Similarly, I spoke with three reporters yesterday from various international news outlets whom each asked me whether what we're seeing in Nigeria is indicative of a broader failing of Beijing's humanitarian diplomacy in Africa (aka "Donation Diplomacy" or "Mask Diplomacy").
I don't think so.
First of all, Nigeria is not the whole of Africa. Everyone knows that Nigeria's voice on the continent is amplified by Nollywood, its dynamic online content sector, and the overwhelming size of its social media population. So it's easy to assume that what happens there is true for the whole continent.
A close reading of the arguments among Nigerian stakeholders about whether the country needs Chinese medical assistance reveals many issues that are specific to Nigeria. Nigerian doctors are truly world-renowned. That is not the case in other African countries. Nigeria has extensive experience combatting deadly infectious diseases like Ebola and Lassa Fever. Again, that's different from many other African states.
Algeria is the only other country to have hosted Chinese medical teams tasked with COVID-19 prevention, and that visit apparently went off without a hitch.
So, I think it would be prudent to reserve judgment on whether China's increasingly ambitious donation diplomacy is encountering genuine resistance in Africa or has just hit a nationalist speedbump in Nigeria.
Global affairs, science & technology policy, sustainability, international business & trade, social entrepreneurship & innovation, education, program management, Africa
4 年I concur that recent developments in Nigeria are not reflective of the broader trends in other parts of Africa. It appears there is a concerted effort to paint China's actions in a negative way, as with previous engagements.
Sales,Marketing and Business Development
4 年The reactions of Nigerians to the coming of Chinese doctors is not borne out of hatred for China or its citizens. It is borne out of the fact that Nigeria leaders do not have faith in Nigerians and our abilities to solve our problems. If not for the fact that COVID-19 is a global pandemic, our leaders from the very top to the bottom would have deserted us and fled to the US or UK. They brought the virus upon us through their unbridled preference for anything foreign. Nigerian doctors are renown for their prowess across the globe. Why inviting 14 doctors to a country of over 200m population when millions of Nigerian doctors are excelling all over the world?
CEO at DEROI Co LTD
4 年WHO is responsible of what is happening now. The virus ain’t badly spread if global emergency was announced earlier.. Yet no need to keep blaming and accusing each others, most important is to stay united and fight against this pandemic. Eric Olander 欧瑞克 : did you hear about the news in Guangdong province? Specifically Guangzhou city.. now all foreigners are under quarantine policy due to a shameless behavior of two infected recent visitors to the city.
CEO/ CHAIRMAN at MOORLAND CASES NIG LTD
4 年Chinese people are not to be trusted my sincere take on this is that Nigerians are better off without their so called medical team.
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4 年I also blame Nigeria leaders for careless and stupidity.. We have all it takes to build a better world.. For you information today 12 finance house, treasures house got burnt and they who are our so called leaders said trillion of money ?? are lost in the process and i asked how many people in this country made up of population