REALPOLITIK IN THE AFRICA – ONE CHINA NEXUS, 2001-2008: THE CASES OF CHAD AND MALAWI
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeuropaea.2019.2.03Keywords:
Africa-China studies, economic relations, realpolitik, Chad, MalawiAbstract
This paper investigates whether there was an opportunity cost for two African states (Chad and Malawi) in recognising the Republic of China (ROC) as the One China over the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the period between 2001 and their respective year of switching, which in turn could explain the direction of the switches. In this paper, opportunity cost was operationalised as relative economic loss (as measured through export volumes to either China) incurred that could have otherwise been avoided or compensated for by recognising the PRC over the ROC. In the timeframe studied, after two years for Chad and after one year for Malawi, both countries saw exponentially increased export volumes to the PRC once they affected a switch in recognition from the ROC, since recognising the PRC is concomitant with entering politically enhanced bilateral economic relations at the behest of the economically stronger PRC. This indeed indicates an opportunity cost, and pursuit of realpolitik by the African countries studied who have switched back-and-forth between the two Chinas based on the prospective gains to be made.
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