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China’s Growing Influence in Africa, Japanese Scandal Shakes Ruling Party

German media highlights China's overwhelming response in Africa, raising questions about the implications of this growing influence. Plus, a major political scandal shakes the ruling party in Japan. Stay informed about the shifting dynamics in international relations and the impact on global politics with Simply Politics.Sources:https://www.dw.com/zh/%E5%BE%B7%E8%AF%AD%E5%AA%92%E4%BD%93%E5%9C%A8%E9%9D%9E%E6%B4%B2%E4%B8%80%E5%91%BC%E7%99%BE%E5%BA%94%E7%9A%84%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/a-70162139https://finance.sina.cn/2024-09-08/detail-incnmkuk6795952.d.htmlhttps://m.mp.oeeee.com/a/BAAFRD000020240906997292.htmlhttps://finance.sina.cn/2024-09-05/detail-incnatrm5337321.d.htmlOutline:(00:00:00) Introduction(00:00:49) German media: China in Africa "one hundred responses" in China(00:02:56) An Jiuxiong, an officer of political climbing, was "double -opened". He also made a profit for others in terms of job promotion.(00:04:59) Wang Yi: China adheres to the glorious tradition of Africa, and never adds any political conditions(00:06:51) "Kishida School" announced the dissolution! How can the black gold scandal impact on the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party, how can it affect the end of September?

Duration:
8m
Broadcast on:
08 Sep 2024
Audio Format:
mp3

German media highlights China's overwhelming response in Africa, raising questions about the implications of this growing influence. Plus, a major political scandal shakes the ruling party in Japan. Stay informed about the shifting dynamics in international relations and the impact on global politics with Simply Politics.

Sources:
https://www.dw.com/zh/%E5%BE%B7%E8%AF%AD%E5%AA%92%E4%BD%93%E5%9C%A8%E9%9D%9E%E6%B4%B2%E4%B8%80%E5%91%BC%E7%99%BE%E5%BA%94%E7%9A%84%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD/a-70162139
https://finance.sina.cn/2024-09-08/detail-incnmkuk6795952.d.html
https://m.mp.oeeee.com/a/BAAFRD000020240906997292.html
https://finance.sina.cn/2024-09-05/detail-incnatrm5337321.d.html

Outline:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:49) German media: China in Africa "one hundred responses" in China
(00:02:56) An Jiuxiong, an officer of political climbing, was "double -opened". He also made a profit for others in terms of job promotion.
(00:04:59) Wang Yi: China adheres to the glorious tradition of Africa, and never adds any political conditions
(00:06:51) "Kishida School" announced the dissolution! How can the black gold scandal impact on the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party, how can it affect the end of September?
Good morning, and welcome to Simply Politics from China. It's Sunday, September 8th. On today's show, German media reports on China's extensive involvement in Africa, and Zhuzhong faces consequences for political climbing, and Wang Yi emphasizes China's commitment to Africa without political conditions. Plus, the Kishida School announces dissolution, raising questions about the impact of the black gold scandal on the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party. This coverage and more, up next. I'm David, and you're listening to Simply Politics from China. We start off with a recent commentary in the Frankfurt or Al-Gomainen Seitung, a German newspaper, which has highlighted China's influence in Africa, stating that when China raises its arm and calls, almost everyone comes to respond. This was in reference to the recent China-Africa Forum. Here to discuss this further is our correspondent. Can you tell us more about this call and response dynamic? Certainly, David. The commentary by Claudia Brill points out that the influx of African political figures to Beijing to attend this political event is viewed with some skepticism by Western countries. The struggle for influence in Africa is in full swing, with interests ranging from raw materials, access to a huge market, to geopolitical alliances. And it seems that China currently holds the upper hand in this race. What factors are contributing to China's strong influence in Africa? There are several factors at play. One is a sense of ideological belonging, another is solidarity among the global south, and of course there are also pragmatic components. The relationship between China and Africa is multifaceted and complex, and it's clear that China's influence is significant. How do these dynamics play out in terms of the relationships between China and individual African nations? Well, the specifics can vary from country to country, but overall, China's economic and political influence is felt across the continent. China's investments in infrastructure, for example, have been significant, and politically, China's non-interference policy is often seen as an attractive alternative to the conditional aid and loans offered by Western nations. What are the implications of this for the West? The West is certainly paying attention. The struggle for influence in Africa is not just about access to resources or markets, it's also about geopolitical alliances. As China continues to strengthen its ties with African nations, the balance of global power could shift. It's a complex and evolving situation that will continue to be closely watched. Indeed, a situation to keep an eye on. Thanks Celeste. Turning now to another political development in China, Anhui Xiong, the former secretary of the Chandongnan Prefecture Committee in Guizhou Province, has been expelled from the party and removed from public office. This comes after a series of allegations including political maneuvering and corruption. Here to discuss this further is our correspondent. Can you provide more details on this case? Certainly, David. Anhui Xiong was found to have lost his ideals and beliefs and betrayed his original mission. He was accused of having a misplaced view of political achievements and a distorted view of power. The investigation revealed that he seriously violated political discipline and political rules, engaged in political maneuvering for personal promotion and resisted organizational review. He also participated in superstitious activities, which is a violation of party rules. What were the specific allegations against him in terms of corruption? Anhui Xiong was accused of violating organizational principles by seeking benefits for others in job promotions and other aspects and receiving property in return. He was found to have lost his integrity, illegally accepting gifts and money, and using his power to undertake projects for his relatives to seek benefits. His greed allegedly swelled and he used his position to seek benefits for others in job promotions, fund allocation and other aspects, and illegally accepted huge amounts of property. What are the implications of this case for the wider political landscape in China? This case is a clear indication of the Chinese government's ongoing crackdown on corruption within its ranks. It sends a strong message that no one is above the law and that those who violate party rules and engage in corruption will be held accountable. It's part of a broader effort to maintain the integrity of the party and the government and to ensure public trust. Thanks for that report, Abby. Shifting our focus to another major event, the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, or FOCAC, recently opened in Beijing. During the event, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with reporters and outlined China's approach to its long-term cooperation with Africa. Here to discuss this further is our correspondent. Can you tell us more about Wang Yi's comments? Certainly, David. Wang Yi highlighted several key aspects of China's relationship with Africa. He emphasized that China does not interfere in Africa's internal affairs and provides assistance to Africa without attaching any political conditions. He also stated that China closely follows Africa's development needs, focusing not only on infrastructure but also on small but beautiful projects that benefit people's livelihoods. What did Wang Yi say about China's stance on geopolitical games in Africa? Wang Yi made it clear that China does not engage in geopolitical games in Africa. He stated that China opposes creating camp confrontations in Africa and using Africa for private gains. This statement underscores China's commitment to a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Africa rather than a competitive or exploitative one. What are the implications of these comments for China-Africa relations? These comments reaffirm China's commitment to a respectful and supportive relationship with Africa. They highlight China's focus on projects that directly benefit the African people and its refusal to engage in power games or impose political conditions. This approach is likely to continue to shape China's interactions with Africa in the years to come. Thanks for that report from China, James. According now to Japan, the black gold scandal that rocked the country's ruling liberal democratic party last year continues to have repercussions in Japanese politics. The latest development is the dissolution of the "Kishita faction" led by current Prime Minister Fumio Kishita. Here to discuss this further is our correspondent. Can you tell us more about this development? Certainly, David. The Kishita faction has submitted an application to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to dissolve the political group. This makes it the second faction within the Liberal Democratic Party to submit a dissolution filing following the Moriyama faction. What led to the dissolution of the Kishita faction? The dissolution comes in the wake of the black gold scandal that was exposed last year. The scandal has had a significant impact on the factions within the Liberal Democratic Party, leading to a shake-up in the party's internal dynamics. What could be the potential impact of this on the upcoming election at the end of September? The dissolution of these factions could have a significant impact on the upcoming election. It could lead to a realignment of political alliances within the party and could potentially influence the party's electoral strategy. However, the exact impact will depend on how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks. Thanks for that report, Michael. And with that, we wrap up our stories for today. Thanks for listening to Simply Politics from China. We'll see you back here tomorrow. [MUSIC] [BLANK_AUDIO]