African leaders gather for a two-day summit in Beijing focused on economic ties with China amid increasing criticism of its debt-laden approach to aid in the developing world.
President Xi Jinping hosts leaders from more than 50 African countries for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation starting on Monday.
The once-every-three-year conference typically sees China dole out large loan packages for the continent. Xi announced $60bn in assistance and loans for Africa during the last summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2015.
China’s economic data shows trade between Beijing and the continent’s countries rose 14 percent last year to $170bn. (AlJazeera.com 3 September, 2018)
Comment:
Is Africa substituting one form of colonialism for another, one colonialist ‘master’ for another? No country wants to end up in a debt trap like Sri Lanka. China, of course, is quick to point out that it isn’t the first nor the only economic colonial master. Why isn’t the wealth of Africa’s resources powering Africa’s own economic transformation? How could the wealth of Africa, take its countries and peoples to the precipice of economic slavery to China?
China’s strategic plans stretches over a hundred years. China is built upon an ideology, with a world view emanating from that ideology. With it, China was able to convert the wealth of other nations, to build its own.
Our nations appear incapable of neither architecting a strategic vision nor implementing one, for we lack that fundamental element – an ideological basis. We also suffer from insincere, incompetent, despotic puppet leaders, devoid of vision, beholden to their masters. The few, that implement democracy, suffer from the democratic malady of chronic, episodic-short-termism, which hampers long term strategic progress. Not to mention the disruption from the endless manipulation and jostling for control from ‘traditional’ colonial masters – a recent victim being Malaysia.
Western systems and ideals are crashing down in flames all over the West. From the global economic crisis that caused so much misery, to an international currency that can be ‘weaponised’ to cause currency crises in sovereign countries, to the ruling system that has selected their nations ‘best’ who championed and emboldened racism and hatred not only in the United States, but also in European countries. Liberal humanitarian ideals are failing and increasingly being rejected in Poland, Hungary, France, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland the list of ‘enlightened, first world’ liberal democracies where tolerance and respect is being replaced by bigotry and hatred, continues to grow.
Only one Ideology protects its people and lands and prevents exploitation from rapacious colonialists. Islam’s systems treat humans with dignity, empower the individual and society, protect and safeguard the weak, unites mankind regardless of colour, tongue or creed. Islam is an ideology for human beings, not built upon principles extracted from the animal kingdom. يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلْ مَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ “They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, “Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.” [2:215]
Its economic system, isn’t subject to the whims of rich bankers seeking to make a quick killing, exploiting the basic need for shelter, which caused a global economic contagion. وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا بِهَا إِلَى الْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا فَرِيقًا مِّنْ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ بِالْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].” [2:188]
Islam guarantees basic needs for all, facilitates and enables opportunities for everyone to attain to a comfortable and dignified life. Wealth be it on or below the lands, works for the benefit and well being of the people – both individuals and society. All wealth from the earth, belongs to the people. Not to private companies, MNCs, colonial conglomerates nor foreign governments. Islam made it compulsory for the circulation of its currency (gold and silver) be for all and not hoarded or restricted to the few. كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنكُمْ “…so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you…” [59:7]
It has a ruling system that wouldn’t permit the worse examples of mankind bearing ignorance, arrogance, racism and hatred to lead their society.
Islam brought about the most enlightened civilisation the world has ever known. It is time, for the sincere, the rational and objective thinkers of the world, to get beyond the disinformation and propaganda, to understand Islam with clear eyes. It is time for the Believers to carry Islam once more, for the good of the Ummah and save the world from the failed liberal secularism.
Hamzah Mohammad