China-Africa Cooperation And Response To Covid-19 Pandemic
Olumuyiwa Adebayo Adetunji, Simon Jonah Otumala
Keywords: China-Africa, Covid-19, South-South cooperation, global health, diplomacy
Abstract
This paper examines the dynamics of China-Africa cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on the multifaceted response strategies and the discourse surrounding them. While other research have examined the health implications of the pandemic on international relations, this study engages China’s involvement with African nations through the lens of diplomatic, medical, and economic initiatives vis-a-vis dependency and sovereignty implications. Through a systematic literature review, the study attempts to proffer answers to the question on how Africa responded to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 virus when the bulk of investment finances favoured the Chinese domestic economy. Findings established that most of China’s dealings during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa were routed through companies domiciled in Nigeria and owned by Chinese citizens. The study concludes that the complexity of Sino-African relations in times of crisis exposes the opportunities and challenges posed by China’s growing role in global health and development; and this situates China-Africa cooperation within broader geopolitical and economic contexts. The study recommends that countries in Africa have a fundamental and urgent responsibility of charting a holistic development engagement with China.
Author Biography
Olumuyiwa Adebayo Adetunji, Simon Jonah Otumala
Department of Political Science, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]