China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative, Africa, and the Middle East: Feats, Freezes, and Failures (Palgrave Studies in Asia-Pacific Political Economy)

This book analyzes the progress of the MSRI, highlights the political and economic factors affecting its realization, and offers insights into the political and economic implications of China's endeavor. It focuses specifically on countries within Africa and the Middle East to provide a basis for a substantive examination of these issues in a manner sensitive to the milieu in individual countries and relevant regions. It represents the final volume in a well-received series on China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI), which, so far, includes books covering China's MSRI and South Asia (Palgrave, 2018) and China's MSRI and Southeast Asia (Palgrave, 2019). This book will interest scholars of China, international relations, and the relevant regions, journalists, and policymakers. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard is Founding Executive Director of the Mr. & Mrs. S.H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations (USA) and Distinguished Professor, School of Advanced International and Area Studies, East China Normal University (China). Two of his recent edited book publications relate to China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative. One is China's Maritime Silk Road and Southeast Asia (Palgrave, 2019) and the other is China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative and South Asia (Palgrave, 2018). Dr. Blanchard has orchestrated three special issues on China's MSRI in leading journals. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. Blanchard worked for the U.S. Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the U.S. Resolution Trust Corporation, and Kelling, Northcross, & Nobriga Preface and Acknowledgments 7 Contents 9 Notes on Contributors 11 List of Figures 14 List of Tables 16 China’s MSRI in Africa and the Middle East: Political Economic Realities Continue to Shape Results and Ramifications 18 Introduction 18 The MSRI 21 A Primer on Africa-China and MENA-China Ties 23 1949 Through the 1970s 24 The 1980s 26 The 1990s 27 The 2000s 29 2010 to the Present 31 Analysis 33 The MSRI in Africa and MENA 34 Africa 34 Chapter Summaries 43 Conclusion 47 References 61 The Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Connecting Africa 69 Introduction 69 The MSRI in Africa-Polemics and Projects 71 MSRI Projects in Africa 72 Kenya 73 Ethiopia 78 Djibouti 81 Connectivity for Whom? 82 Conclusion 86 References 93 The Maritime Silk Road Initiative and Ethiopia: Transforming Policies, Institutions, and Politics in Expected and Unexpected Ways 97 Introduction 97 An Overview of Ethiopia–China Political Relations 99 Contemporary Ethiopian Economic Relations with China 101 Trade 101 COFDI 102 Contracting 104 Industrial Parks and SEZs 104 Issues in the Ethiopia–China Economic Relationship 105 MSRI Infrastructure Projects in Ethiopia 106 Connectivity Infrastructure 106 Industrial Parks/Special Economic Zones 107 Power Projects 108 Ethiopian Domestic and Foreign Policies and Their Drivers 109 Ethiopia’s Domestic Model 109 Ethiopian Foreign Policy 111 Analysis 112 Conclusion 113 References 121 Djibouti and Small State Agency in the Maritime Silk Road: The Domestic and International Foundations 127 Introduction 127 Geographic and Historical Contexts of Djibouti’s Links with China 130 The Evolution of Djibouti’s Relations with China 132 Key MSRI Infrastructure Projects in the Horn 133 The Djibouti-Ethiopia Rail-Link 133 China’s Doraleh MPP Facility 134 China’s Naval Facilities in Djibouti 136 CMG’s Shekou Model in Djibouti 137 Djibouti and the Debt Trap Debate 139 Conclusion: Djibouti—A MSRI Fulcrum Between Africa and the Middle East 141 References 149 Tanzania in China’s MSRI: The “Chinese Dream” Awaits Alignment with the African One 153 Introduction 153 Tanzania-China Political Relations 155 Tanzania-China Economic Relations 157 Tanzania-China Trade 157 China Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Tanzania 157 China and Infrastructure Development in Tanzania 159 Tanzania in China’s MSRI 160 Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone (BSEZ): A Leading Gateway for Africa’s Landlocked Countries? 161 The BPC 162 Other BSEZ Projects 163 Potential Gains of the BPC for Tanzania 164 The BPC Adrift 165 Conclusion 166 References 175 Iran in China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI): Bounded Progress and Bounded Promise 181 Introduction 181 Bilateral Ties in Historical Context 183 The Ties That Bind: Iran-China Economic Links 184 Energy Cooperation 185 Trade 188 Investment 189 Infrastructure and Other Contracting 190 Other Forms of Economic Cooperation 191 Iranian Political and Military Relations with China 192 Iran in China’s MSRI 194 Conclusion 198 References 207 The Missing MSRI in Iraq: The Southern Opportunity 214 Historical Evolution of Iraqi–Chinese Ties 216 The Expansion of Iraqi-Sino Economic Ties 219 Gauging the Depth of the BRI in Iraq28 222 Security and How the MSRI Matters 227 Conclusion 230 References 236 The Gulf Cooperation Council’s “Visions” of Maritime Silk Road Initiative Cooperation 241 Introduction 241 Political Relations Between the GCC States and China 242 Economic Relations Between the GCC States and China 244 Trade 244 Financial and Monetary Cooperation 246 Investment 247 MSRI Projects and the GCC States 249 MSRI Projects 250 United Arab Emirates 251 Oman 253 Saudi Arabia 254 Kuwait 256 Bahrain 256 Qatar 256 Conclusion 257 References 264 Egypt in China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Relations Cannot Surmount Realities 269 Introduction 269 Egypt–China Political Relations 271 Egypt-China Economic Ties 275 Trade 275 Investment 276 Contracting 277 Other Economic Cooperation 278 Egypt in the MSRI 278 Challenges for the MSRI in Egypt 280 Conclusion 282 References 291 Index 298 Front Matter ....Pages i-xviii China’s MSRI in Africa and the Middle East: Political Economic Realities Continue to Shape Results and Ramifications (Jean-Marc F. Blanchard)....Pages 1-51 The Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Connecting Africa (Cliff Mboya)....Pages 53-80 The Maritime Silk Road Initiative and Ethiopia: Transforming Policies, Institutions, and Politics in Expected and Unexpected Ways (Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, Edson Ziso)....Pages 81-110 Djibouti and Small State Agency in the Maritime Silk Road: The Domestic and International Foundations (David Styan)....Pages 111-136 Tanzania in China’s MSRI: The “Chinese Dream” Awaits Alignment with the African One (Conrad John Masabo)....Pages 137-164 Iran in China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI): Bounded Progress and Bounded Promise (Manochehr Dorraj, Jean-Marc F. Blanchard)....Pages 165-197 The Missing MSRI in Iraq: The Southern Opportunity (Jeffrey Payne)....Pages 199-225 The Gulf Cooperation Council’s “Visions” of Maritime Silk Road Initiative Cooperation (Jonathan Fulton)....Pages 227-254 Egypt in China’s Maritime Silk Road Initiative: Relations Cannot Surmount Realities (Mordechai Chaziza)....Pages 255-283 Back Matter ....Pages 285-291 "This book analyzes the progress of the MSRI, highlights the political and economic factors affecting its realization, and offers insights into the political and economic implications of China's endeavor. It focuses specifically on countries within Africa and the Middle East to provide a basis for a substantive examination of these issues in a manner sensitive to the milieu in individual countries and relevant regions. It represents the final volume in a well-received series on China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI), which, so far, includes books covering China's MSRI and South Asia (Palgrave, 2018) and China's MSRI and Southeast Asia (Palgrave, 2019). This book will interest scholars of China, international relations, and the relevant regions, journalists, and policymakers."-- Provided by publisher