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The Switching of Sides by Senegal and Nigeria

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China and Taiwan in Africa

Part of the book series: Africa-East Asia International Relations ((AEAIR))

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Abstract

China has forged different linkages with different African countries. However, one thing cuts across all relations—every country has to accept the One-China principle that requires all African countries to recognize that the Republic of China (ROC) or Taiwan is not a sovereign state. This has led to several African countries establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan and later severing those relations. Senegal is an example of one African country that established diplomatic relations with Taiwan and later severed them. Nigeria’s record with China and Taiwan has been more predictable. This chapter aims to examine and discuss China’s relations with Senegal and Nigeria as they relate to Taiwan’s efforts to establish a diplomatic foothold in Africa. It will examine why and under what circumstances Senegal re-established diplomatic relations with China in 2005. It will examine the effects, if any, of the political and economic dynamics in Senegal that contributed to the switch. On China’s side, it will examine the political and economic factors that attracted China to Senegal within the context of West Africa. The chapter will also address how Taiwan is attempting to have some form of influence and presence in the two countries.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Mthembu-Salter, Gregory. 2009. “Elephants, Ants and Superpowers: Nigeria’s Relations with China.” Occasional Paper No. 42—China in Africa Project, South Africa Institute of International Affairs, September 2009. http://media.africaportal.org/documents/saiia_Occassional_Paper_42.pdf.

  2. 2.

    Udeala, Samuel Onuoha. 2009. “Nigeria China Economic Relations Under the South-South Cooperation.” Africa Journal of International Affairs 13(1 and 2):61–88.

  3. 3.

    Ibid.

  4. 4.

    Jackson, Steven F. (2019). “Two Distant Giants: China and Nigeria Perceive Each Other.” The Air Force Journal of European, Middle Eastern and African Affairs Vol. 1, No. 2:40–74.

  5. 5.

    Odeh, Lemuel Ekedegwa. (2014). “Dynamics of China-Nigeria Economic Relations Since 1971.” Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria Vol. 23:150–162.

  6. 6.

    Alayande, Folarin. (2020). “Understanding Shifts in Nigeria’s Trade Policy: From Realism to Protectionism.” Africa Development Vol. 45, No. 1:149–162.

  7. 7.

    Odeh, Lemuel Ekedegwa. (2014). “Dynamics of China-Nigeria Economic Relations Since 1971.” Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria Vol. 23:150–162.

  8. 8.

    Ibid., Mthembu-Salter, Gregory. 2009.

  9. 9.

    Ibid., Mthembu-Salter, Gregory. 2009.

  10. 10.

    Ibid., Jackson, Steven F. (2019).

  11. 11.

    Hickey, Dennis V. (1997). “U.S. Policy and Taiwan’s Bid to Rejoin the United Nations.” Asian Survey Vol. 37, No. 11 (November):1031–1043.

  12. 12.

    Egbula, Margaret and Qi Zheng. (2011). “China and Nigeria: A Powerful South-South Alliance, West African Challenges.” No. 05, OECD Sahel and West African Club Secretariat, November 5, 2011. http://www.oecd/org.swac/publications/49814032.pdf.

  13. 13.

    Ogunsanwo, Alaba. (2008). “A Tale of Two Giants.” In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?, edited by Kweku Ampiah and Sanusha Naidu, 192–207. Scottsville, South Africa: University of Kwa-Zula Natal Press.

  14. 14.

    Ibid., Ogunsanwo 2008, 192–193.

  15. 15.

    Ibid., Jackson 2019, 43.

  16. 16.

    Corkin, Lucy. (2008). “All’s Fair in Loans and War: The Development of China-Angola Relations.” In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?, edited by Kweku Ampiah and Sanusha Naidu, 108–123. Scottsville, South Africa: University of Kwa-Zula Natal Press.

  17. 17.

    Brautigam, Deborah. (2009). The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.

  18. 18.

    Davies, A.E. (1990). “The IMF In The Nigerian Economy: Pressures And Responses.” India Quarterly Vol. 46, No. 4 (October–December):91–114.

  19. 19.

    Robinson, Pearl T. (1994). “The National Conference Phenomenon in Francophone Africa.” Comparative Studies in Society and History Vol. 36, No. 3:575–610; and Nzouankeu, Jacques Mariel. (1993). “The Role of the National Conference in the Transition of Democracy in Africa: The Cases of Benin and Mali.” Issue: A Journal of Opinion Vol. 21, No. 1/2 44–50.

  20. 20.

    Nobel, Kenneth B. (1993). “Nigerian Military Rulers Annul Election.” New York Times, June 24, 1993: A-8. www.nytimes.com. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/24/world/nigerian-military-rulers-annul-election.html.

  21. 21.

    Kalu, Kelechi A. (2006). “The International Dimension of Regime Change: Economic Sanctions and the 1993 Democratic Transition in Nigeria.” African Social Science Review Vol. 3, Issue 3 (Fall):7–31.

  22. 22.

    Frankel, Glenn. “Nigeria Mixes Oil and Money.” The Washington Post, November 24, 1996.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/nigeria/stories/mixes112496.htm.

  23. 23.

    Ibid., Frankel, Glenn, 1996.

  24. 24.

    Ibid., Odeh 2014, 155; Jackson 2019, 43.

  25. 25.

    Ibid., Odeh 2014, 153; and Obi, Cyril. (2019). “China, Oil, and Africa.” Insight Turkey Vol. 21, No. 1, The Role Of Great And Emerging Powers: 10–24.

  26. 26.

    Ibid., Ogunsanwo, Alaba. (2008); and Onoja, Adagbo. (2020). “How China Lost Nigeria.” The Diplomat, August 25, 2020. https://thediplomat.com/2020/08/how-china-lost-nigeria/.

  27. 27.

    Ibid., Mthembu-Salter 2009, 6.

  28. 28.

    Taylor, Ian. (2007). “China’s relations with Nigeria.” The Roundtable Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs Vol. 96, Issue 392: Nigeria A Commonwealth Paradox: 631–645.

  29. 29.

    Ibid., Mthembu-Salter 2009, 6.

  30. 30.

    Campbell, John. (2010). “Opinion: Who’s in Charge China or Nigeria?” The World, June 7, 2010. http://www.pri/stories/2010/06-07/opinion-who’s-in-charge-china-or-nigeria.

  31. 31.

    Ibid., Ogunsanwo 2008, 199; Odeh 2014, 155.

  32. 32.

    Ibid., Campbell, John. (2010).

  33. 33.

    Ibid., Odeh 2014, 157.

  34. 34.

    Veney, Cassandra Rachel. (2020). “The Role of the United States in Nigeria’s Conflicts—The Niger Delta and Northeastern Nigeria.” Africa Insight Vol. 49 No. 3:116–126.

  35. 35.

    Ibid., Jackson 2019, 47; and Agubamah, Edgar. (2014). “Bilateral Relations: Perisco** Nigeria and China Relations.” European Scientific Journal Vol. 10, No. 14 (May):63–70.

  36. 36.

    Toogood, Kimairis (2016). “Understanding the Emerging Relationship Between China and Africa: The Case of Nigeria.” Henry L. Stimson Center, December 12, 2016. http://159.203.64.176/publication/understanding-emerging-relationship-between-china-and-africa-case-of-nigeria.

  37. 37.

    Adeshokan, Oluwatosin. (2019). “Slouching Toward Secession in Nigeria.” Foreign Policy, February 15, 2019. http://foreignpolicy.com/201902/15/slouching-toward-seccession-in-nigeria/.

  38. 38.

    Oyewo, Hussain Taofik. (2019). “Treat of Secession: The Biafran Story.” Accord, Conflict Trends Volume 2019, Issue 3 (September):47–56. https://css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/resources/docs/ACCORD-CT-2019-3.pdf.

  39. 39.

    Reuters Staff. (2020). “Nigerian security clash with Biafra separatists turns deadly—DSS.”

    Reuters, August 24, 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-nigeria-security/nigerian-security-clash-with-biafra-separatists-turns-deadly-dss-idUKKBN25J0WY.

  40. 40.

    Oduah, Chika. (2017). “50 years on: Nigeria’s Biafra secessionist movement.” Aljazeera, May 30, 2017. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/5/30/50-years-on-nigerias-biafra-secessionist-movementwww.aljazerra.com.

  41. 41.

    Adibe, Jideofor. (2017). “Separatist agitations in Nigeria: Causes and Trajectories.” Brookings Institution, July 12, 2017. http://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2017/07/12/separatist-agitations-in-nigeria.causes-and-trajectories/.

  42. 42.

    Tien, Hung-mao and Yun-han Chu. (1996). “Building Democracy in Taiwan.” The China Quarterly No. 148, Special Issue Contemporary Taiwan: 1141–1170.

  43. 43.

    Ibid., Tien and Shiau 1992, 58.

  44. 44.

    Hsu, Stacy. (2017). “Nigeria decision part of China ‘scheme’.” Taipei Times, January 13, 2017. http://taipeitimes.com.

  45. 45.

    Rich, Timothy S. and Vasabjit Banerjee. (2015). “Running Out of Time? The Evolution of Taiwan’s Relations in Africa.” Journal of Current Chinese Affairs 44(1):141–162.

  46. 46.

    Oshodi, Abdul-Gafar Tobi. (2018). “Nigeria-Taiwan Row: Understanding China’s Influence in Africa.” Taiwan Insight, January 222, 2018. https://taiwaninsight.org/2018/01/22/nigeria-taiwan-row-understanding-chinas-influence-in-africa/taiwaninsight.org.

  47. 47.

    Punch. “Nigeria cuts diplomatic relations with Taiwan.” Punch, January 11, 2017.

    https://punchng.com/nigeria-cuts-diplomatic-relations-taiwan/.

  48. 48.

    Ibid., Hsu 2017, 1.

  49. 49.

    Ibid., Rich and Banerjee 2015, 151; Rich 2009, 171.

  50. 50.

    Global Construction Review (2017). “China pledges $40bn as Nigeria cuts ties with Taiwan.” Global Construction, January 12, 2017. https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/news/china-pledges-40bn-nigeria-c7uts-ti7es-ta7iwan/.

  51. 51.

    Ibid., Global Construction Review 2017.

  52. 52.

    Rich, Timothy. (2009) “Status for Sale: Taiwan and the Competition for Diplomatic Recognition.” Issues and Studies 45 No. 4:159–188.

  53. 53.

    Cisse, Daouda. (2013). “A Portrait of Chinese Traders in Dakar, Senegal.” Migration Policy Review, July 18, 2013. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/portrait-chinese-traders-dakar-senegal.

  54. 54.

    ALJazeera. (2021a) Senegal opposition chief to appear in court over rape allegation.” AlJazeera, March 3, 2021. http://aljazeera.com.

  55. 55.

    ALJazeera. (2021b). “Senegal clashes kill one after opposition leader arrested.” AlJazeera, March 4, 2021. http://aljazeera.com.

  56. 56.

    Ibid., Rich and Banerjee 2015, 156.

  57. 57.

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  1. Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Cassandra R. Veney

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    Sabella O. Abidde

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Veney, C.R. (2022). The Switching of Sides by Senegal and Nigeria. In: Abidde, S.O. (eds) China and Taiwan in Africa. Africa-East Asia International Relations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95342-3_10

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