Before the opening of the “China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit” hosted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a video of a speech by Professor Jin Canrong, known as the “National Master” from Renmin University of China, has been widely circulated. In the video, Jin Canrong revealed the “soft underbelly” of the CCP and how African countries have grasped the “code” to obtaining financial aid from China.
The CCP will host the “China-Africa Cooperation Forum Summit” from September 4th to 6th in Beijing. Officially, the theme of this summit is “Building a Shared Future for China-Africa Cooperation.”
On September 3rd, Xi Jinping met with leaders from African countries such as Zimbabwe, Guinea, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. During the meeting with Malawi’s President Chakwera, Xi Jinping promised continued aid to Malawi and encouraged Chinese companies to invest in this landlocked country in southeast Africa. Chakwera expressed gratitude for China’s hospitality and said, “Every time I come to China, it feels like coming home.”
On the 3rd of September, a video of a speech given by Jin Canrong, Vice Dean of the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China, surfaced online and sparked discussions on overseas social media platforms.
In the video, Jin Canrong mentioned that many African leaders come to China without any real purpose, just to visit Beijing and enjoy good food.
He stated that Taiwan is a diplomatic soft spot for the CCP, making them uncomfortable. African leaders express firm support for the “One China Policy,” saying “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and immediately after that, they start asking for money, implying, “Can you help us out a bit?” They really push for it without hesitation.
He also revealed that according to a professor from Tsinghua University, the CCP spends 30 billion RMB annually to maintain the principle of the “One China Policy.”
A search by the reporter from Epoch Times found that the aforementioned video was a segment of a speech given by Jin Canrong in May of last year.
Public records show that in the decades following the establishment of the CCP, China distributed large sums of money to over 120 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Oceania, and Eastern Europe to gain their support in diplomatic affairs.
Of note, after the outbreak of the pandemic in China in June 2020, the CCP announced the suspension of debt repayments from 77 developing countries and regions. Although termed a “suspension,” it is widely believed that this money may have vanished into thin air.
In August 2022, during the peak of the Chinese pandemic, the CCP once again announced the exemption of 23 interest-free loan debts from 17 African countries.
Political commentator Wang Youqun recently wrote that the true extent of China’s largesse abroad remains unknown to the Chinese people. Looking at the world at large, the CCP lacks genuine friends. Its diplomacy relies on extravagant spending. Despite the high debt burden China faces, the CCP is likely to continue to put on a facade of wealth and engage in “lending extravagantly.”