Kenyan media: Why shouldn’t Nairobi turn its back on China?
2024-08-24
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Kenya’s People’s Daily article on August 22, titled: Why Nairobi should not turn its back on ChinaAs the world closely watches developments in US politics to see whether the next US administration will be led by a Democrat or a Republican, Kenya must strategically navigate its foreign policy to avoid being caught off guard by the eventual outcome of the Democratic-Republican presidential contest.
The Biden-led US administration has shown a strong interest in working closely with Kenya, which may be related to the international policy of the US Democratic Party, which emphasizes US cooperation with other countries, increasing US participation in international organizations and providing assistance to other countries. This makes Kenya a highly sought-after partner of the US government. However, if Kenya does not pursue a tactical foreign policy, it is possible that it will cause friction with other major players on the geopolitical stage.
The Kenyan government led by President William Ruto should not think that it can maintain friendly relations with global powers without considering the interests of other countries. Instead of maintaining strict neutrality, previous Kenyan governments have leaned towards the East to a certain extent and benefited greatly from the development of infrastructure.
Between 2002 and 2022, Kenya’s relations with China improved significantly through the “Look East” policy. This brought a series of major infrastructure projects to Kenya, including the Nairobi-Thika Expressway, the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, the Nairobi Expressway, and the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor. China also assisted in building research institutions in Kenya, such as the China-Africa Joint Research Center at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The Confucius Institutes run by China in several Kenyan universities provide scholarships to many students.
That is why President Ruto should attend the upcoming 2024 FOCAC summit in Beijing, just as he did at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing last year. China is a vital partner for Kenya's development in areas such as modernization, railways, roads, ports, technology, electric vehicles and housing. The Nairobi Expressway has created more than 500 jobs for Kenyans. Our friends from the East have won the trust of Kenyans.
China's emphasis on infrastructure construction provides Kenya with the "key" to development and improving people's living standards. As Kenya-China relations continue to deepen on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Kenya must also maintain relations with other global partners. But focusing on one country and ignoring others can be harmful. The Kenyan government's emphasis on "economic diplomacy" should not underestimate the importance of balanced diplomatic relations. Kenya may face challenges if the Democratic Party loses to the Republican Party in the US presidential election.
Republican policies are likely to prioritize U.S. interests and unilateral diplomacy, in stark contrast to the multilateralism that must be pursued in today's complex global landscape. President Ruto's recent trip to the United States brought benefits worth more than 52 billion Kenyan shillings (about 2.88 billion yuan), but some of them may only be realized if the Democratic presidential candidate wins. If Republican presidential candidate Trump wins, these benefits may be lost. In addition, the benefits are often linked to some conditions, unlike Chinese aid, which usually does not attach any such conditions.
Kenya must attend the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing in September this year, negotiate a trade deal to resolve the trade deficit with China, and strengthen relations with the East. Working closely with China does not mean we are against other development partners, but we are well aware of the capabilities of all our partners, so we must treat them equally. (Translated by Wang Huicong)
