So, what if China creates a misadventure?
Catumbela, in Angola, is the abandoned site of a group of Chinese railway engineers and laborers. The team attempted to build a railroad but without success. The $2 billion project washed out like so many African roads hampered by flash floods, mud, and land mines.
About the Chinese, one Angolan soldier guarding the abandoned site stated: "They're gone. . . . I don't know when they're coming back—they ate their dogs and left."
The railroad stalled in a high-level dispute between the Angolan and Chinese governments, along with a $2 billion contract to build an oil refinery. The American Embassy reports that the project will most likely be awarded to American company, Bechtel.
However, China's has had a good run in Africa. To wit,
*oil from the Sudan
*timber from Guinea
*mining copper and zinc from the Congo
*a major stake in South Africa's Standard Bank
*the Chinese are far out pacing their Western rivals. China has opened more embassies in Africa than the United States
*in 2006, trade between Africa and China topped $50 billion. By 2010 it's projected to reach $100 billion.
On the negative side though China has had kidnappings, killings, and death threats that plague its workers. 17 Chinese oil workers were slaughtered last year. Angola is China's biggest supplier of crude oil, but the land is a hazardous, corrupt country as well.
There is no fraternization between Chinese and Angolans. If a worker becomes romantically or sexually involved with a local, he's on a slow boat to Shanghai.
Racism is common, both sides refer to the other as monkeys or pigs.
Beijing may express an interest in Angola, but that move may only attract rivals. American firms Bechtel, KBR, ExxonMobil, and Chevron have moved in as well.
Other nations are making their presence felt. The Brazilian firm Odebrecht competes with the railroad as they are building a highway. South African companies are repairing the electrical grid, and the Portuguese are involved in construction projects.
The Chinese are finding a Chinese Burden all of their own.
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