China–Namibia relations

Last updated
China–Namibian relations
China Namibia Locator.png
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of Namibia.svg
Namibia
Former Chinese embassy in Windhoek, Namibia. Chinese Embassy in Windhoek.JPG
Former Chinese embassy in Windhoek, Namibia.

Governmental relations between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Namibia were first established the day after Namibia's independence, but relations with Namibian independence movements date back to the 1960s. [1]

Contents

Chinese support for independence movements

Beginning in the 1960s, during the Namibian War of Independence, China provided various indigenous Namibian independence movements (at first South West African National Union (SWANU)) [2] and later South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) with "moral and material support". [1]

Since Namibian independence

From 1989 to 1990, China sent 20 personnel to Namibia to help monitors its elections; this was China's first involvement in United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Africa. [3] :205

Namibia and the PRC established relations on 22 March 1990, which was the day after Namibia's independence. [1] The government of Namibia adheres to the One-China policy. [4]

Namibia was among the African countries which expressed support for the Chinese government during the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests. [3] :41 In January 2020, Namibia's land reform minister stated that Namibia fully supports Chinese territorial integrity and sovereignty, including with respect to Hong Kong. [3] :41

Economic relations

China and Namibia have developed close economic relations, with trade increasing two-fold between the two countries from 2003 to 2006.

Namibia is a major destination for Chinese investment in uranium mining. [5] :205 Chinese companies have invested in Namibia's three biggest uranium producers: Husab, Langer Heinrich, and Rössing. [5] :205

Chinese development finance to Namibia

From 2000 to 2011, there are approximately 64 Chinese official development finance projects identified in Namibia through various media reports. [6] During a February 2007 visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged Namibia "RMB 1 billion of concessional loans, 100 million US dollars of preferential export buyer's credit, RMB 30 million yuan of grants and RMB 30 million of interest-free loans..." [1] In November 2005, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohama and Chinese Politburo member Li Chang Chun witnessed the signing of a 250 million Yuan concessional loan by Export-Import Bank of China to be used for purchasing locomotives and trains for a new railway being built in northern Namibia. [7]

Migration

A large number of Chinese are estimated to have taken up residence in Namibia since independence. In 2006, their number was estimated at 40,000. [8]

An Yue Jiang scandal

In April 2008, a weapons shipment on the An Yue Jiang sailed from China destined for Zimbabwe. It was stopped from porting in South Africa because of protests regarding the weapons and the disputed Zimbabwean presidential election which had taken place a month earlier. Seeking a destination for the ship, it was rumored that it would be port on Namibia's coast at Walvis Bay. On 24 April 2008, a protest took place in Namibia's capital of Windhoek, where two hundred protesters marched from a Zoo Park in central Windhoek to the Chinese embassy. [9] Among those leading the protesters were Bishop and SWAPO politician Zephania Kameeta and the Legal Assistance Centre. [9] The ship did not port in Namibia.

Space cooperation

Namibia and China also jointly operate the China Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Station which was established in 2001 in Swakopmund, Namibia. [3] :304 This station tracks Chinese satellites and space missions. [3] :304

Extradition

China has an extradition treaty with Namibia. [3] :188

See also

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SWANU</span> Political party in Namibia

The South West Africa National Union (SWANU) is a Namibian political party founded in 1959. Most of its members came from the Herero people, while fellow independence movement SWAPO was mostly an Ovambo party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Zimbabwe relations</span> Bilateral relations

China and Zimbabwe have had a close, but chequered, relationship since the latter's independence. China has an embassy in Harare. Zimbabwe has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Hong Kong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Seychelles relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Seychelles relations refer to bilateral relations between China and Seychelles. China has an embassy in Victoria and Seychelles has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate in Shanghai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central African Republic–China relations</span> Bilateral relations

Central African Republic–People's Republic of China relations refer to the bilateral relations of the Central African Republic and the People's Republic of China. Diplomatic relations between China and the Central African Republic were established on September 29, 1964, when the CAR's government severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Central African Republic has an embassy in Beijing whilst China has an embassy in Bangui.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Liberia relations</span> Bilateral relations

People's Republic of China–Liberia relations refer to the bilateral relations of the People's Republic of China and Liberia. Official relations began in 1977, but were broken on multiple occasions, only to be reformed later on. As of 2009, significant amounts of both investment and foreign aid came from China to Liberia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botswana–China relations</span> Bilateral relations

Botswana - People's Republic of China relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Botswana and the People's Republic of China. Relations were first established on 6 January 1975. In 2010, upon the 35th anniversary of relations being formalized, the relationship between the two states was considered "strong" and "rapidly growing" by then Chinese ambassador to Botswana, Liu Huanxing. Botswana follows the One China Policy which means Botswana does not have relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). Following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, the Botswana government donated one million pula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Eritrea relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Eritrea relations refers to the current and historical relationship between China and Eritrea. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 and, as of 2007, relations between the two states registered "smooth growth".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Guinea-Bissau relations</span> Bilateral relations

People's Republic of China – Guinea-Bissau relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Guinea-Bissau. Relations were established in March 1974, several months before Guinea-Bissau's September 1974 independence. From 1990 to 1998, Guinea-Bissau maintained diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) rather than with the People's Republic. Relations were reestablished in 1998 and maintained since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Mauritius relations</span> Bilateral relations

The China-Mauritius refers to the bilateral relations between the island nation of the Republic of Mauritius and the People's Republic of China (PRC). A significant portion of the Mauritian population is of Chinese descent, known as Sino-Mauritians, having arrived on the island between the 17th and 19th centuries. Official diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 15 April 1972 and, since then, relations between the two countries have been strong and have seen steady development. The Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Mauritius on 16 February 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Ghana relations</span> Bilateral relations

China-Ghanaian relations refer to the current and historical relationship between the Republic of Ghana and the People's Republic of China (PRC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Tunisia relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Tunisia relations are foreign relations between China and Tunisia. The People's Republic of China (PRC) established diplomatic relationship with Tunisia on January 10, 1964, 8 years after Tunisia got its independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Togo relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Togo relations refer to the foreign relations between the People's Republic of China and Togo. They established diplomatic relations on September 19, 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–South Sudan relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–South Sudan relations refers to the bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Sudan. China recognized South Sudan's independence on July 9, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Sierra Leone relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Sierra Leone relations refer to the foreign relations between China and Sierra Leone. The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971. China has an embassy in Freetown, while Sierra Leone has an embassy in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Rwanda relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Rwanda relations refer to the foreign relations between China and Rwanda. China and Rwanda established diplomatic relations on November 12, 1971. China has an embassy in Kigali, while Rwanda has an embassy in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Niger relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Niger relations refer to the foreign relations between China and Niger. China has an embassy in Niamey and Niger has an embassy in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Mauritania relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Mauritania relations refer to the bilateral relations between China and Mauritania. China and Mauritania established diplomatic relations on July 19, 1965.China has an embassy in Nouakchott. Mauritania has an embassy in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Gabon relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Gabon relations refer to the foreign relations between China and Gabon. On December 9, 1960, China established diplomatic relations with Gabon. Gabon switched recognition to the People's Republic of China in Beijing on April 20, 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Ivory Coast relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Ivory Coast relations refer to the foreign relations between China and Ivory Coast. They established the diplomatic relations on March 2, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China–Mali relations</span> Bilateral relations

China–Mali relations refer to the bilateral relations between China and Mali. The People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Mali on October 25, 1960.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Interpretation of China-Namibia Relations in Foreign Ministry of the People's Republic of China
  2. SWANU official web site Archived 2004-11-07 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shinn, David H.; Eisenman, Joshua (2023). China's Relations with Africa: a New Era of Strategic Engagement. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN   978-0-231-21001-0.
  4. President Hu calls for closer China-Namibia ties in China Daily, 20 December 2005
  5. 1 2 Massot, Pascale (2024). China's Vulnerability Paradox: How the World's Largest Consumer Transformed Global Commodity Markets. New York, NY, United States of America: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-777140-2.
  6. Austin Strange, Bradley C. Parks, Michael J. Tierney, Andreas Fuchs, Axel Dreher, and Vijaya Ramachandran. 2013. China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. CGD Working Paper 323. Washington DC: Center for Global Development.
  7. Strange, Parks, Tierney, Fuchs, Dreher, and Ramachandran, China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection.http://aiddatachina.org/projects/131
  8. "40,000 Chinese in Namibia". The Namibian . as quoted in the Southern African Migration Project (SAMP). 21 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2012-09-27. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  9. 1 2 Namibians say NO to arms by Tanja Bause, The Namibian , 25 April 2008