China–Namibia relations

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China–Namibian relations
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Former Chinese embassy in Windhoek, Namibia. Chinese Embassy in Windhoek.JPG
Former Chinese embassy in Windhoek, Namibia.

Diplomatic 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.

Contents

History

Before Namibian independence

In the 1960s, the PRC established relations with SWAPO and SWANU. [1] : 153  According to academic Ian Taylor, "China had to carefully balance calls for support for Namibian independence and the national struggle (fought by SWAPO), with condemnations of Soviet hegemonic machinations in the region." [1] : 157 

Since Namibian independence

Namibia and the PRC established relations on 22 March 1990, a day after Namibia's independence. [1] : 158  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. [2] : 205 

In 2018, China and Namibia formed a comprehensive strategic partnership. [3] : 211 

Namibia was among the African countries which expressed support for the Chinese government during the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests. [2] : 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. [2] : 41 

Economic relations

China began purchasing coal from Namibia in 2010. [4]

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 

From 2000 to 2011, there were approximately 64 Chinese official development finance projects identified in Namibia through various media reports. [6]

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. [7] According a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable, Namibia permits Chinese immigration as loan repayment. [8]

An Yue Jiang scandal

In April 2008, a weapons shipment on the An Yue Jiang sailed from China and originally planned to dock at the South African port of Durban and unload its cargo for shipment to landlocked Zimbabwe. However, there were widespread protests by persons concerned that the arms would be used by Robert Mugabe's regime in suppressing political opposition in the wake of disputed Zimbabwean presidential election which had taken place a month earlier. Seeking a destination for the ship, it was rumored that it would 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. The ship did not port in Namibia. [9]

Nuctech bribery scandal

This section is an excerpt from Nuctech Company § Bribery scandal in Namibia.[ edit ]
On July 21, 2009, a Nuctech representative and two Namibians were arrested after the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia (ACC) discovered that a US$12.8 million down payment on 13 scanners had been diverted to a firm called Teko Trading. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Namibian prosecutors charged the three with joining in a bribery scheme that secured a $55.3 million contract in May 2008 to install Nuctech scanners at customs inspection points across Namibia. [10] [16] [13] [17] [18] Other sources report the contract to be worth $69 million. [19] General Martin Shalli was subsequently suspended by Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba for allegedly receiving millions of Namibian dollars from Nuctech. [20] [21] [22] [19] In 2019, those arrested and charged were acquitted in court. [23] [24]

Space cooperation

Namibia and China also jointly operate the China Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Station which was established in 2001 in Swakopmund, Namibia. [2] : 304  This station tracks Chinese satellites and space missions. [2] : 304 

Political relations

Namibia follows the one China principle. It recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole government of China and Taiwan as an integral part of China's territory, and supports all efforts by the PRC to "achieve national reunification". It also considers Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet to be China's internal affairs. [25]

China has an extradition treaty with Namibia. [2]

Diplomatic staff

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 Taylor, Ian (2007-01-24). China and Africa: Engagement and Compromise. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203968635. ISBN   978-1-134-15278-0.
  2. 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. p. 188. doi:10.7312/shin21000. ISBN   978-0-231-21001-0. JSTOR   10.7312/shin21000.
  3. ↑ Murphy, Dawn C. (2022). China's Rise in the Global South: the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's Alternative World Order. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. doi:10.2307/jj.8305946. ISBN   978-1-5036-3060-4. JSTOR   jj.8305946. OCLC   1249712936.
  4. ↑ Grobler, John (2010-04-09). "China eyes Namibia's minerals". The Mail & Guardian . Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  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. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197771396.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-19-777140-2.
  6. ↑ Strange, Austin; Parks, Brad; Tierney, Michael J.; Fuchs, Andreas; Dreher, Axel; Ramachandran, Vijaya (2013-04-29). "China's Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection - Working Paper 323". Center for Global Development .
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ DeCapua, Joe (2010-12-14). "WikiLeaks: Namibia Allows Chinese Immigration to Repay Loans". Voice of America . Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  9. 1 2 Namibians say NO to arms by Tanja Bause, The Namibian , 25 April 2008
  10. 1 2 Bosch, Marius (2009-07-24). "Namibia graft body wants to interview son of Hu". Reuters . Archived from the original on 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  11. ↑ Fairclough, Gordon (2009-07-22). "Probes Involve Firm Linked to China Leader's Son" . The Wall Street Journal . ISSN   0099-9660. Archived from the original on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  12. ↑ Uppal, Disha (July 23, 2009). "Chinese Firm Embroiled in Namibian Corruption Scandal". Deutsche Welle . Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  13. 1 2 "China Internet blackout linked to leader's son". Taipei Times . 2009-07-24. Archived from the original on 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  14. ↑ Grobler, John (2010-04-08). "3 Plead Not Guilty to Corruption in Namibia". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  15. ↑ Mudie, Luisetta (2009-07-24). "China Censors News of Hu's Son: Chinese Web sites tying the president's son to news of a corruption probe are shut down and later reopened with the related stories missing". Radio Free Asia . Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  16. ↑ LaFraniere, Sharon; Grobler, John (2009-09-21). "China Spreads Aid in Africa, With a Catch". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-09-13. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  17. ↑ Berger, Sebastien (17 July 2009). "Hu Jintao's son linked to African corruption probe". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  18. ↑ Baldauf, Scott (2009-08-03). "China censors Namibia corruption case that may touch president's son". Christian Science Monitor . ISSN   0882-7729. Archived from the original on 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  19. 1 2 Loudon, Bruce (July 25, 2009). "Namibian army sacking a new twist in Hu Jintao son's case". The Australian . Archived from the original on July 28, 2009.
  20. ↑ "Namibia suspends army chief following kickback reports". Mail & Guardian . 2009-07-30. Archived from the original on 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
  21. ↑ Menges, Werner (2009-07-29). "Cash crunch trips up bail of Lameck and co". The Namibian . Archived from the original on 2020-08-24. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Investigations into corruption in a Chinese company connected to the son of Hu Jintao". AsiaNews. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  23. ↑ Menges, Werner (September 11, 2019). "Acquittal asked in Chinese scanner deal fraud trial". The Namibian . Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  24. ↑ Menges, Werner (September 19, 2019). "Lameck and co-accused walk free". The Namibian . Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Five One-Chinas: The contest to define Taiwan". Lowy Institute . Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  26. ↑ Endjala, Martin (29 August 2025). "Diplomatic seats empty for now" . The Namibian . p. 3.
  27. ↑ Namundjembo, Allexer (19 September 2025). "NNN's Diplomatic Déjà Vu". Windhoek Observer .
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