Central African Republic–China 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).^[1]^: 346 The Central African Republic has an embassy in Beijing whilst China has an embassy in Bangui.

History

Following establishment of relations in 1964, when Jean-Bédel Bokassa came to power in 1966, he switched the nation's recognition back to Taiwan, severing diplomatic ties with the government in Beijing, which lasted until although Bokassa's reversal and visited Beijing in 1976.^[2]^[3] The Central African Republic switched its recognition back to Taipei in 1991 under President André-Dieudonné Kolingba. Kolingba's successor, Ange-Félix Patassé, would switch the CAR's recognition back to the People's Republic of China in 1998, which remained as of 2017. Since 1998, China has delivered much foreign aid to the CAR, including doctors and civil engineers. Trade between China and the CAR has increased in the 2000s (decade), and CAR President François Bozizé Yangouvonda called for more Chinese investment in the country in 2009.^[4]

The Chinese embassy in Bangui temporarily suspended its operations in 2013 after the fall of President Bozizé and the subsequent civil war, but as of 2016 it was reopened.^[5]

Central African Republic was one of 53 countries, that in June 2020, backed the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations.^[6]

Economic development

Since the first Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2000, the Chinese government has delivered $152 million in development assistance to the Central Africa Republic.^[7] Several major Chinese aid projects in the Central African Republic include:

A $67.4 million loan from the Exim Bank of China to install fix and mobile networks in the country.^[8]
Construction of a 20,000-seat stadium in Bangui financed by the Chinese government.^[9]
The cancellation of $11.4 million in debt owed to China.^[10]

Military aid

Chinese instructors have trained members of the Central African Republic's internal security forces, such as police and presidential guard, in 2018.^[11]

References

^ 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.
^ "In Central Africa the Sun Sets on a Republic and Comes Up on an Empire". The New York Times. 1976-12-05. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
^ "1976年11月15日华国锋到机场欢迎中非总统博卡萨 - 华国锋时政活动年谱（1976年） - 华国锋纪念网".
^ "AFP: Central Africa calls on China for investment". 2009-09-10. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
^ The Central African Republic. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
^ Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^ 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. http://aiddatachina.org/projects?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search=&active_string%5B%5D=Active&country_name%5B%5D=Central+African+Rep.&scope_names%5B%5D=Official+Finance^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ 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. "AidData | Supply and installation for mobile and fixed networks". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
^ 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. "AidData | Stadium". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
^ 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. "AidData | Debt Cancellation". Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
^ Centrafrique : 20 éléments de la Garde Spéciale Chargés de la Protection Républicaine formés par des instructeurs chinois. (in French). 8 December 2018.