AFRICA IN CHINESE DIPLOMACY. THE STRUGGLE FOR AFRICAN STUDIES

The objective of this paper is to focus on one of the directions of the China's diplomatic expansion tending to obtain new sources of supply - i.e. the African direction. The author draws a history of China's relations with African countries, and describes a broad range of diplomatic tools the China uses to pursuit its goal, namely differentiation of fuel resources. The author presents the processes, plans and undertakings of the Chinese government towards the countries such as Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique, and Gabon. The author concludes with the statement, that Africa provides a perfect hinterland for rapidly developing Chinese economy. Observing China's policy towards Africa a thorough evolution of defining foreign policy can be perceived. Ideological issues have been visibly shifted into the background. Their place was taken by pragmatic policy, focused on contemporary and current conditions.