中美在非洲的竞争与合作

Reflections on China-U.S. Competition and Cooperation in Africa

中美是非洲重要的外部利益攸关方,非洲是中美关系中特殊的第三方因素,中美在非洲的利益和关系互动主要体现在经济、政治、安全三大基本领域。在经贸领域,中国在非洲拓展迅速,美国与非洲的经贸合作水平则有所下降,呈现"中国赶超、美国守成"之势。在政治领域,中美各有独特的政治诉求,中国将"一个中国"原则作为与非洲交往的政治前提,美国将巩固、扩大非洲民主视为自身主要利益。在安全领域,"9·11"事件后美国重视非洲在反恐中的作用,加强在非洲的军事部署,中国则通过联合国多边维和与对非双边安全合作的方式参与维护非洲和平与安全,但总体依然呈现"美强中弱"的态势。中美在非洲竞争与合作深度交织、复合并存,既存在资源之争、理念之争以及一定程度的地缘政治竞争,也在扩大非洲市场、维护非洲和平稳定等方面拥有共同利益,合作空间广阔。中美两国需要主动作为,在非洲合作上达成整体的、高层次的政治共识,尊重对方的核心利益,尊重各自的发展道路和非洲的自主选择,不搞意识形态之争,客观理性看待彼此在非洲的力量对比、利益诉求,循序渐进推进涉非合作,使双方在非洲的关系实现良性发展。

China and the United States are the most consequential external“stakeholders”in Africa.In the economic and trade field,China’s expansion is rapid,and American economic and trade cooperation with Africa has retreated,creating the impression that“whereas China is catching up,the United States is entrenching.”In the political field,Beijing and Washington have their own unique political goals:whereas adherence to the“One China”position on the part of African states is the precondition of China’s engagement with the continent,democracy enlargement in Africa is perhaps constitutes the most vital U.S.interest.In the security field,after the 9/11 terror attacks,the United States valued Africa’s counter-terrorism role and deployed military resources to Africa.China has enhanced multilateral intervention in Africa through peacekeeping and bilateral security cooperation.Even as China and the United States scramble for Africa’s resources and compete in ideological and geopolitical terms,the two great power also share common interests in expanding the markets and promoting peace and stability on the continent.To promote trilateral cooperation and avoid malicious competition between China and the Untied States,it is imperative for Beijing and Washington to build political consensus,respect each other’s core interests,accommodate their respective development paths and Africa’s own choices,and objectively perceive the China-U.S.balance of power and vital interests in Africa