The Effect of Diplomacy: Liberia, Us, China’s Triangular Relations

By Prof. Josephus M. Gray Ph.D.

This book characterizes the existing relationships among Liberia, China and the United States of America as “triangular”. The three countries sampled are known to be democratic states but run different forms of governments- both Liberia and the United States run a Republican form of government, while China runs a socialist system of government. Both United States and China have been chosen for the purpose of this study because they are stable, and are the world’s economic powers. The two countries are actively engaged with African leaders, governments and states. These two states have been selected because they depict and reflect an alteration in governance, resources and economic powers. This book presents an in-depth, insightful analysis of critical issues on the continent and beyond. These issues include Africa in International Relations, the new scramble for the continent’s richer resources, and the core causes of poverty, corruption, bad governance and counter-terrorism in Africa. The deep political “love” towards African governments and states by the two global economic powers in recent time realism argues that it is it that has made the continent the frontline competition for oil, and the two main competitors for Africa are U.S. and China.
This study provides a vivid picture of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular relations, a detailing of the three countries long standing bilateral and multilateral relationship. It goes further to discuss few African states relations with China and the U.S. Both U.S. and China are the world’s two leading economic powers and are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto and are competing actors on the international stage. In recent time the two countries have been engaged in a trade war;, a situation which is having an adverse effect on global trade.
The dissertation, which traces the history of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular relations, their engagement in Africa and foreign aid support towards African governments and states, is a unique research and stands as a “milestone”, and “result-oriented”. The book is based on proven scholarly writings. The study attempts to validate existing publications or wide-ranging perceptions about the world’s leading economic powers- China and U.S presence in Africa. The study highlights China and the U.S. presence in Africa and their engagement with African leaders, governments and nations.
Chapter one is the general introduction and presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, research focus, objectives, justification, and significance of the entire research. Chapter two traces the history and examines Liberia, U.S. and China engagement and presence in Africa and the impacts of foreign aid in Africa; and chapter three provides the methods employed during the study. These methods include research strategy and design, data collection as well as data analysis, sampling method, structure review and limitations of the study. Chapter four provides a vivid picture of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular relations, while chapter five evaluates the successes and challenges of Liberia’s foreign relations, covering the last seven decades from one regime and to the other, from the presidency of ex-president Joseph Jenkins Roberts to present.
Chapter Six provides insights of America and China’s foreign aid to Africa and also analyzed U.S. foreign assistance to African governments and states, and compares that to China’s foreign aid assistance to African government. Chapter Seven of the study emphases on the curse of rampant corruption and the scourge of bad governance by African leaders and governments and the role of corrupt African leaders, political bureaucracies, foreign capitalists and authoritarian officials. Chapter Eight assesses the role of contemporary Liberian media and its impact on democratic governance and national development.
The work discusses in detail the western media’s perception of Africa

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665522564

Prof. Josephus M. Gray Ph.D.

About the author: Prof. Josephus Moses Gray, Ph.D. a native born Liberian, hails from the Southeastern Village of Kayken, Barclayville District in Grand Kru County. He has achieved the highest level of academic mastery in his chosen field, and works as a university professor with impressive credentials including a Ph.D. (Summa Cum laude) in International Relations and Diplomacy from the CEDS University located at 37 Quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication (Print Journalism) and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Liberia Graduate Program in International Studies. He also holds post-graduate diplomas and certificates in Foreign policy Studies, International Relations, Diplomacy, Print Journalism, Development Communication, Research Methodology, and Leadership from Paris, France; Genera, Switzerland; Beijing, China; Washington, D.C., USA; Cape Town, South Africa; Rabat, Morocco; Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal and Monrovia, Liberia. Dr. Gray currently serves as Associate Professor of International relations at the University of Liberia Graduate Program in International Studies, and Dean of Liberia College (College of social Sciences and Humanities), University of Liberia. He earlier served as Senior Policy Advisory to the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, and as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Institute of Research for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies in Paris, France. Dr. Gray has worked in several strategic positions in both public and private sectors in Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of foreign Affairs, Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs; Political Counselor at the Embassy of Liberia in Paris, France, and Charge D’ Affairs at Liberia Permanent Mission to the Swiss Federation and the United Nations in Genera, Switzerland. Dr. Gray can be reached for official business via email: [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Book preview

© 2021 Prof. Josephus M. Gray, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/26/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-2257-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-2255-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-2256-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021907570

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Affirmation

Dedication

Acknowledgements

About the Book

Abstract

About The Author

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Chapter 1: The Introduction

1.0   Introduction

1.1   Background of the study

1.2   Problem Statement

1.3   Purpose and Objectives of the study

1.4   Research Questions

1.5   Significance of the study

1.6   Research Justification

1.7   Delineations and Limitation of Scope

1.8   Structure of the study

Chapter: 2 The Effect of U.S., China’s Engagement in Africa

2.0   Introduction

2.1   Effect of U.S., China’s Engagement in Africa

2.2   The Contrasts of U.S. and China Engagement in Africa

2.3   Diverse Opinions Africa and China’s New Relations

2.4   New Dimension of China-U.S. Engagement in Africa

2.5   The succeeding Impacts of China

2.6   Hunt for Africa’s rich natural resources

2.7   China’s Impact on Africa’s Development

2.8   The global competitions for Africa’s rich resources

2.9   China Aid towards Africa: The Politics

2.10   U.S. or China:-which is Liberia Strategic Partner

2.11   Challenges and Implications: U.S, China’s presence in Liberia

2.12   Africa’s Rich Oil: The Core Causes of Conflicts

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

3.0   Introduction

3.1   Research Method

3.2   Research Strategy and Design

3.3   Population of the study

3.4   Research Instruments

3.5   Simple size and Sampling Technique

3.6   Qualitative Data Collection Methods

3.7   Survey Interview

3.8   Data Overview and Collection Process

3.9   Data Process and Analysis

3.10   Coding Data Collected

Chapter 4: Liberia, U.S. China’s Triangular Relations and Its Impact

4.0   Introduction

4.1   Analysis of Liberia, U.S. and China Triangular Relations

4.2   The Effects of U.S., China Rival in Africa

4.3   China and America’s Rising Influence in Liberia

4.4   China and Africa Exploration and Development paths

4.5   New Dimension: Beijing Influence in Liberia

4.6   Analysis: U. S., Liberia’s Contemporary Relations

4.7   Analysis of the impact of Liberia-China’s Relationship

Chapter 5: Effect of Liberian Foreign Relation and Its Development Impact

5.0   Introduction

5.1   Impact and Intricacies of Liberian Foreign Policy

5.2   Challenges and Problems of Liberian Foreign Policy

5.3   The Sirleaf’s Foreign Policy

5.4   President Weah’s Foreign Policy

5.5   Major Intricacies of Liberian Diplomacy

5.6   The Dividends of Liberia’s Foreign Relations

5.7   President Barclay’s administration

5.8   Liberian Foreign policy under President Tubman

5.9   Liberian foreign policy under President Tolbert

5.10   President Samuel K. Doe’s Regime

5.11   Liberian foreign policy under President Taylor

Chapter 6: Analysis of U.S., China’s Foreign Aid to Africa

6.0   Introduction

6.1   U.S –China foreign aid Political and Economic implications

6.2   Foreign aid as a political and economic weapon

6.3   Core Causes of Conflict In Gulf States

6.4   Impact of Foreign Aid on Liberia’s Socioeconomic Development

6.5   General Global Trends of foreign Aid

6.6   Foreign Aid in Post-Conflict Liberia

Chapter 7: Widespread Corruption and Bad Governances in Africa

7.0   Introductions

7.1   Abuse of Oil Resources and Widespread Corruption

7.2   Rampant corruption breakdown

7.3   Details Analysis of Corruption in Africa

Chapter 8: Contemporary Liberian Media and Its Impact on Democracy

8.0   Introduction

8.1   The Role of the Press in Society

8.2   Challenges of the Liberian Media

8.3   Evolution of the Liberian Media

8.4   Western Media Negative Coverage of Africa

8.5   Cases of Western Media Coverage of Liberia

8.6   Contrasts of Liberian and U.S. media

8.7   Tale of Violations against Liberian media

8.8   Cracked Down on Journalists

Chapter 9: Liberian Political System and Democratic Governance

9.0   Introduction

9.1   Democratic Governance in Post-war Liberia

9.2   The Political History of Liberia

9.3   Electoral System of Liberia

9.4   Role of Liberian Women in Democratic Governance

9.5   The Role of Liberia Women in Conflict Resolution

9.6   Former President Johnson-Sirleaf

9.7   Mrs. Ruth Sando Perry

9.8   Roberta Leymah Gbowee Nobel Peace Prize

9.9   Analysis of Women leadership across the globe

Chapter 10: Summary, Recommendations and Conclusion

10.0   Introduction

10.1   Major Findings and Analysis of the Study

10.2   Summary of the Study

10.3   Recommendations

10.4   Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix 1: Key Interviews

Affirmation

I, Josephus Moses Gray, herewith declare that this dissertation has not in any form been reproduced or earlier submitted to another university or higher institution of learning for obtaining of a degree in any disciplines. I further declared that this dissertation is a result of my extensive research work, findings, charts, and sources of evidence assembled and used other than my have been fully acknowledged and given the desired credit while bibliography have been listed with necessary credit to the authors.

Signed: Josephus Moses Gray

Dedication

This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, especially my mother, Mrs. Womon Dinah Gray and father-Abraham K. Gray (deceased) for their their parental cares, prayers, personal and special supports given me to reach this milestone in life. I owe a great gratitude and special thanks for their religiously-driven values which include self-reliance, discipline and respect for the human race and the sense of belonging; to this I shall forever remain grateful, indebted and always appreciative.

Also, to Mr. Richard Claude Parjloh (deceased) for being so kind and accommodating me during the course of my studies. I shall forever remain grateful, uncle Parjloh was my inspirations. Also to my wife, Rita Nyenpan Gray and family members for the flowing joy of care, cooperation and perpetual encouragement in all of my endeavors. Indeed, they stood by me when I needed someone besides me as strong pillar; they gave me the best of their supports, assistance and devotion. Vividly I record the sacrifices and commitment that my mother and father have demonstrated over the years, not to mention their numerous financial supports rendered me from the days of my enrollment at the elementary education level to achieving this phenomenal milestone of Doctor of Philosophy.

Acknowledgements

It is a great honor to recognize the meaningful contributions of people and institutions that have assisted in several ways during the entire course of my doctoral studies in Paris, France. It’s in this light that I have decided to appreciate the following individuals and institutions for their contributions which have led to the successful completion of this Ph.D. dissertation and the study program. Most importantly, my sincere thanks go to the Academic Director, Prof. Dr. Fouad Nohra for his professional motivation, supervion role and special thanks also go to all the professors of CEDS Ph.D. Studies Program for their sincere assistance of guidance during the last five years of studies.

My sincere gratitude to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan for his encouragement, tolerant and standing by me when forces of resistence attempted to undermine me not to complete my hard earned Ph.D. studies program in Paris. I appreciate Minister Ngafuan open-minded, and also former Liberian Ambassador to the Republic of France, His Excellency William Allen for his inspirations and moral supports given me while my appreciation goes to the former President of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for the moral encouragement during the course of praiseworthy historic studies in France. My decisions to pursue doctorate studies was driven by the words of inspirations by President Johnson-Sirleaf who has encouraged me to take advantage of my days in France.

My appreciation also goes to Mrs. Pamela Buyu, Mr. Yatay Tuoway and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Claude Parjloh for being so supportive and helpful to me during the course of my studies in France. They stood with me during my most difficult and frustrating encounters (betweeb the period 2012-2013) at the Embassy of Liberia in Paris, France where man-made barriers and obstacles created alone the ways by certain questionable characters with covetous spirits fought hard to deny me this praiseworthy journey but with the grace of the Most High, their failed plan was collided; through the blessings of Most High, I managed to successfully overcome all odds.

I owe a great gratitude and special thanks to my parents and family for their motivations, personal and special supports given me to reach this milestone. The entire doctoral study program was one hundred percent financially supported by my hard earned saving without a penny from any individual or institution. Special thanks to the following persons: Ralph Geeplay of Canada, Rinny Kanneh of USA, Gus Jeaploe and Tarlue Worwee of Liberia. I am gratful to my dissertation supervisor, Prof. Dr.. Fouad NOHRA (Associate Professor at Paris Descartes Univesity and Academic Director of CEDS), Dr. Michael STRAUSE, Professor at CEDS; Dr. Michael LEBEDEV(Diplomat and Professor at CEDS), and Prof. Dr. Souba AKIKI(President of Paris Graduate School, and Professor at CEDS). I am also grateful to the following academics: Dr. François Dodunkz of Georgia, USA; Dr. Paul Blackmann of Washington, USA; Ralph Geeplay of Canada, Prof. Dr. Zhang Li and Dr. Deng Lui of Beijing, China. However, I take full responsibility for any error and omission.

Further thanks go of course to my lovely wife, Rita Nyenpan-Gray, my friends and staffers of the New Vision Newspaper for their inspirations and encouragement while specially thanks go to my brothers and sisters and classmats. Great appreciation also goes to the wonderful librarians of the following Libraries in Paris: BNF Francois Mitterrand, American, Richelieu Louvis, Bibliotheque Chateau-d’Eau, Opera BNF Museum and Municipal Ville De Libraries for their patients and professional assistance during my interactions with them at these libraries in searching for useful materials, books, documents, data, publications, officials’ statements.

Other Libraries include the Chinese Foreign Affairs University Library in Beijing, China; Grafton Public Library in Grafton, North Dakota, USA, New York Public Library in New York, USA, the Chinese and British Embassies in Paris, France, and the Chinese Foreign Affairs reading room in Beijing. I am also grateful to the Embassy of Chine near Monrovia for sponsoring three of my trips to China to undergo studies.

Finally, I would like to thank the Most High for His bountiful blessings and protection throughout the entire process that able me to overcome "man-made barriers and obstacles. I could not have achieved this great hallmark without the Almighty wonderful blessings.

About the Book

Life is filled with certainty and ambiguity, the two can either turn into a great prospect for human existence or a tragedy depending on how either is cautiously approached and handled. In short, there is no shortcut to life; challenges and complications are always the paths to greatness. This dissertation is the result of a meticulous research conducted by the author for three years as a major requirement to earn a Doctor of Philosophy. The book: Effect of Diplomacy: Liberia, U.S. and China’s Triangular Relations, offers a profound analysis of the trends and their implications of both countries.

This book characterizes the existing relationships among Liberia, China and the United States of America as triangular. The three countries sampled are known to be democratic states but run different forms of governments- both Liberia and the United States run a Republican form of government, while China runs a socialist system of government. Both United States and China have been chosen for the purpose of this study because they are stable, and are the world’s economic powers. The two countries are actively engaged with African leaders, governments and states. These two states have been selected because they depict and reflect an alteration in governance, resources and economic powers. This book presents an in-depth, insightful analysis of critical issues on the continent and beyond. These issues include Africa in International Relations, the new scramble for the continent’s richer resources, and the core causes of poverty, corruption, bad governance and counter-terrorism in Africa. The deep political love towards African governments and states by the two global economic powers in recent time realism argues that it is it that has made the continent the frontline competition for oil, and the two main competitors for Africa are U.S. and China.

This study provides a vivid picture of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular relations, a detailing of the three countries long standing bilateral and multilateral relationship. It goes further to discuss few African states relations with China and the U.S. Both U.S. and China are the world’s two leading economic powers and are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto and are competing actors on the international stage. In recent time the two countries have been engaged in a trade war;, a situation which is having an adverse effect on global trade.

The dissertation, which traces the history of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular relations, their engagement in Africa and foreign aid support towards African governments and states, is a unique research and stands as a milestone, and result-oriented. The book is based on proven scholarly writings. The study attempts to validate existing publications or wide-ranging perceptions about the world’s leading economic powers- China and U.S presence in Africa. The study highlights China and the U.S. presence in Africa and their engagement with African leaders, governments and nations.

Chapter one is the general introduction and presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, research focus, objectives, justification, and significance of the entire research. Chapter two traces the history and examines Liberia, U.S. and China engagement and presence in Africa and the impacts of foreign aid in Africa; and chapter three provides the methods employed during the study. These methods include research strategy and design, data collection as well as data analysis, sampling method, structure review and limitations of the study.

Chapter four provides a vivid picture of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular relations, while chapter five evaluates the successes and challenges of Liberia’s foreign relations, covering the last seven decades from one regime and to the other, from the presidency of ex-president Joseph Jenkins Roberts to present.

Chapter Six provides insights of America and China’s foreign aid to Africa and also analyzed U.S. foreign assistance to African governments and states, and compares that to China’s foreign aid assistance to African government. Chapter Seven of the study emphases on the curse of rampant corruption and the scourge of bad governance by African leaders and governments and the role of corrupt African leaders, political bureaucracies, foreign capitalists and authoritarian officials. Chapter Eight assesses the role of contemporary Liberian media and its impact on democratic governance and national development.

The work discusses in detail the western media’s perception of Africa and how the global media have been able to dump negative news materials and information. Chapter Nine examines the Liberian political system and democratic governance in the context of the new world order, respect for constitutionalism and looks at the uncompromising role of Liberian women in contemporary politics, and narrates how Liberia became the torch-bearer of democracy in Africa. Chapter Ten sums up the findings of the study, presents the summary and gives my recommendations and offer further opinions about future research. Bibliography and appendixes are treated separately out of these chapters.

The book contains current page count of 684 and 3,123 paragraphs, 202, 916 words and 2, 470, 268 characters both single and double spacing while it contains 9,750 punctuation marks, 855 in-text citations. The research work also contains 590 references and 16,265 lines. The dissertation is organized into three major parts and comprises ten major chapters. It sums up with the findings of the research and presents recommendations. The author has done his best to provide accurate information and data based on referenced materials, face-to-face interviews with respondents, as well as critical analyses of books, publications, journals and official statements. However, the author would be most grateful for corrections of errors and omissions; he takes fully responsibility for any errors. He can be reached on this email:[e-mail]

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to discover new pieces of knowledge which includes unearthing of new evidences, their accurate explanation and pragmatic claim of United States and China’s presence and engagement in Africa. The work attempts to validate existing publications or confirm wide-ranging perceptions about the United States and China in Africa. It goes further to envisage a given variable, and examines further the accurate explanation, publications and data of U.S and China’s foreign aid to Africa. This work also characterizes the existing relationship of Liberia, China and the United States as triangular, and presents detailed findings of the entire work.

This dissertation discusses a detailed approach to triangular relations, and it is based on the adaptation of the study of harmonization, in the context of intercontinental relations. The study analyzes the competing interests and interactions between two political systems of government- republican and socialist forms of government. Consequently, the harmonization theory offers a way of conceptualizing three-way relations and contains in itself a technique that is applied to triangular relations between or among states.

The study further discusses in detail the background of the study, statement of the problem, the research focus, objectives, rationale, hypothesis and significance, and traces the history and digs into the triangular relations of Liberia, U.S. and China. It also evaluates the engagement of Washington and Beijing with African leaders, governments and states.. Going further, the work discusses the amazing bond of friendship existing among Liberia, U.S. and China, and challenges that pose threat to the triangular ties, and explains some major events of the period. The study provides the methods employed during the study, including research strategy and design, significance of the study, data collection processes and data analysis, sampling method applied, structure review, limitations and delimitations of the study.

The methodology chosen to solve the research problem is qualitative research method, which is defined as approach for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem. The process of research involves emerging questions and procedures, data typically collected in the participant’s setting, data analysis inductively building from particular to general themes, and the researcher making interpretations of the meaning of the data. The study employed exploratory design and qualitative method to achieve the objectives of the study. Burns and Grove (1998) define exploratory research as research conducted to gain new insights, discover new ideas and/or increase knowledge of a phenomenon. Exploratory method was used to gain new insights, discover new ideas and/or increase knowledge of Liberia, U.S. and China triangular relations and which of the two China and U.S. that gives more foreign aid assistance to Africa.

The researcher carefully selected an accessible population of 98 well informed individuals (respondents or interviewees) as representatives of the whole population with the relevant academic characteristics and expertise to participate in the survey. The respondents diverse backgrounds of education status and age range were designed to give an inclusive sample of different possible sources to draw from academics and diplomacy. The interviewees were chosen according to the following categories principles: assistant professors, associate professors, full professor, career diplomats and Foreign Service officers. During the interviews, I got as much essential information as possible from the respondents, while very sensitive and personal information presented by the respondents were honestly and carefully extracted not to undermine the validity of the study.

The survey’s questions were phrased in language, clear and precise as possible, and were adapted to the respondents’ level of education keeping in mind their level of knowledge of the topic. The wordings of the questions were easily understood by the respondents since they avoided words with unclear meaning. The questions were cleared and precise, while negative terms and double-barreled questions such as multiple questions enclosed within one were avoided. The data were collected from the respondents through unstructured interview questions which the researcher developed to collect the necessary information or data. During the research, it was observed that the unstructured questions give the respondents complete freedom of response. This research was conducted through the means of stratified sampling technique; this method is appropriate when the population has mixed characteristics, and the researcher wants to ensure that every characteristic is correspondingly represented in the sample.

The data were processed, converted, and stored in a common format which I personally adopted to suit this work. During the process of the data collection, I cautiously used tape recorder for accuracy; and after that, all were transcribed, interpreted, and coded the data into secured laptop and has been treated with care. The findings showed that China is not Africa’s largest donor, that honor still belongs to U.S.(OCED, 2018). The William & Mary research paper (2016) about aid data claims that China has committed US$350 billion in foreign aid between 2000 and 2014, parallel to the U.S, US$394.6 billion in foreign globally. Interestingly, the study has uncovered how diplomacy maintains harmony between or among nations-states and avoids nations from being in constant crisis, war or confusion.

According to the findings, through the formulation of a unique foreign policy and effective use of diplomacy, the U.S and other multilateral institutions took steps to waive Liberia’s debt totaling US$3.7 billion. According to the findings of this work, another fine display of diplomacy and unique outcome of diplomacy is the resolution of the Cold War and 14-year Liberian civil war. The finding further showed that about US$200 billion was stolen by African leaders and this amount was more than half of the continent debts of US$300 billion. It has been uncovered that this amount also "exceeds what comes into Africa as foreign aid assistance. According to World Bank, the sum of US$30 billion aid to Africa ended up in overseas bank accounts and another finding shows that an estimated sum of US$148 billion is embezzled in Africa yearly by African leaders, political bureaucratese, foreign capitalists and multinational companies and influential civil servants.

The top five of countries that received foreign aid over US$1billion per year as of 2016: The recipients include Iraq (US$5.3 billion, Afghanistan US$5.1 billion, Israel US$3.1 billion, Egypt US$1.2 billion, and Jordan $1.2 billion. In fiscal year 2017, the U.S. government allocated the following amounts for aid: Total economic and military assistance: US$49.87 billion. A statistical analysis of country by country’s report across Africa, the Liberian-state- a traditional ally of the United States of America (USA) has persistently received foreign aid from the American Government. The figures regarding U.S. FAA to Liberia focus on the period 2004-2017 amounts to US$3,701,080 billion. Africa receives about US$133.7 billion each year from official aid, grants, loans to the private sector, remittances.

The findings revealed that overseas Chinese aid between 2000 and 2014 captured 4,373 records totaling US$354.4 billion. The amount included both traditional aid (about US$75 billion, €61.3 billion) and low concessional loans (about US$275 billion). According to the white paper issued by the Chinese State Council at the end of 2016, China has given around 400 billion yuan (US$58 billion) in development aid to 166 countries and international organizations over the past decades.

The finding of this study also indicates that as China’s wealth and influence grows, its development policy is becoming increasingly motivated by a desire to gain access to new markets and economic returns. According to OECD, states which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), China does not officially disclose its aid information. Going further, the findings revealed that that U.S. gave out US$97.67 billion over 18 years in foreign aid to Africa, with infrastructural projects taking 48 percent of total aid and 26 percent towards humanitarian aid being the top priorities. The Chinese State Council’s white paper indicates that China has given around 400 billion yuan (US$58 billion) in development aid to 166 countries and international organizations over the past six decades.

The findings also added that the sum of $30 billion aid to Africa has ended up in overseas bank accounts, and an estimated sum of $148 billion is embezzled in Africa yearly by African leaders and political bureaucratese. Corruption is negatively affecting democratic space and denying the poor needed justice, rule of law and has eroded public trust in government to effectively manage their resources. The findings have indicated that across African regions, the police are seen as the most corrupt group, followed by business executives, while legislature and public officials are in the third position of corrupt groups on the continent. The fourth corrupt group is judiciary.

Both Corruption Watch and Transparency International survey reports have shown that police are widely seen as corrupt with 47% of people sampled saying that most or all police are corrupt. But also almost four in 10 citizens think most or all government officials (39%) and legislators (36%) are corrupt. The finding further pinpointed that men are slightly more likely to pay a bribe than women, the poorest people are twice as likely to pay a bribe as the richest people, and young people aged range of 18-34 are more likely to pay a bribe than people aged 55 and over.

The findings showed that U.S new engagement in African is to seek African government and states’ support for counter-terrorism activities on the continent. While the Chinese leaders have repeatedly said that China does not place the same kind of conditions that the Western world does on the money it grants, or lends, to countries in need. The findings also revealed that the U.S. and Chinese foreign aid has hidden motives, and added that US Government used stern pre-conditions to provide foreign aid such as economic incentives and military aid to developing countries. While China foreign aid such as loans, grants, debt relief, socio-economic supports and provision of military hardware, under one pre-condition the recognition of one China policy. The general perception about China, U.S and Africa’s relations is often subjective, and highly prejudicial. Many leaders of recipient countries have spoken highly of China as a reliable friend, while the focus of China foreign aid include the amount of US$75 billion, €61.3 billion and additional US$275 billion.

About The Author

About the author: Prof. Josephus Moses Gray, Ph.D. a native born Liberian, hails from the Southeastern Village of Kayken, Barclayville District in Grand Kru County. He has achieved the highest level of academic mastery in his chosen field, and works as a university professor with impressive credentials including a Ph.D. (Summa Cum laude) in International Relations and Diplomacy from the CEDS University located at 37 Quai de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication (Print Journalism) and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Liberia Graduate Program in International Studies. He also holds post-graduate diplomas and certificates in Foreign policy Studies, International Relations, Diplomacy, Print Journalism, Development Communication, Research Methodology, and Leadership from Paris, France; Genera, Switzerland; Beijing, China; Washington, D.C., USA; Cape Town, South Africa; Rabat, Morocco; Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal and Monrovia, Liberia.

Dr. Gray currently serves as Associate Professor of International relations at the University of Liberia Graduate Program in International Studies, and Dean of Liberia College (College of social Sciences and Humanities), University of Liberia. He earlier served as Senior Policy Advisory to the Minister of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, and as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Institute of Research for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies in Paris, France.

Dr. Gray has worked in several strategic positions in both public and private sectors in Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of foreign Affairs, Assistant Foreign Minister for Public Affairs; Political Counselor at the Embassy of Liberia in Paris, France, and Charge D’ Affairs at Liberia Permanent Mission to the Swiss Federation and the United Nations in Genera, Switzerland. Dr. Gray can be reached for official business via email: [e-mail] or [e-mail].

Acronyms and Abbreviations

CHAPTER 1

The Introduction

1.0   Introduction

In this instructive research work, I present a conceptual and background framework, because I think it is necessary to outline some contextual information before discussing the core subject. This dissertation title: The Effect of Diplomacy: Liberia, U.S, China’s Triangular Relations, is an exceptional selection but challenging study for one to passionately undertake due to the nature of the study which studied the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States of America (USA) presence in Africa, with focus on Liberia, USA and China’s triangular relations. The study broadly discusses diplomacy which is most importantly used because it is a basic means by which a nation seeks to secure the goals of its national interest. Without diplomacy which maintains harmony between or among nations-states, nations would be in constant of crisis or war. Diplomacy is most importantly used because it is a basic means by which a nation seeks to secure the goals of its national interest (Amacker, 2009).

The work discusses the role of the researcher in qualitative research, describes the various stages of the research and presents the background of the study, problem statement, research focus, objectives, rationale, hypothesis and significant, and traces the history of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular relations and the engagement of the Washington and Beijing in Africa and their foreign aid support towards African governments and states. It also provides the methods employed during the study, including research strategy and design, data collection and analysis, sampling method, structure review and limitations of the study.

Generally, the topic motivates one to be prepared to undertake an academic research and produce an accurate result that addresses the central research question and achieve its objective. The study attempts to validate existing publications or confirm wide-ranging perceptions about the world’s leading economic powers-the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States of America (USA) presence in Africa and engagements with African leaders, governments and states, and their foreign aid assistance in Africa.

The work is based on proven scholastic writings, one-on-one interviews, and other publications such as relevant books, official statements, press releases, policy statements, tabloids, and other online resources. Considering the nature of this study, the selections or used of such publications was done with a great care and the credibility. The materials and respondents were validated and certified and the publications studied and used for this work are authored by academics, relevant state officials, diplomats and experts who are well informed of the subject under discussion, mostly of political, foreign policy, diplomatic and American, African and Asian studies. Mostly the respondents or interviewees hold a recognized education and are making immense contributions in their esteemed areas of disciplines.

The study goes further to envisage a given variable and examines additional the accurate descriptions, publications and data of the arguable China, U.S. and Liberia’s dealing. It researched the contrast of the two global powers leverages in Africa particularly in Liberia. This work also characterizes the existing relationship among Liberia, China and U.S. as triangular, analyzing the competing interests and interactions between Washington and Beijing, and what Liberia stands to gain from the triangular relations. Are they sincere in their ties with African governments and institutions? What does Africa stand to benefit or is this just another surreptitious move to disadvantage the continent for its riches while keeping the population in a perpetually natural poverty?

The work tries to validate existing publications or confirm wide-ranging perceptions about the two world’s economic powers presence in Africa. It goes further to envisage a given variable, and examines further the accurate explanation, publications and data of the arguable foreign aid. This work also characterized the existing relationship among Liberia, China and the United States of America as triangular. This work discusses a detailed approach to triangular relations, and it is based on the adaptation of the study of harmonization, in the context of Intercontinental Relations. The work analyzes the competing interests and interactions between two sovereign systems-A republican and communist form of governments. Additionally third one Liberia’s interactions with the first two, U.S. and China benefit which side? Consequently, the harmonization theory offers a way of conceptualizing three-way relations and contains in itself a technique that might be applied to triangular relations between states.

The study further considers the optimism and pessimism of both U.S. and China’s new level of relations with African states, whether it is an opportunity and an opportunist and the perception of African leaders and state actors. It goes further to assess political and economic impacts of the two countries’ engagement with African governments, and profoundly discussed the frequently pondered over question of who generally benefits greatly? Is it China, U.S. or Africa? Another concern which is the focus of the chapter is if China and U.S. are sincere in the dealing with Africa? It also evaluated several issues regarding China and U.S new approaches towards Africa and interest in the development of the African continent, the poorest continent in the world. Nowadays, both China and the United States use soft and hard powers in different ways to their benefits and with varying effects.

Contemporarily, deep changes at the international level have introduced a new course of reorientation of the power distribution and rise of new powers on the international stage. The emergence of China as an economic power and the gradual returns of Russia on the world’s stage, perhaps, appears to be a challenge to the free world-United States of America (USA) as the leading super power. While the U.S. ongoing war against terrorism across the world presents a new dynamics in world’s politics and changed the approach to security in the world. The prevailing security concerns globally have given rise to new assumptions, considerations and opportunities concerning the new approaches towards power distribution and state interaction with other states in the context of China and U.S. presence in Africa and their interaction with African leaders, governments and states.

China views development and foreign aid as practical policy instruments to promote friendship and economic cooperation with states, while the U.S. attaches clearly stated goals, stringent conditions, and strict criteria to its development programs opportunity and an opportunist?

The general perception about China, U.S and Africa’s relations is often subjective, and highly prejudicial. The persistent criticism regarding the presence of China in Africa and ties with African governments and states are driven by western journalists and state actors, fearing that China’s growing presence and good relationship with African states, while others believe that the Chinese presence has threatened the American Government’s leverage in Africa.

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After developing a keen interest in the growing debates among state actors, academics and political pundits regarding the significance of China and the United States current engagement in African and the two countries ties with African governments and states on one hand, and on the other-hand, the impact of the U.S. and China’s foreign aid assistance.

Gradually, the global shifts of power from one region to another might profoundly change the practice and context of conducting foreign relation and dealing with new emerging international problems and challenges. History tells us that in the early 20th century the pompous order of the Germany and Japan’s hegemony miserably failed to predict the future of the new world order to make change, resulting to the destruction and defeat of the Germany-Japan’s bloc by the supremacy of the opposite powers leads by the United States of America.

The keen role of a state in the international arena is not by accident, but is essentially a commitment of all states to respect the Charter of the United Nations which underscored respect for world’s peace and security. In order for a state to be visible and play a major role in global politics, it must be part of the global power structure and the inner circle that formulates and makes vital decisions regarding the new direction of the international system.

1.1   Background of the study

This instructive work conceptualizes the politics and triangular relations, and scrutinizes the level of Liberia, America and China’s triangular relations. It discusses the relations impact on Liberia’s socio-economic and political landscape. The two world’s economic powers are not different from other developing global powers, whose collective national interest is supreme in their engagements with Africa.

It is always unique to give back to the society, and my innovative input to knowledge is a study of Liberia, U.S. and China’s triangular Relations and its Impact. This dissertation is structured into three major parts and comprises twelve major chapters. Introducing a hypothetical framework grounded in politics of development, this dissertation addresses the links between China and America’s presence and engagements on the African continent, reason behind their foreign aid assistances to support developmental initiative, using Liberia. The tiny West African state is one of the third world countries that is recovering from years of civil crisis and is picked as a case study.

The US Government used stern diplomatic instruments and pre-conditions to prove foreign aid assistance such economic incentives and military aid to developing countries. While China foreign aid assistance such as loans, grants, debt relief, socio-economic supports and provision of military hardware, under one pre-condition the recognition of one China policy. These countries have been selected, as they depict and reflect a variance in foreign aid and development. This is relevant because America and China’s engagement in sub-Saharan Africa are not the same within the continent’s five regions and 55 states. The work analyzes the competing interests and interactions between two sovereign systems-A republican and communist form of governments.

Additionally, one third of Liberia’s interactions with the first two, U.S. and China benefits which side? Consequently, the harmonization theory offers a way of conceptualizing three-way relations and contains in itself a technique that might be applied to triangular relations between states. Every country negotiates to deals they deem beneficial due to competing national interests and foreign policy goals. The United States and China’s engagement and presence are having a positive or negative political and economic effect, depends on the political climate and type of governance in place.

Acceding to World Bank’s (2017) report, China surpassed the United States as Africa’s largest trade partner. China is a destination for 15 to 16 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s exports and the source of 14 to 21 percent of the region’s imports, while the U.S., in the second place, followed by Germany and France. While Liberia most single trade partner is the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, followed by China in second and in the third position is the U.S.

Williams (2012) stated that since the U.S. Government ́s assertion of dominance of modern international relations, many U.S. policymakers see China’s current engagement in Africa as a threat to U.S.’ role in Africa, especially considering Africa importance in global politics, especially at the rapid speed by which China-Africa friendship is accelerating. Other concern focuses on the increasing development assistance that the Chinese Government in recent time continues to provide for corrupt African leaders and governments. It has been suggested that Africa is experiencing a ‘New diplomatic race; thanks primarily to its oil and energy wealth, with the United States and China being actively competing for access to Africa’s resources.

Africa is blessed with riches. But most Africans see little benefit from this influx of oil drillers and investment. In an era of rising petroleum prices, African oil is drawing new interest from major companies around the globe (Ghazyinian, 2005) author of Untapped: The Scramble for Africa’s Oil. They see the continent as the most promising place in the world for new production. It doesn’t have the huge deposits that the Middle East and Russia do, but what it does have is accessible and largely unexploited. And the oil’s high quality makes it relatively inexpensive to refine.

The World Bank estimates that addressing Africa’s infrastructure deficit will cost US$75 billion a year and that there is a current gap of US$35 billion. Most African countries, not only lack the cash flow for this massive undertaking, but they also suffer from poor credit ratings in international financial markets. According to the World Bank (2012) report, significant numbers of the Africa states, however, are well endowed with natural resources. For decades African mineral wealth remained locked underground or abused for a variety of reasons, such as poor governance, political instability, geographical obstacles, low commodity prices, corruption, lack of expertise and investment.

In Africa, poor governance has led to poor economic growth and it is manifested through corruption, political instability, ineffective rule of laws and institutions. Abject poverty and rampant corruption served as major obstacles to growth and development on the continent; while on the other hand, gross human rights violations, injustices, disrespect for rule of law and order, misused of national resources and state’s wealth by autocrats and corrupt leaders and their families and friends, dishonest bureaucrats, foreign capitalists and the lack of proper democracy, are some of the problems responsible for the continent’s backwardness in the context of growth and development.

In a world where both developed and developing countries require huge quantities of oil resources, Africa has once again become strategic for major actors in the international system. Strategic considerations related to Africa are, of course, influenced by global processes and rivalries, with China’s great power status having recently received particular attention. Dozens of research findings point to the fact that the People’s Republic of China and United States’ interests in Africa are complex, and many issues such as terrorism are high on the agenda. Africa is littered with fragile states. In the words of the former chief executive of BP John Browne, unless geologists succeed in finding new and so far unidentified provinces, as consumers, we will all be dependent on supplies from just three areas West Africa, Russia and the Middle East.

These interactions under the triangular relations come with concealed agenda in reality with diverse purposes. The first two have a more influence over the category three which is Liberia, while the first two try to undercut one another to gain influence over the whole of Africa, not just Liberia. The study uncovers two leading settings that reinforce the mounting concerns of U.S. and China’s triangular relations with Liberia and engagement with African governments and states. Therefore, China and U.S.A.’s triangular relations with Liberia and engagement with Africa is both an opportunity and an opportunist, therein U.S. and China’s engagement in a resources rich country of Liberia is having a positive or negative political and economic impact.

Considering the political and economic geo-factors at play, this work contends that China ́s growing power in the international sphere presents a disturbing geopolitical challenge to the United States influence in Africa. Several academics argue that China’s foreign aid to African governments and states is to give Beijing due advantage for oil and other natural resources. While for the U.S., the foreign aid assistance helped to place the U.S. in advance position to project its national interest, at the same time to give the country’s leverages to influence political and economic situations in Africa.

Braun and Clarke (2006) explained that codes identified portions of the data that appear interesting to the researcher and said the codes highlighted the most basic element, or segment of raw data that can be assessed in a meaningful way with respect to the phenomenon. During the process of the data collection, the researcher used tape recorder for accuracy; and after that, the researcher transcribed, interpreted, and coded the data into my personal laptop computer and has been treated with care. The interviews were used as a means of exploring and gathering first-hand information from the respondents.

The interviews provided an opportunity for the researcher to develop a conversational relationship about the meaning of the participant’s live experiences. The interview allowed the respondents to tell their story in their own words. Several political pundits believe that China’s ties with corrupt and autocratic regimes in Africa, especially Chinese Government’s aid to many African states with ‘no strings attached policy’ undermines democracy, and is responsible for bad governance, encourages and buttresses the rule of dictatorship in further exposing the vulnerability of the population in the host countries. But there are others who hailed Sino-African partnership and believed that it results in a win-win situation, arguing that African countries stand to benefit greatly.

Other academics argue that unlike the western donors who tend to impose western values like democratic ideas and norms on Africa, China invests and provides aid without much preconditions and interference in their internal affairs, therefore, it is not unimaginable that China is regarded by Africa as a more cooperative and valuable partner to the west. Besides providing loans, China also invests in infrastructure development and many high-visibility projects, that the African leaders are generally in favor. Physical infrastructure constructions have been long neglected if not avoided, by Western donors.

The actual cause of the argument stands from different interpretations and perceptions, most importantly, how accurate is the information they obtain or hand over to them. Nevertheless, mindful against making a decision on the debate, I decided to discuss the subject in-depth, give analyses and present empirical illustration and data as it relates to a particular case or situation in the relationship of Liberia, U.S. and China. After developing a keen interest in the various argumentations, I have offered some contextual analysis that mainly supports, supplements and underscores the debates regarding Liberia, U.S. and China triangular relations, and the two world’s economic powers competing interests and dominance in Africa.

Three countries America, China and Liberia which are focused of this work maintained triangle relations and are actively involved on the African continent. Three sovereign states located in North America, West Africa, and Asia were sampled for a multiple case study; United States of America, People’s Republic of China and Republic of Liberia. America and China have been chosen because they are the world’s economic powers; they are stable and deemed as having great influence in Africa, engaging in several projects through foreign aid. The United States and China’s industries and factories need Africa’s rich oil and energy.

The three countries sampled are known to be democratic states but run different forms of governments- both Liberia and the United States run a republican system of government, while China, although democratic, run a communist form of government. The United States and China have been chosen because they are stable, are the world’s economic powers, actively engaged in Africa and deemed as democratic countries.

These countries have been selected, as they depict and reflect an alteration in governance, resources and economic powers. This is appropriate because the United States and China’s relationship with Liberia is amazing and projects the much anticipated social, political, economic and culture dividends. The Liberian state negotiates with the two world’s economic powers a deal it deems beneficial; relative to its national and strategic interests. However, both U.S. and China’s engagement in a resources rich country of Liberia is having a positive or negative political and economic impact, depends on the political climate and type of governance in place. Data are collected using primary sources such as government statements, press releases, publications, speeches, agreements, development packs, and interviews, and secondary sources.

The study is limited China, U.S. Liberia, and selected respondents, while the research is narrowed regarding the scope in a vast sub-Saharan African state of Liberia; while the views expressed by the respondents or interviewees do not necessary represent the opinions of the entire population of the study. This work provides a more in-depth analysis than in breadth overview of U.S. and China’s involvement in Africa. Due to the nature and importance of the study, the researcher made great effort to do field work, and research people acknowledgeable of the subject.

It also examines the positives and negatives of Washington and Beijing’s new diplomatic approaches which many scholars continue to argue, are geared towards oil and energy on the continent. By focusing on tangible factors as descriptive variables, the study aims to identify the underlying rationale of the Chinese foreign policy towards Africa and the new U.S. interest in Africa. The growing significance of the China-Africa relationship has led to a burgeoning grey literature in the popular and business press (Ajakaiye and Kaplinsky, 2009).

The information is anecdotal, and often highly prejudicial, generally generated by journalists from the west writing for a home based audience which is increasingly feeling the competitive pressure exerted by Chinese economic and political influence in Africa. Most works regarding Chinese engagement in Africa come from the West, which is keen to brand China as irresponsible and reckless. It is, however doubtful that the criticism is a genuine concern for African welfare and interests (Taylor, 2009). The Chinese in Africa must have some ideas about the real China in Africa. Unfortunately, much of this is poorly disseminated.

In the academic domain of African studies, the opinions of Chinese people in Africa should be crucial in understanding Sino-African relationship and to some extent help to dispel the various myths about Chinese engagement in Africa, whether the positive description as friendly cooperation or the skeptical ones as a rogue donor. Besides, as an important economic, social and political factor in Africa, their opinions might impact the further Chinese engagement in Africa. The factors behind the growing attention to African energy supplies is that the world major oil producing states’ oil fields are being drained faster than new production can be brought on line. This study further examines other forms of soft power such as military diplomacy, global trade and investment, and sovereign wealth funds while at the same time it analyzes China and U.S’diplomatic and economic activities in the world.

Although the western development aid workers and Africa itself have been chasing developments on the continent for a long time and have been seeking change to the status quo, the reality is still disillusioning. For example, the structural adjustment program [sap] initiated by western governments and adopted by some Africans seems to be a failure. The idea of turning to China as an alternative for prosperity has captured the imagination of many ordinary Africans, although others fear the threat of competition from the Chinese industrial juggernaut, and the rise of Chinese traders competing in local African markets (Brautigam, 2009).

In some countries, a Chinese model is sketched. For example, an economic model of Special Economic Zone has already been imported from China (Davies, 2008). The Chinese people in Africa have experienced Chinese economic take-off and witnessed African stagnation. They are supposed to have some original ideas about the Chinese influence on African development. They are entitled to assess the possibility of a win-win situation. Both U.S. and China have a more leverages over Liberia and the rest of the African states, but they are tangled in a deep political rivalry as they try to undercut one another to gain influence over the whole of Africa, not just Liberia. The study uncovers two leading settings that reinforce the mounting concerns about U.S. and China’s triangular relations with Liberia and engagement with African governments and states.

However, there are concerns if China and U.S. contemporary engagement in Africa is an opportunity and opportunist? Others questioned if such engagement is basically due to the U.S. and China quest to exploit natural resources to support their huge manufactures? The two world’s economic powers are not different from other developing global powers, whose national interest is supreme in their engagements with Africa.

Several political pundits believe that China ties with corrupt and autocratic regimes in Africa, especially Chinese Government’s aid to many African states with ‘no strings attached policy’ undermines democracy, and is responsible for bad governance, encourages a rule by dictatorship further exposing the vulnerability of the population in the host countries. But there are others who hailed Sino-African partnership and believed that it results in a win-win situation, arguing that African countries stand to benefit greatly.

Other scholars argue that unlike the western donors who tend to impose western values like democratic ideas on Africa, China invests and provides aid without much preconditions and interference in their internal affairs, therefore, it is not unimaginable that China is regarded by Africa as a more cooperative and valuable partner to the west. Besides providing loans, China also invests in infrastructure development and many high-visibility projects, that the African leaders generally in favor. Physical infrastructure constructions have been long neglected if not avoided, by western donors.

The actual cause of the argument stands from different interpretations and perceptions, most importantly, how accurate is the information they obtain or hand over to them. Nevertheless, mindful against making a decision on the debate, I decided to discuss the subject in-depth, give analyses and present empirical illustration and data as it relates to a particular case or situation in relationship to a specific African country. After developing a keen interest in the various argumentations, I have offered some contextual analysis that mainly supports supplements and underscores the debates regarding Liberia, U.S. and China triangular relations, and the two world’s economic powers competing interests and dominance in Africa.

The actual cause of the argument stands from different interpretations and perceptions, most importantly, how accurate is the information they obtain or hand over to them. Nevertheless, being mindful against making a decision on the debate, I decided to discuss the subject in-depth, give analyses and present empirical illustration and data relating to a particular situation context or situation in relationship to a specific African country. After developing a keen interest in the debates, I have offered some contextual analyses that mainly underscore the nature of the debates regarding Liberia, U.S. and China triangular relations, and the two world’s economic powers competing interests and domination in Africa.

China and the United States use tools of soft power in different ways to their benefits and with varying effects. Many experts argue that China’s policies of non-interference and no political attached strings’ have resonated so strongly among African countries which have become so wearied of those sanctimonious clichés about democracy, human rights, and good governance being proposed by the United States and its western partners. It also examines the positives and negatives of Washington and Beijing’s new diplomatic approaches which many scholars argue are geared towards oil and energy on the continent. By focusing on tangible factors as descriptive variables, the study aims to identify the underlying rationale of Chinese foreign policy towards Africa and the new U.S. interest in Africa.

The United States is Liberia traditional partner while China is Liberia’s strategic partner, both have maintained dynamic diplomatic missions and visible in Liberia regarding a noticeable diplomatic presence apropos of effectiveness and productivity, yet, the perception and misperception of Liberians, foreign capitalists and political bureaucrats towards China and USA present a hysterical and erroneous contradictory interpretation. Diplomatically, China and the United States use tools of soft and hard powers in different ways to their benefits and with varying effects.

Many experts argue that China’s :soft policies of non-interference, one-China policy and no political attached strings’ have resonated so strongly among African countries which have become so wearied of those sanctimonious clichés about democracy, human rights, and good governance being proposed by the United States and its western partners. Other experts highlight the competition between China and the United States for influence on the continent, as well as their differing approaches. On the technical level, China views development and foreign aid as practical policy instruments to promote political friendship and economic cooperation, while the U.S. attaches clearly stated goals, stringent conditions, and strict criteria to its development programs (Brookings’ Sun, 2014).

China and Africa have since then become all-weather friends that understand, support and help each other. China has a major diplomatic presence in Africa. Even though it’s still arguable, In fact, according to research, Beijing is more widely represented in Africa with missions on the ground than is the United States. Beijing, which has diplomatic relations with Fifty-one continent’s fifty-three countries, maintains an embassy with an accredited ambassador in 48 of African states thus far, the most recent being South Sudan in 2011.

While the United States operates over forty diplomatic missions across Africa, below the embassy and diplomatic missions China operates around Africa. China maintains offices of a commercial counselor in 40 of those countries and seven consulates general in five of them. But Chinese investment in Africa overtaking Britain’s and France’s, and stood only behind that of the United States of America (USA) (Sautman and Yan, 2009).

The African continent has now become a vital arena of strategic and geopolitical competition for not only the United States and China, but also for India, Russia, Great Britain, France and Japan as well as other new emerging powers. The main reason for this level of new love for Africa is that the continent is the final frontier as far as the world’s supplies of oil and energy are concerned with global competition for both oil and natural gas becoming just as intense.

The increasing presence of China in Africa has drawn a lot of controversy and strong criticism among some Western countries, which perceive Chinese foreign policy for Africa as a growing threat to their own interests. It is increasingly evident that Chinese economic involvement in several African countries has forced the traditional African partners, particularly Europe and the U.S., to reassess its strategic political cooperation with the continent. The Chinese government’s soft power global influence attained through diplomatic, economic, cultural, and other non-coercive means has grown along with its international standing. While in other parts of Africa, Chinese companies are muscling their way into countries by under-cutting western competition including the