China Shifts from Africa’s Top Megaproject Lender to a Debt Collector The narrative of Chinese largesse in Africa, built over two decades, has been a cornerstone of Beijing's foreign policy.
For years, the notion that China was pouring billions into African infrastructure projects with little scrutiny or expectation of repayment became an accepted truth.
However, new data suggests that the tables have turned: rather than being the continent's leading financier, China is now focusing on collecting its dues. Chinese loan commitments peaked in 2016 at $28.