Beijing Uses Economy as Leverage: Sino-African Trade Continues to Heat Up
China is using debt and trade preferences to increase its influence in Africa, which recently led to the postponement of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's trip to Eswatini after three African nations denied airspace access under Beijing's pressure.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 14:49
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 15:02 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 16:54 (25h 52m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter, Taipei, 22nd) For years, China has deeply cultivated Africa through economy, trade, and investment. Last year, imports from Africa increased by 6% year-on-year, with imports from Seychelles skyrocketing by 817.3%, and the total value of imported goods from Mauritius also showing substantial growth.
President Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit the allied Kingdom of Eswatini today, but the trip was temporarily suspended because three African island nations—Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles—canceled the flight clearance for his special plane. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an stated yesterday that the delay was undoubtedly due to Chinese interference. Beijing claims to harbor goodwill toward Taiwan and desires peace across the strait, but this incident proves that China's goodwill is fake and its threats are real.
The suspension of President Lai's trip to Eswatini has drawn international attention. U.S. Republican Representative Pat Harrigan posted on social media that China threatened the three African countries with debt, causing them to immediately block Taiwan's president from entering their airspace. He called it the perfect economic war, requiring not a single bullet, because Beijing owns more than half the debt of the African continent.
The UK-based think tank Overseas Development Institute (ODI) published a report stating that about 40% of sub-Saharan African countries are in a "severe debt distress" crisis. This report has reignited discussions on China's lending to African nations. While experts believe the outside world should pay attention, determining exactly how much money China has lent to African countries is no easy task.
Beyond debt, Sino-African economic and trade ties have continued to heat up in recent years. According to Chinese customs statistics, from January to December 2025, the total bilateral import and export volume between China and Africa reached 2.4905 trillion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 18.4%. Exports to Africa were 1.6101 trillion RMB, growing by 26.5%, while imports from Africa were 880.369 billion RMB, up 6.0%. Overall, the growth rates of China's total trade, exports, and imports with Africa were all higher than the growth of China's overall foreign trade with other continents.
As for the three countries that canceled President Lai's flight clearance, according to the mainland media Huaon Intelligence, the bilateral trade volume between China and Seychelles in 2025 was $112 million, an increase of $27.81 million or 32.9% from 2024. Of this, China's exports to Seychelles totaled $110 million (up 30.9%), while imports from Seychelles were $1.896 million (up 817.3%).
In Madagascar, the bilateral trade volume with China in 2025 was $1.673 billion, a 0.4% year-on-year decrease. China's exports to Madagascar totaled $1.451 billion (up 2.6%), while imports from Madagascar were $220 million (down 16.5%).
Additionally, from January to August 2025, the bilateral trade volume between China and Mauritius was $703 million, up 6.7%. China's exports to Mauritius were $685 million (up 6.2%), and imports from Mauritius were $17.48 million (up 31.1%).
Just as the Presidential Office announced the obstruction of President Lai's trip, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing yesterday with visiting Mozambican President Daniel Chapo. He reiterated the full implementation of zero tariffs for the 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, effective May 1st. Eswatini is the only one of the 54 African countries excluded from China's zero-tariff policy.
Previously, in March, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng visited Seychelles and met with President Patrick Herminie. According to the CCP mouthpiece People's Daily, Han Zheng stated that China appreciates Seychelles' firm support on issues concerning China's core interests, and both sides agreed on early harvest arrangements for a joint economic partnership agreement. Herminie remarked that Seychelles-China relations are at a historical high, and Seychelles firmly adheres to the One-China policy. (Editors: Chou Hui-ying / Chen Kai-yu) 1150422
(Central News Agency reporter, Taipei, 22nd) For years, China has deeply cultivated Africa through economy, trade, and investment. Last year, imports from Africa increased by 6% year-on-year, with imports from Seychelles skyrocketing by 817.3%, and the total value of imported goods from Mauritius also showing substantial growth.
President Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit the allied Kingdom of Eswatini today, but the trip was temporarily suspended because three African island nations—Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles—canceled the flight clearance for his special plane. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an stated yesterday that the delay was undoubtedly due to Chinese interference. Beijing claims to harbor goodwill toward Taiwan and desires peace across the strait, but this incident proves that China's goodwill is fake and its threats are real.
The suspension of President Lai's trip to Eswatini has drawn international attention. U.S. Republican Representative Pat Harrigan posted on social media that China threatened the three African countries with debt, causing them to immediately block Taiwan's president from entering their airspace. He called it the perfect economic war, requiring not a single bullet, because Beijing owns more than half the debt of the African continent.
The UK-based think tank Overseas Development Institute (ODI) published a report stating that about 40% of sub-Saharan African countries are in a "severe debt distress" crisis. This report has reignited discussions on China's lending to African nations. While experts believe the outside world should pay attention, determining exactly how much money China has lent to African countries is no easy task.
Beyond debt, Sino-African economic and trade ties have continued to heat up in recent years. According to Chinese customs statistics, from January to December 2025, the total bilateral import and export volume between China and Africa reached 2.4905 trillion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 18.4%. Exports to Africa were 1.6101 trillion RMB, growing by 26.5%, while imports from Africa were 880.369 billion RMB, up 6.0%. Overall, the growth rates of China's total trade, exports, and imports with Africa were all higher than the growth of China's overall foreign trade with other continents.
As for the three countries that canceled President Lai's flight clearance, according to the mainland media Huaon Intelligence, the bilateral trade volume between China and Seychelles in 2025 was $112 million, an increase of $27.81 million or 32.9% from 2024. Of this, China's exports to Seychelles totaled $110 million (up 30.9%), while imports from Seychelles were $1.896 million (up 817.3%).
In Madagascar, the bilateral trade volume with China in 2025 was $1.673 billion, a 0.4% year-on-year decrease. China's exports to Madagascar totaled $1.451 billion (up 2.6%), while imports from Madagascar were $220 million (down 16.5%).
Additionally, from January to August 2025, the bilateral trade volume between China and Mauritius was $703 million, up 6.7%. China's exports to Mauritius were $685 million (up 6.2%), and imports from Mauritius were $17.48 million (up 31.1%).
Just as the Presidential Office announced the obstruction of President Lai's trip, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing yesterday with visiting Mozambican President Daniel Chapo. He reiterated the full implementation of zero tariffs for the 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, effective May 1st. Eswatini is the only one of the 54 African countries excluded from China's zero-tariff policy.
Previously, in March, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng visited Seychelles and met with President Patrick Herminie. According to the CCP mouthpiece People's Daily, Han Zheng stated that China appreciates Seychelles' firm support on issues concerning China's core interests, and both sides agreed on early harvest arrangements for a joint economic partnership agreement. Herminie remarked that Seychelles-China relations are at a historical high, and Seychelles firmly adheres to the One-China policy. (Editors: Chou Hui-ying / Chen Kai-yu) 1150422