Abstract:
The 21st century has witnessed intensified ties between China and South Africa both bilaterally
and multilaterally under BRICS. South Africa-China relations have been amplified by the quest to
strengthen South-South cooperation as opposed to depending on the West for everything. In this
research the focus is on examining the political and economic relations between South Africa and
China. The sustainability of the China-South Africa engagement in the areas of economy and
politics will be examined. Since South Africa is the weaker partner economically in her
relationship with China, will the relationship leave South Africa disadvantaged or will the South
African economy benefit from the bilateral relations? On the political level, China’s policy on
Tibet and the One-China policy may have a bearing on South Africa’s image in the world. The
research is designed to explore the political and economic dimensions of the relationship. The
study derives insights from the interdependence theory which argues that we live in a world of
interdependence which has altered the concept of power which is at the heart of the realist theory.
Interdependence is also defined as mutual dependence among nations and reciprocal effects among
states. The study utilizes a qualitative approach where desk research involving primary and
secondary sources are used. Fundamentally the study argues that the relationship is mutually
beneficial albeit unequal. China is a major power with the second largest economy in the world
and South Africa is a regional power with a stagnating economy. China needs South Africa in her
Africa strategy due to the fact that South Africa boasts the largest and most advanced economy on
the African continent and this makes the country a convenient doorway into Africa. South Africa
on the other hand needs Chinese Foreign Direct Investment and trade to speed up growth and grow
the black middle class which was disadvantaged during the apartheid years. In 2015 the two
countries signed 26 agreements worth 94 billion rand when the Chinese President Xi Jinping paid
an official visit to South Africa which will be mutually beneficial to both parties.
