trend behind China-Africa relations

This article makes a good big picture observation which gets at the heart of the new affinity between Africa (or at least its leaders) and China:

China is now funding projects all over Africa and is accepted largely because its money comes no strings attached. They do not require any environmental or labor improvements.

Western aid, however, does--which many would say is a good thing. But many of Africa's governments are corrupt and happy to take the money now from China rather than plan the future wisely.

"African governments beleaguered by the conditions that come with aid, such as abiding labor and environmental standards, have found a deep-pocketed alternative source of capital in China -- a source willing to let them run their countries as they see fit."

What the Kenya railroad project says about China's approach to Africa
International Business Times
http://www.ibtimes.com/what-kenya-railroad-says-about-chinas-approach-africa-1583863