A expansão chinesa na África e os conflitos de interesses com o Brasil na Costa Oeste Africana

Abstract

China is one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, having a millennial history that has shaped its culture ; it has survived for a considerable time in a relatively i solated manner and under a sinocentric view, naming itself the Middle Kingdom. From 1949 onwards, after the Chinese Revolution, it broke off with dynastic traditions and became one of the largest communist countries . With its economic overture and reforms, implemented after 1978, the PRC saw an economic growth with no historical precedent, thus becoming the planet’s greatest econo my regarding its GNP, due to its purchasing power parity. In order to maintain this economic growth, China needs to ensure access to natural resources, especial ly petrol, and hence it has expanded its presence around the world, particularly in the African continent. According to its National Defense Policy, Brazil assigns priority to countries in the West African coast, which belong to its strategic surroundings , as it also has geopolitical and economic interests in the region. This paper intends t o answer questionings on whether China’s expansion onto Africa has impaired Brazilian interes ts in the African West Coast by identifying and analyzing the conflict of interests, and to propose measures to ensure Brazil’s and the Brazilian Navy’s interests in the re gion regarding the increasing Chinese presence in the African continent. This work covers a very current and relevant theme dealing, on the one hand, with the impressive rise of China’s economy, and, on the other, with a region of clear strategic importanc e to Brazil