Deconstructing ‘Chinese’ Debt Trap Diplomacy in Africa-China Relations

This study critically re-evaluates the pervasive discourse surrounding the so-called ‘Chinese’ debt trap diplomacy within the broader context of Africa-China relations. We contend that this narrative, often devoid of empirical rigor, has not only obfuscated the true dynamics of Sino-African economic partnerships but has also been strategically weaponized as populist rhetoric, fostering Sinophobic sentiments in some African states. Given the profound diplomatic and socio-political implications, an objective deconstruction of this concept is imperative. By introducing the analytical lens of ‘debt peonage’, through a process of concept building, this chapter challenges the simplistic creditor-centric view of debt entrapment. Instead, it advocates for a nuanced assessment of debt entrapment that meticulously scrutinizes the agency, context of the debtor nation along with its prevailing political and socio-economic conditions, and the specific contractual terms governing the financing agreements in question. Consequently, the debt peonage analytical lens is applied to Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project and the Hambantota Port affair and and it is shown that arguably the plausibility of either creditor-intended or condition-driven debt entrapment is empirically unsubstantiated. The findings underscore the utility of the debt peonage framework as a constructive analytical tool, offering a more evidence-based and balanced assessment of the debt dimensions, particularly those associated with development financing in Africa-China economic engagements.