Karishma Vaswani, Columnist

The One Place Where China’s Popularity Is Sky High

Washington’s retreat in Africa is paving the way for Beijing to advance.

September 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM UTC

Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China. Previously, she was the BBC's lead Asia presenter and worked for the BBC across Asia and South Asia for two decades.

Is China creating debt traps in Africa or fueling genuine development? — Is China creating debt traps in Africa or fueling genuine development?
Photographer: Luke Dray/Bloomberg

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When the US steps back, China moves in. Beijing is making significant inroads in Africa, using a combination of investment and soft power in a region that’s now a vital player in the global contest for resources.

The strategy is working. In parts of Africa, public opinion on China is more favorable than in many other regions, according to an Asia Society survey released this month. That enthusiasm contrasts sharply with Beijing’s standing in the West and some of Asia, where views have soured dramatically.