It is clear that China is now the new great colonial power; albeit mostly via economic colonialism, rather than necessarily some late Victorian model. Whether it is its virtual vulture capitalist snatching up of numerous European corporations during the crisis of the Great Recession, or the more subtle method of gaining ground via real estate or business investments in countries like Australia, Canada, and, to perhaps a lesser extent, the USA, or its growing influence over Hollywood’s movie industry, China has moved into a position of increased dominance throughout the world. Yet, it is its growing influence in Africa that concerns us here. Again, unlike much of the earlier European iteration of colonialism, China has deftly used economics as its primary tool so far, but this might be about to change as well.

For well over a decade now, China has been becoming the dominant non-African player in multiple nations on that continent. Ostensibly offering help in the form of credit to beleaguered corporations and whole industries, in relatively short order, the specific Africans receiving this purported aid find themselves in financial dire straits. Once they realize they are unable to meet their obligations, the Chinese government (whether it happens to be specifically by them or some government-owned or regulated corporation) swoop in like a gallant white knight offering to save the day by offering to forgive the existing loan in exchange for full control of said industry by the Chinese in place of whichever African company or government previously had it. In time, the Chinese begin to mostly, if not fully, replace the top management with their people and, to an increasing extent, other personnel; to improve efficiencies and profitability. Sadly, whether one likes it or not, the level of competence and work ethic among a very high percentage of these African nations is well below that of what soon becomes their Chinese masters.  

As mentioned above, the issue of competency and work ethic becomes a dominant concern for the new Chinese colonial leadership, to the point that they become exasperated by their African underlings. This may be seen in the documentary Empire of Dust, where the particular Chinese boss is found to be both frustrated to the point that he takes over from his subordinates to the striking moment where he rather acerbically critiques the downfall of postcolonial Africa in comparison to both its colonial status under European nations and China’s inferior position during that period. With the chronic difficulties regarding so many African nations' oversight of their industries resulting in practical bankruptcy and subsequent takeover by the Chinese, we are seeing a new economic era there that will result in greater resource control for this rising world superpower.

Yet, this is already hinting at another phase of colonial involvement that may be closer to (or even eclipse) whatever happened under European nations from the Scramble for Africa era; with greater realization that the Chinese cannot trust African work ethic or competency, they are importing more of their people to act as various levels of management and, even, lower-tiered workers. This inevitably brings to rise what this most likely entails for the future; full-on colonization via immigration. If this truly is the next stage of China's colonial influence, it is more likely to transform Africa's status as a backwater into a potential powerhouse; though one that primarily benefits its Chinese masters. 

Finally, this colonial transformation will almost assuredly have positive economic spinoffs for the indigenous people of the African nations affected, as well as helping (if only by a more coercive policy) of enhancing their work ethic and societal order. Included in this mix is an interesting colonized-to-colonizer transference of the Christian faith. Although Christianity is growing at a significant rate in China, it is more likely most Chinese colonizers will not be Christian; whereas Christianity is more prevalent in many of these same African lands, which may see many colonizers converted (but also many of the local population persecuted for their faith; a position Islam would likely have to an even greater degree as well). The great irony of all of this colonial activity is, if any of this was done (and much of it was done in the past colonial era) by people of European heritage, it would have already been roundly denounced by a cacophony of outrage for such cardinal sins against humanity, a sign of racist bigotry and oppression. Instead, expect deafening silence from the liberal intelligentsia, the mainstream media, and most other members of the woke Progressive crowd; as such normally opprobrious behavior to the leftist is becomes problematic when done by ostensibly Marxist people of color.