Why China-Africa Relations is Like a Geopolitical Rorschach Test

It’s often said that analyzing China-Africa ties is a lot like looking at one of those inky splotches you see on a Rorschach test.

If you think China’s engagement in Africa is the worst thing that’s happened to the continent in living memory, well, there’s ample evidence to support that contention. China’s embrace of authoritarian rulers, its opaque dealings with governments, and, of course, loading up economies with unsustainable loans are all part of why you’re understandably skeptical.

That said, you can also argue with equal conviction that China’s arrival in…