'The Chinese just come and do it’: China in Africa and the prospects for development planning

China is the major ‘new’ player in Africa and impacts on development and planning in numerous ways. This Viewpoint assesses whether, and how, China alters the way in which African states plan, both now and in the future. It argues for disaggregating ‘China’ and ‘Africa’ and the actors which drive and mediate these relationships. While the Chinese have refocused attention on economic growth for development and provide much-needed infrastructure, the case is made that they do not greatly alter the way in which African states plan. The Chinese projects tend to be elitist and enclaved, with limited local consultation, thus remaining relatively non-transparent. Compounding this is the weak local regulation, which has the potential to release a spiral of undercutting standards