China and Brazil: Neo-Colonialism on Display?

Yesterday at Cosban, the Sino-Brazilian Commission summit in the capitol of Brasilia, China's vice premier Wang Qishan expressed himself with interesting bluntness not usually heard in such diplomatic circumstances. He commented on his dissatisfaction with not having met business leaders during his stint at the Itamaraty capitol headquarters. To the ears of the politicians and diplomats arrayed around him, Vice Premier Wang's claims that business people carried "more weight" than government officers must have rankled more than a little. But can it truly be any surprise to Brazilians at this point that China's rapacious need for Brazilian resources is the primary concern for the Asian colossus? China's typical foreign policy strategy is minimal political or social intervention abroad, unless it directly aids China's receipt of the raw materials it needs to maintain its billion-plus population and the growth of its economy. Already, Brazilian firms like Petrobras and countless agricultural organizations have unlocked sweetheart deals for commodities with China in exchange for the capital needed to build-out precious infrastructure to...provide yet more commodities for China at sweetheart prices! Is it any wonder Vice Premier Wang couldn't be bothered with the diplomatic platitudes? As is China's wont, Wang just wanted to cut to the chase. Brazil needs to figure out how to present a more focused and strategic platform for its relations with China, so that both countries can arrive at equitable accommodation without the imbalance of neo-colonialism. Otherwise, the long-term picture for both countries will contain poor relations and possibly civil unrest--two factors both countries are desperate to avoid.