Footprints of the Dragon: China’s Oil Diplomacy and its Impacts on Sustainable Development Policy in Ecuador and Ghana

Abstract

As China continues to invest heavily and strategically in oil fields around the world, the dilemma for developing economies has been juxtaposing the benefits from these investments with the varying environmental and societal costs. As these investments grow in particular countries, they impact and shape various policies and development approaches. In fact, the outcomes in the oil industry, which have been largely eclipsed by policy objectives toward the economic well-being of the various populations, also influence social mobilisation. This paper comparatively draws on the case studies of Ecuador and Ghana to examine the pressures of China within the global economy of oil extraction. The outcomes demonstrate the domestic and international factors that affect the impacts of China oil investment to host countries.