“If you’re looking for new markets, Africa is the place to be. But right now, the U.S. is not leveraging Africa’s huge potential. By contrast, the Chinese are there, and they are willing to take risks.” The Chinese are indeed all over the African market. But it’s not just about economics. It’s about a longterm strategy of advancing soft power and winning allies (and putting more Chinese employees to work). Here’s a great example of how it plays out from the NYT: Joyous Africans Take to the Rails, With China’s Help.