Corporal punishment or work ethics? Understanding corporate China

Africa has in recent years experienced vast technological advancements aimed at socio-economic development. A large share of this cake has gone to China - roads, railways, bridges, ports, skyscrapers, you name it. China’s workmanship and overall construction approaches are attractive to many African governments.

But there are two sides to a coin and the Chinese development story is not without its fair share of controversy. The Chinese recently came under fire for supposed mistreatment of Kenyan employees working for the Standard Gauge Railway. The dust had barely settled when a Chinese national was deported for making racist remarks against the President and people of Kenya.