Will crime strain relations between Africa and China or bring them closer?

By: Kassy Sangster

37 Suspected  Chinese criminals took the walk of shame back to Bejing from Angola in late August.

The gangs were taken down by both the Angolan and Chinese police on charges of kidnapping, thievery, extortion and more. Four of the victims, Chinese women who were forced into prostitution, also came back to China. The men had lured these women to Angola with offers of high paying jobs and then stole their passports so they couldn't return.  While there is a sense of relief at these men being locked away and these women being able to go free, its understandable that China is worried about the effects on their national image. It is not very often that a country has to answer a cry to take their citizens out of another country. A cry which they heard from their very own Chinese Embassy. China's joint task force with the Angolan police has had success, they have closed 48 cases together, they obviously are bringing these 37 suspects to court and they have rescued 14 victims from forced prostitution. However there have been multiple kidnappings that have scared the Chinese citizens in Angola and 5 deaths that have business owners leaving. Some of the men go as far as to hire bodyguard protection. Seeing as China and Africa are building a strong relationship together, this fear and crime that is coming from the interaction could very well effect the business of China.