China's Bilateral Investment Treaties with African States in Comparative Context

Abstract

In the last decade, China has made significant investments all over Africa. The principal legal instruments designed to protect Chinese investment in Africa are Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). Traditionally, BITs were largely designed to protect Northern investment in the South. This article evaluates their adaptability to South-South relations through a comparative study of China-Africa BITs in light of China’s BITs with the North, principally the recently ratified China-Canada BIT.

Keywords: China-Africa, Chinese BITs, African BITs, Bilateral Investment Treaties, Investment Law, Investment Treaties, China-Africa BITs, ICSID, China arbitration, Africa Arbitration