South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By John Monyjok Maluth
Let’s start with a light-hearted but painfully accurate observation: when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. But when China builds, entire cities—and sometimes nations—rise from the dust. This isn’t about taking sides. It’s about taking stock. South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is at a crossroads, and the question is simple: Who is more likely to walk with us on the long road of development—America or China?
In this article, I offer a candid comparison, based on real stories and official actions, of how China and the United States engage with South Sudan and why, all facts considered, China is emerging as the more culturally attuned and practically effective partner—not just for us, but for Africa at large.
1. THE BULLDOZER VS. THE BUREAUCRAT
China’s involvement in South Sudan speaks the language our ancestors would understand: show up, share food, build the hut, and leave something useful behind. Whether it’s roads, hospitals, or stadiums, China prefers bulldozers to bureaucracy.
Take, for example, the topping-out ceremony of the China-aided Phase II Juba Teaching Hospital Project. It wasn’t a flashy diplomatic speech or a conference in a five-star hotel. It was about walls being raised, beds being added, and lives being saved. China brought in engineers, supplies, and commitment—not lectures. This was a follow-up to previous health projects, showing consistency, not just charity.
Meanwhile, what was the United States doing? According to a July 2024 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration was given the green light to deport eight convicted migrants to South Sudan, one of whom is South Sudanese. The deportees were being shuttled through Djibouti like unwanted Amazon packages with a “Do Not Return” label.
Let’s be honest: deporting someone to South Sudan, a country under its own State Department’s Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory due to crime and conflict, is like tossing someone into a burning house and saying, “Good luck.”
2. THE CONCEPTUAL WEST VS. COMMUNAL EAST
In Africa, we understand the village. The idea that one’s neighbor’s problems are also yours isn’t just philosophy—it’s survival. China gets this. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of FOCAC, said, “China and Africa should uphold solidarity and self-reliance… stand on the right side of history.”
This isn’t diplomatic fluff. It aligns with our cultural DNA. Africa thrives on communal relationships—where elders are respected, partnerships are lifelong, and help is given not based on press coverage but on genuine obligation to community.
The U.S., however, often views Africa through the lens of conditionality. Aid comes with strings. Relationships are transactional. One day you’re a partner; the next, you’re on a sanctions list. It’s like dating someone who checks your phone every five minutes.
3. MEDICAL MISSIONS VS. MILITARY BASES
Let’s consider where the two powers choose to park their resources.
China builds hospitals. South Sudan is benefiting from the expansion of Juba Teaching Hospital, with real beds, real doctors, and real medicine. This is not a pilot program or an experiment—it’s a continuation of a long-term investment in our health.
The U.S., on the other hand, used a military base in Djibouti to process migrants bound for South Sudan—people with criminal records, yes, but still human beings. Their own Supreme Court acknowledged the risks of torture or death in South Sudan but gave the green light anyway.
So, one power is sending doctors. The other is sending deportees. It’s not difficult to see which approach is more likely to win hearts—and perhaps even elections—in Juba.
4. SPEECH VS. STEEL
America often comes bearing speeches: democracy, transparency, human rights—wonderful values, all of them. But they lose meaning if they’re not backed by tangible support. South Sudan doesn’t need moral sermons from Capitol Hill. We need roads, power stations, teachers, and yes—bulldozers.
China, for all its own flaws, delivers steel instead of just speech. The Communist Party isn’t here to lecture us about our political choices. Their focus is, frankly, refreshingly practical: you need a hospital? Done. You want to build a highway? Where’s the map?
This isn’t to suggest China is a saint in global affairs. But when your roof is leaking and someone offers you a ladder while another offers a pamphlet on home safety regulations, who would you rather have by your side?
5. CULTURE COUNTS
South Sudan’s traditional values—respect for elders, consensus decision-making, and community living—align more closely with East Asian social models than with Western liberal individualism.
China doesn’t push cultural imperialism. You won’t see a Chinese diplomat telling South Sudanese women how to dress or communities how to vote. They believe in “civilizational diversity,” as Wang Yi put it. It’s a kind of respect that we in Africa understand deeply. Just as we don’t tell the Chinese how to build their temples, they don’t tell us how to organize our cattle camps.
By contrast, the West often sees its values as export commodities. Democracy? Sure. But only if it looks like the American model. This arrogance breeds resentment—and, frankly, rebellion.
6. AMERICA’S CATCH-22 FOREIGN POLICY
The U.S. has done its part in humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping support. But its approach is riddled with inconsistencies.
South Sudan was once a poster child for U.S. foreign policy success—helped into independence in 2011 with Washington’s enthusiastic backing. But once the honeymoon was over and internal conflicts flared, America pulled back like a disillusioned parent. Sanctions, visa restrictions, and finger-wagging followed.
It’s the classic “We love you, but only if you behave like us” model.
China, on the other hand, never expected us to be perfect. They work with governments as they are, not as they wish they were. Their model of development cooperation doesn’t care whether your parliament squabbles or your constitution needs revision. They care if your soil can grow rice or your river can power a dam.
7. DATA DOESN’T LIE
* China is South Sudan’s largest investor in oil infrastructure—a lifeline for our economy.
* Chinese medical teams have treated over 50,000 South Sudanese citizens since independence.
* The Chinese government has trained over 1,000 South Sudanese students in various fields through scholarships and technical programs.
* In contrast, the U.S. State Department’s 2024 decision to deport migrants to South Sudan included zero consultation with Juba and triggered condemnation even within U.S. legal circles.
China also remains South Sudan’s biggest non-Western trade partner. That’s not just trade—it’s trust.
8. WHAT THE FUTURE DEMANDS
South Sudan doesn’t need saviors. We need sincere partners. We don’t need photo ops with ambassadors; we need engineers, nurses, and teachers. We need allies who understand that trust takes time and that development is a long-term relationship—not a quarterly report.
In this regard, China’s consistency, cultural empathy, and physical presence on the ground make it the more logical choice. Africa has long been romanticized, misunderstood, and sometimes manipulated by the West. It’s about time we date someone who doesn’t just bring flowers but builds the whole garden with us.
A PERSONAL NOTE TO BOTH SUPERPOWERS
To America: If you still want to be our partner, try showing up without the checklist. We’re not your experiment. We’re a country of people, not just policies. Less drone talk, more doctor talk.
To China: Keep bringing those cement bags. But don’t stop there. Open your heart a little more too. Partnerships aren’t just built with bricks—they’re built with listening ears.
And to South Sudan: Let’s not be naïve. No partner is perfect. But if someone helps you up when you’re down, doesn’t judge your clothes, and leaves behind something useful like a hospital or a school, maybe—just maybe—they’re a keeper.
FINAL THOUGHT
When you compare China’s hospital project with America’s deportation plan, it becomes clear who’s offering a hand and who’s pointing a finger. South Sudan needs fewer lectures and more listening. Fewer sanctions and more scaffolding. Fewer threats and more trust.
And for once, can we pick a friend not based on pressure, but on proven partnership?
Let the bulldozers speak.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Monyjok Maluth is a South Sudanese author of 100 books, coach, and teacher. His writings focus on leadership, cultural understanding, and national development through education and international cooperation.
CONTACT
Email: maluthabiel@gmail.com
Phone: +211 927 145 394
Website: https://johnshalom.com/
