State-run Chinese news outlets have likened Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Africa as “hugging Buddha’s foot” — a last-minute prayer by someone inattentive during less desperate times — blogger Liz Carter writes in TeaLeafNation.com.

Abe’s visit is the first by a Japanese prime minister to Africa in eight years, China’s party-run Global Times said. China’s top diplomat, on the other hand, made the trip annually for 24 consecutive years.

Japan hasn’t commented much on China’s Africa ambitions, Carter said, but Abe’s spokesperson implied China buys off African leaders by building “beautiful
houses or beautiful ministerial buildings,” according to the BBC.

A Japanese official said Japan doesn’t intend to compete with China. Abe pledged $14 billion in aid during his Africa tour, while China has promised to double its African aid to $20 billion per year.

Despite claims by Chinese officials that aid to Africa is “based on friendship,” the continent has been an important power front that China is understandably unwilling to cede, Carter said.

It’s good and healthy for China and Japan to compete in Africa, said Hiroyuki Takai, who directs research at a Tokyo-based trading company Sumitomo. Africa will benefit financially from both countries’ interest.

Japan and China have long competed for territory in the East China Sea, but the past week has drawn attention to a battle for influence in Africa, Carter wrote. Abe began a week-long tour of the continent Jan. 9. He called it a “frontier for Japanese diplomacy,” but Chinese state-run media likened Abe’s trip — which coincided with the annual African tour of China’s top diplomat — to a Hail Mary play for power and influence.

Chinese diplomats and media suggested Japan was up to no good after a Jan. 6 meeting between Ethiopia’s foreign minister and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The latter said he “disapproved of certain countries,” i.e. Japan, having “ulterior motives” in Africa, Carter said. Wang defended China’s aid to and cooperation with Africa, which he
claimed were “totally altruistic.” On Jan. 8, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson defended “China’s sincere and selfless help” and urged “any countries that may be promoting contention” in Africa not to be “devious.”