ベネズエラが経済破綻した結果、中国政府は何十億ドルものお金をリスクの高い発展途上国に融資する自国の動きが野心的すぎたのではないかという懸念を強めている。原油安で深刻な不況にさらされている上に、ベネズエラ政府首脳は無策だ。こういった点があいまって、ベネズエラの経済は崩壊寸前にある。窮地に立たされたベネズエラは、中国から融資を受けた国の中で初めてデフォルト (債務不履行) に陥る国になろうとしている。中国にとってさらに大きな心配の種になっているのは、ラテンアメリカとアフリカの他の国々がベネズエラの二の舞になる可能性があることだ。
2000年から2014年の間に、中国政府、銀行、企業はアフリカに860億ドルを超える融資をしてきた。多くの場合、こうした融資の担保は石油、金属や他の天然資源だ。これが問題となっている。コモディティ（商品先物取引所などで取引される商品）価格はここ数年間低迷したままで、こうしたアフリカの高レバレッジ（ハイリスク・ハイリターンの投資）国が、中国から受けた高額の融資を返済することがさらに難しくなってしまった。
アンゴラのルバンゴにある建設現場の前を歩く女性
例えば、アンゴラの石油輸出のほとんどは中国から受けた少なくとも200億ドルの融資の返済に使われている。これはつまり、アンゴラは実質的に石油輸出から資金 (現金) を得ていないということだ。結果、流動性の危機が生じ、インフレを加速させている。同様に、中国はケニアの最大の債権者だが、ケニアの対外債務の半分以上が中国のものだ。
北京にあるカーネギー清華グローバル政策センター教授のマット・フェーチェン氏を含め、多くの専門家が、中国の指導者はベネズエラで本当に起こっていることを理解すべきだと警鐘を鳴らしている。これは、同様の財政危機がアフリカで起こるのを防ぐためだ。
ハフポストUS版より翻訳・加筆しました。
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ベネズエラの大規模デモ
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Venezuelan police stand ahead of an opposition march in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Venezuela\'s opposition is marching in Caracas to pressure the government to hold a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduros rule. Photographer: Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg via Getty Images (credit:Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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