28 Chapter Two
motivated the country to develop a stronger blue-water navy in order to
protect economically important sea lanes. The Middle East remains
China’s largest source of crude oil (top suppliers include Saudi Arabia,
Iran, Iraq, Oman and the United Arab Emirates). China continues to
develop its capacity to protect its sea lanes with specific regard to the
import of oil but at present does not have the reach to involve itself in any
significant role within the region that supplies it with energy. Although
Chinese ships have participated in anti-piracy patrols of Somalia, when the
country had to evacuate its citizens from Libya in 2011 due to conflict in
that country, China had to rely on chartered ferries as its navy was not able
to manage this task.^33
South Africa
South Africa has considerable mineral wealth. The country is ranked by
the US Citygroup Bank as the richest country in the world in terms of
mineral reserves worth an estimated US$ 2.5 trillion. South Africa is the
world’s largest producer of chrome, platinum, vanadium and manganese.
Presently it is the third largest producer of gold and has a sophisticated
mining sector.^34
The country’s population of 50 million is dwarfed by the other BRICS
members and the country’s GDP of US$ 408 billion is less than a quarter
of the second smallest BRICS country, Russia. Despite its small size,
South Africa is seen as a valued BRICS partner due to its strategic position
on the continent and the fact that it is regarded as a gateway to Africa,
which comprises a billion potential consumers as well as the numerous
natural resources the continent has.^35
South Africa’s membership in BRICS has faced numerous critics who
stress that the country does not belong in the grouping, the most notable
being Jim O’Neill, the Global Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset
Management who originally coined the term ‘BRIC’. O’Neill believes that
“South Africa has too small an economy. There are not many similarities
with the other four countries in terms of the numbers. In fact, South
Africa’s inclusion has somewhat weakened the group’s power.” O’Neill
goes on to state that South Africa is in BRICS because it suits China’s
agenda and stated that “the Chinese, for example are highly focused on the
continent and South Africa is an easy way into the rest of Africa.”^36
(^33) Reuters News, 28 August 2013.
(^34) <www.brics5.co.za>
(^35) Roberts, “Building the New World Order BRIC by BRIC”, 7.
(^36) Naidoo, C. “South Africa’s Presence Drags Down BRICS.”