China Denies Recognition of “Moroccanity of the Sahara” Amidst Controversial Investment Claims
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a recent turn of events, Morocco’s assertion of a monumental investment deal with China has raised eyebrows and diplomatic concerns. The Moroccan government’s proclamation of a $200 billion project to manufacture car batteries in the occupied city of El-Ayoun has prompted skepticism and a swift response from China, refuting any notion of tacit recognition of the controversial “Moroccanity of the Sahara.”
The announcement, disseminated through Moroccan media outlets, asserted that the prominent Chinese company “Huayou” intended to invest a staggering 200 billion dirhams (equivalent to approximately $20 billion) in the manufacture of car batteries within the occupied El-Ayoun region. However, this claim quickly attracted attention for its dubious nature and potential political implications.
The timing and intent behind Morocco’s portrayal of this investment venture cannot be ignored. Analysts have pointed out that the Moroccan government appeared to be attempting to leverage the project to imply a Chinese recognition of its sovereignty over the disputed Sahara region. This assumption, though, was promptly debunked by China’s affirmation of its consistent stance on the Western Sahara conflict during President Tebboune’s visit to Beijing.
The Regional Investment Center of the El-Ayoun region, the source of the information, claimed that a Chinese delegation from HUAYOU conducted a field visit to the area in preparation for the ambitious battery manufacturing project. The center asserted that this venture would meet significant proportions of local, European, and American markets’ electric battery component demands for batteries of over 6 million vehicles by the year 2030, and create an impressive 13,000 job opportunities. However, skeptics have questioned the veracity of these claims, given the unrealistic investment figure and the lack of concrete evidence substantiating the project’s feasibility. The projected capacity of the proposed battery manufacturing facility raised eyebrows as it seemingly exceeded the needs of the market.
Furthermore, the international context of China’s investments cannot be ignored. Morocco’s assertion comes at a time when China has been making substantial investments in friendly countries, including a significant $36 billion investment in Algeria. This raises suspicions that the Moroccan government might be attempting to divert attention from its lack of comparable investments.
The Chinese embassy in Rabat promptly intervened, clarifying that Chinese companies would not invest in disputed areas, in line with China’ support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. This strong rebuttal further underlines China’s commitment to its established diplomatic positions and its respect for international law.
