2017年12月12日，在肯雅內羅畢舉行的首屆中非工業能力合作博覽會期間，一家中國公司的代表正在介紹產品。

6月18日，美國國務卿蓬佩奧在底特律經濟俱樂部發表演講時稱，美國將在非洲發力，驅除中國在非洲的影響力，讓非洲採納美國的經濟發展方式和政治模式。此言是特朗普政府上台後美國高官在涉及非洲發展問題上為數不多的表述，至少反映出美國在非洲的“一份焦慮”和“一種決心”。

“焦慮”的是美國在非洲發展進程中影響力越來越式微，展示的“決心”則是美國要發力驅除中國影響，把非洲重新綁上“美國模式”的戰車。

其實，發明“軟實力”概念的美國應該很清楚地知道，一國發展模式能否被他國參考、學習和借鑒，依靠的是模式本身的魅力和吸引力。如果這一模式在不同國家及地區相似的發展基礎和環境下取得了發展成功，並彰顯對社會公正及人類共同發展福祉的追求，則該發展模式將自帶吸引力光環，無需強推，更無需靠驅除他國影響力來搞強力介入或植入。

曾記得，二戰結束後初期，非洲等廣大新獨立的前殖民地和半殖民地國家在發展道路和模式選擇問題上，面臨著“走資本主義道路”還是“走社會主義道路”的困惑。由於對資本主義的前西方宗主國在殖民統治、資源掠奪、奴隸貿易等方面的負面和傷痛性記憶，新獨立的許多非洲國家從情感、道義及發展理念上都無法選擇這種發展模式。而當時以蘇聯為代表的社會主義國家所煥發出的巨大經濟發展力以及對社會公正、平等及國際新秩序的訴求成為吸引這些新生獨立國家紛紛選擇“社會主義模式”的重要參考依據。

同理，冷戰結束前後，由於蘇聯在外交和理念層面日益凸顯強權和霸權意識，隨着蘇聯解體（其經濟發展困境無法支撐其與美國進行的軍備競賽），以蘇聯為代表的“社會主義模式”自然光環褪落，大多數非洲國家也紛紛從憲法中刪除了“社會主義”字樣。由此可見，一國模式是否有吸引力和影響力，主要取決於該國自身社會政治經濟發展的表現以及該國在對待他國外交行為和理念上的平等、合作以及“他者意識”。

回看一年多來特朗普制下的美國外交，美國在推動國際合作以及非洲發展方面都呈現的是消極態度和萎縮趨勢。特朗普政府不僅削減對非發展援助，退出一系列有關非洲發展的國際倡議及國際組織（如針對氣候變化問題的《巴黎協議》以及推動教育及人權發展的聯合國教科文組織和聯合國人權委員會），就連特朗普本人也不時在推特上發佈一些蔑視非洲的輕慢言論（如所謂的非洲“糞坑國家”言論）。如此種種，如何能使美國模式成為非洲國家嚮往的燈塔呢？

另外，非洲在21世紀發展的道路上正在積極探索和創新符合自身國情的發展模式。非洲不需要被強制納入任何國家的發展模式之中。究竟參考、學習或借鑒哪些他國的發展經驗與模式，這也完全是非洲國家的自主選擇。至於能否驅除中國在非洲的影響力，恐怕秉承自我利益獨大的“美國優先”理念，與推動和非洲國家共商共建“一帶一路”、實現共享共贏的“讓世界更美好”的“人類命運共同體”理念，就像兩股道上跑的車，孰高孰低高下立判。非洲國家和人民有足夠的智慧和勇氣走自己的路，選擇適合自己借鑒的他國模式，並探索符合非洲歷史傳統文化與經濟社會基礎的非洲發展模式。

A representative of a Chinese firm introduces products during the first China-Africa Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exposition in Nairobi, Kenya, Dec. 12, 2017.

During his speech at the Detroit Economic Club on 18 June, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talked about America taking more actions in Africa to remove Chinese influence there and to steer the continent towards economic development and political models more similar to that of the US. This statement reflects US anxiety on Africa.

America is anxious about its declining influence in the course of African development and is determined to eliminate Chinese influence there and yoke Africa to the war chariot of the American model again.

As the country in which the 'soft power' concept was invented, the US should know very well that whether a country is informed by and draws upon another's development model relies much on the attraction of the model itself. If it is successful in different countries and regions and embodies mankind's pursuit of social justice and common development, the development model is naturally attractive and there is no need to force it on people or eliminate other countries' influence.

After World War II, the vast number of newly independent former colonies and semi-colonies in Africa were puzzled by the choice between a 'capitalist' or 'socialist' path. With the 'negative' and 'painful' memories of colonial rule, resource plundering and slavery by former Western suzerains following the capitalist path, many African countries found it impossible to choose the Western model. On the other hand, at that time, socialist countries as represented by the former Soviet Union demonstrated great economic vitality, social justice, and equality, thus attracting newly independent countries towards the socialist model.

Upon the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Soviet socialist model was discredited as the economy no long supported its arms race with the US. Most African countries removed 'socialism' from their constitutions. Arguably whether a model is attractive and influential hinges on its performance.

A review of American diplomacy under Trump in the past year suggests that the US has a negative attitude towards and shrinks from international cooperation and African development. The Trump administration has not only reduced development aid for Africa and withdrawn from a number of international initiatives and organizations pertinent to African development, such as the Paris Climate Agreement, UNESCO, and the UN Human Rights Council. Trump himself has made cavalier comments about Africa time and again. How could this make the American model the lighthouse for African countries?

Besides, Africa is also actively innovating its own development model. Africa does not need to be forced into any other country's model. It should be African countries' independent choice to reference or learn from other countries' experiences or models. Then will the US be able to drive Chinese influence out of Africa? Between 'America First' on the one hand and Belt and Road initiatives and a community of shared future for mankind on the other, it's probably quite apparent to many which is better. The African nations have sufficient wisdom and courage to follow their own path, choose a suitable model based on their own history, tradition, culture, and socioeconomic foundation.