This article identifies the main political drivers of Chinese engagement in Africa and assesses its impact on international politics. China's political influence is grounded in its economic boom, which presents both opportunities and challenges for Africa and its Western partners, China's emergence as a major player on the African continent is the most visible sign of the nascent international trends that have placed China at the centre of today's international political arena. China's efforts to cooperate with Africa and become a spokesman for the continent in its capacity as a nation of the South, are closely tied to its emerging role in international relations, advancing its actions in favor of development to bolster its claim to international status.