Special to WorldTribune.com

By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com

Vicious competition between Asia’s two most powerful countries has spread to Africa, where China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are trying to woo the continent of 54 nations.

On Jan. 6, Wang began a tour of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana and Senegal.

Meanwhile, Abe on Jan. 8 started a visit to Ethiopia, Mozambique, the Ivory Coast and the Gulf state of Oman.

While discussing China-African relations with Ethiopia’s counterpart Tedros Adhanom, Wang said “we don’t agree with efforts by certain countries outside of the continent to pit some [African] nations against others, and to foment confrontation and play the game of checks and balances.”

It is understood that Wang was referring to Japan, which is seen as using “yen diplomacy” to win over countries that have benefited from hefty aid and investment from China.

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  Dueling state visit tours by China, Japan target Africa’s 54 nations, Shinzo Abe, Tedros Adhanom, Wang Yi