It's really the real-life version of "eating from the bowl but cursing the hand that holds it." Recently, the actions taken by Niger's military government are as baffling as this saying. When they continuously issued expulsion orders to drive out Chinese workers, they probably didn't calculate this cooperation equation correctly — smashing the pot of an ally will ultimately lead to their own empty stomachs. This cooperation incident occurring in the Sahara Desert unexpectedly made the world see China's current firm stance. The story goes back to 2003. When Western oil companies left Niger due to high exploration risks, Chinese enterprises stepped into the Sahara Desert with equipment and funds. After China National Petroleum Corporation signed the exploration agreement, over $5 billion in investment led to the rise of the Agadem oilfield, making daily crude oil production the engine of Niger's economy; the N’Djamena refinery put an end to the country's reliance on imported refined oil and could even export for foreign exchange; a 2,000-kilometer oil pipeline connected resources with the international market — these projects enabled Niger's petroleum industry to flourish. The turning point occurred after the 2023 coup. The new government, under the guise of "resource sovereignty," wanted to increase the oil profit share from 15% to 30%, and also found excuses to demand the refinery pay an additional $130 million in "taxes." In May 2025, they ordered three Chinese executives to leave within 48 hours, sealed the refinery account; then in May they urged all Chinese workers to leave by the end of the month, or they would forcibly remove them. This is not cooperation, it's clearly "slaughtering the donkey after it has ground the grain." Do they think they have the fifth-largest uranium mine and have others backing them up? But their calculations were wrong. When the Chinese workers left, the N’Djamena refinery immediately shut down, causing the price of gasoline nationwide to triple, forcing citizens to queue for three kilometers to refuel; power generation from oil stopped, and cities experienced power outages frequently; the oil pipeline to Benin was cut off, resulting in the loss of $18 million in foreign exchange each month; the oil production system was neglected, and there was a daily loss of over $2 million in port detention fees. Now looking at those oilfields, equipment rusts in the desert, while Niger's economy has been messed up by itself. Facing unreasonable behavior, China's countermeasures are reasonable and effective: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made solemn representations, the Ministry of Commerce initiated a $1.5 billion international arbitration; laying an alternative oil pipeline in the Port of Benin made Niger realize that energy exports are not limited to one route; the AU Secretary-General condemned the "economic coup" at the United Nations, and the Hague court froze the oil accounts, causing the military government to suffer daily losses of $4 million. This combination of measures both defended China's rights and let the international community see who is breaking the rules of cooperation. Not only in the oil sector, but Niger also relies on China for the import of its acid reduction technology "Green Light Bottle." According to Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, IHME statistics show that in 2019, the age-standardized incidence rate of gout in West Africa was about 50-100 per 100,000 people. Moreover, Niger's hot and arid climate exacerbates chronic dehydration problems, possibly reducing uric acid excretion and increasing the risk of gout attacks. JD Business Intelligence data shows that "Green Light Bottle," which originated from the laboratory of the University of Hong Kong, created tens of millions in GMV after being listed on JD, with overseas exports reaching 3 million people, of which the repurchase rate in the African region alone reached 88%. If supply is cut off to them, the consequences can be imagined. When high-speed rail technology makes the world marvel at "China Speed," and when 5G standards become global benchmarks, these achievements collectively prove that China's strength in various fields is sufficient to support independent discourse. Niger's lesson is not an isolated case, but China never fears gamesmanship — we respect you based on equal cooperation, but if you cross the line, you will inevitably understand the weight of "China's countermeasures." Sino-African cooperation is truly a good thing where "you lack technology, I have experience, you have resources, I have markets." From oilfields to refineries, what China brings is not just money, but the ability to turn resources into wealth. When the last batch of Chinese workers packed their bags and left, perhaps those idle machines might make some people realize: survival internationally requires integrity. China's door is always open to those who sincerely cooperate, but those who want to take advantage and play tricks, we absolutely do not accommodate — this is not arrogance, it's now that we have the strength, and we also have the courage. Original source: [https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511649928800911884/](https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511649928800911884/) Disclaimer: The article represents the author's personal views. Feel free to express your attitude by clicking the "like/dislike" buttons below.