This paper argues that China’s strategy of engaging African countries through its stated “no questions asked” foreign policy could ultimately be counter-productive for Chinese interests on the continent. Whereas the policy allows China to engage Africa’s authoritarian dictators and democrats alike as it invests in energy, infrastructure, mining, and other projects without many restraints or preconditions; opposition groups across the continent have seized upon its presumed support for unpopular incumbent regimes to stir opposition to China among Africa’s masses during recent elections. Unless China’s policymakers modify their Africa policy, China’s investments in Africa are ironically producing the conditions of development, such as the proliferation of cheap cellphone technology and an expanding African middle class, alongside increasingly dissenting voices over their strategy and presence in Africa.