A Marriage of Convenience on the Rocks? Revisiting the Sino–Angolan Relationship

China's relationship with Angola – which is both the region's top oil exporter to China and recipient of highest amount Chinese loans represents a critical case when it comes studying Sino–African relations. The Sino–Angolan relationship, forged for purely pragmatic reasons at an opportune moment mutual need in early 2000s, has been labelled ‘marriage convenience’. A variety factors have, however, altered environment first made inroads into Angola; most notably decline prices, 2017 political transition. These have provided fresh impetus Angolan economy relations China. Based on interviews we show that although remains central ingredient, role substantially evolved. marriage convenience experiencing period rocky introspection, one notion having sway can finally be laid rest.