China’s unprecedented era of economic growth has also helped fuel an ever-growing thirst for natural resources. The quest for it to be quenched has undoubtedly also played an important role in spreading the Chinese sphere of economic influence throughout the globe. One of the focal points of these engagements has been Africa, the continent of seemingly inexhaustible riches of the earth. Yet this scramble has not been greeted with approval in many Western quarters as tales of diminishing social and environmental standards in connection with Chinese activities make their rounds. This paper attempts to shed some light on this contentious yet still largely uncharted issue by examining the case of the WestZambian timber industry.