Does China’s resource-focused development aid harm political accountability? This research investigates how Chinese projects, often tied to energy access and infrastructure building, impact recipient countries.

Vertical vs Horizontal Accountability: We analyze two dimensions—vertical (electoral processes) and horizontal (legislative & judicial oversight). Our findings reveal a clear pattern: China's resource initiatives specifically undermine the latter.

Data Source:* Examines projects targeting energy-rich nations, designed to secure Chinese interests through bundled access deals.

Mechanism of Harm:* Local officials appear incentivized by these arrangements to relax legislative and judicial scrutiny to expedite project execution.

No Impact on Vertical Accountability:* China demonstrates limited intent or capability to fundamentally alter electoral competition in recipient states.

This nuanced understanding underscores the need for political science research to carefully distinguish between different types of foreign assistance when assessing institutional impacts.