The study of Sino-African cooperation is evolving as a very significant area of research. So far, students, scholars, diplomats, journalists and other observers have produced an avalanche of works on the subject, each focusing on an aspect or aspects of the theme, from different perspectives. These differing views and perspectives convey opinions that converge and or diverge in substance and analysis, even as they enrich (and sometimes confuse) our understanding of the evolving cross continental reality. In view of this, this paper studies the theme of Sino-African cooperation with a specific focus on analyzing the issues/opinions that exist along three different schools of thought. The paper defines the perceptions vis-à-vis the underlying factors that drive their expressions, and submits that interests and changing international circumstances form the foundation upon which not only perceptions are made, but how responses are constructed.