Italy has announced its formal withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative after joining the China-centered infrastructure and investment project in 2019.
The timing of the announcement that Rome won’t renew its BRI commitment is notable. It came only a day before the EU-China summit, which kicks off on Thursday. The summit will likely be more contentious than usual, with European leaders expected to push China on the treatment of EU firms amid discussions ...
Day: December 1, 2020
David Monyae Reflects on the Current State of China-Africa Relations
2020's been a turbulent year for China's relations with African countries amid the ongoing pandemic, a worsening debt crisis and an eruption of racial tensions. While those are no doubt difficult challenges, it's also important to note that a lot of ...
Cyril Ramaphosa Renews Calls For Urgent Debt Relief for Africa. But is Anyone Listening?
South African President and Chair of the African Union Cyril Ramaphosa issued yet another urgent appeal for the international community to provide immediate debt relief for Africa. "Urgent and collective action is needed there to stave off that crisis and to maintain the invaluable social gains that ...
As the Biden Administration Takes Shape, New Calls for a Reset of U.S. Africa Policy With Less Focus on China
With Antony Blinken nominated to run the State Department and veteran diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield picked to represent the U.S. at the United Nations, there's increased hope in Washington these two will be receptive to a new approach to U.S. foreign policy towards Africa -- specifically with a reduced ...
Rapidly Deteriorating China-Australia Ties Provides a Sobering Lesson For African Countries
There's an old Chinese idiom that says "kill a chicken to scare the monkey" (殺雞儆猴). According to the folktale, there was a street performer who made a lot of money from a dancing monkey. One day, that monkey, however, didn't want to perform. The owner became very ...
New Chinese Drama Series and Documentaries Now on Chadian National TV
Beginning today, television audiences in Chad will be able to watch new Chinese drama series and documentaries nationally on Electron TV. The Chinese embassy in N'Djamena invited Chadians to tune in and watch the shows to "get to ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Awkward Timing as Italy Withdraws from BRI
How Long Can African Leaders Keep Repeating Themselves on Debt?
This week saw yet another African leader (this time my own president, Cyril Ramaphosa,) calling for international measures to soften the current debt crisis confronting poor countries in Africa and beyond. None of these measures are outrageous. Considering that seven out of the top 10 fastest-growing economies ...