Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

Ed Cropley: There’s a Lot More at Stake For China in the Zambian Debt Talks Than Just Getting Repaid

by Eric Olander
Ed Cropley is a London-based Associate Editor for Reuters and one of the news service's most prominent columnists.

While Zambia’s $5.8 billion of outstanding debts to Chinese creditors is indeed a lot of money, getting fully repaid may not be the primary concern for policymakers in Beijing, said Reuters Breakingviews columnist Ed Cropley in his latest opinion video:

“The precedent is probably a far bigger worry to Beijing. It’s now on the hook for $100 billion of debt to poor countries, a twenty-fold increase over the last 15 years. Give Zambia too much leeway and other heavily indebted countries like Sri Lanka or Ethiopia or Angola will demand the same.

Lead the Conversation on China

Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project

Check Out Everything You'll Get With Your Subscription

The China-Global South Daily Brief delivered to your inbox at 6AM Washington time

Full access to exclusive news and analysis from editors based in the Global South

Transcripts of CGSP’s twice-weekly podcasts

Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address are eligible for a 50% discount off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Email us to receive a discount code.

You Might Like

World Bank Chief Calls for New Debt Resolution Tools, Blames China for Debt Crises

David Malpass, the president of the World Bank, again singled out China in calling for new debt restructuring mechanisms to help the developing world. Malpass and the International Monetary Fund’s managing director Kristalina ...

Tussle Underway Among China, South Africa, and France to Co-Chair Zambia’s Creditor Committee

Sharp elbows are out among countries vying to help lead Zambia’s newly-energized debt restructuring process, following China’s announcement last week that it plans to join a new creditor’s committee. Soon after Chinese officials announced ...

Zambia Hopes for Debt Deal by Q1 Next Year

The International Monetary Fund’s head of strategy, Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, will travel to Beijing next week for meetings with Chinese officials as part of a push for progress on Zambia’s debt restructuring.  ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

Subscribe