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Day: August 4, 2022

At 29 years old I travelled to Africa, After a Year I Decided to Go Back Home

Chinese vloggers in Africa have a mixed track record. On the one hand, some vloggers contribute to dissolving Chinese misconceptions towards Africa/Africans by illuminating what daily life is like in many African countries. On the other hand, some other vloggers exploit Africans through misogynistic beauty contests and ...

On Pelosi’s Visit, China’s Messaging Machine is Targeting the Global South

China mobilized its entire global messaging machine to protest U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recently concluded visit to Taiwan. Angry reactions have shown up in newspapers across the Global South, from Brazil to Congo to Oman and beyond.  While the Global ...

Taiwan Firestorm Makes Clear Why the Global South Avoids China’s “Red Lines”

In a week of strident warnings from Beijing, one stood out. China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers that:  "Those who play with fire will perish by it, and those who offend China ...

How a Major Shift in Chinese Lending is Backfiring Across the Global South

Chinese lending is increasingly shifting from boosting development to helping indebted countries keep the lights on. This is now adding to debt distress across the developing world. AidData, a research group at the College of William and Mary ...

Chinese Reactions to Zambia’s Debt Deal

Zambia’s debt restructuring, in which China played a key role, is raising concern among ordinary Chinese, judging by WeChat conversations.  Recent grassroots discussions on WeChat communities of Chinese in Africa quoted ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

India Could Ban Cheap Chinese Phones

The Indian government could push Chinese mobile phone manufacturers out of the lower end of its market, according to a new report by Bloomberg. The possible ban is reportedly aimed at boosting India’s failing domestic phone makers in the lucrative sub-12,000 rupee ($150) sector. 

The move will be a blow to Chinese companies like Xiaomi, RealMe, and Transsion, who make up 80% of sales in the sub-$150 sector. Low-end smartphones occupy a third ...

Tanzania and Zambia to Revive TAZARA Rail Line

The leaders of Tanzania and Zambia have agreed to find the money to refurbish the Chinese-built TAZARA rail line. The line, built at great financial and human cost by China in the early 1970s, is an icon of early Africa-China cooperation. It’s unknown if ...

No, Nigeria Didn’t Ship 7,000 Human Penises to China

Nigerian social media is aflame with a rumor that a container of human penises was sent to China from the West African country.  The rumor originated last year. It caused consternation in the Nigerian parliament before it was ...

Global South Media Reactions to Nancy Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan

Congo: On August 2, Jean-Claude Gakosso, the foreign minister of the Republic of Congo, said that adhering to the one China principle is the consistent policy of the Democratic People's Republic of Congo, the general consensus of the Congolese government and all Congolese people, and there is ...