About CGSP

The China-Global South Project (CGSP) is an award-winning independent, nonpartisan multimedia initiative dedicated to exploring every facet of China’s engagement in Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Central Asia. Founded in 2010, CGSP produces fact-based, agenda free news and primary-source research about China by a team of editors based in the impacted regions, providing unique on-the-ground perspectives.

Today, CGSP is the world’s largest resource dedicated to this topic, serving a global audience of practitioners in government, business, academia, and in the nonprofit sector. Currently, The China-Global South Project publishes in English, French and Arabic, with Spanish publishing slated to begin in 2025.

CGSP Mission

To deepen global understanding of China’s role in the Global South through high-quality reporting, research and analysis created by people from the regions most directly affected.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was CGSP founded? What is CGSP’s ownership structure?

CGSP first began as a ‘nights and weekends passion project’ in 2010 by its two co-founders, Eric Olander and Cobus van Staden. In 2019, Eric and Cobus began working full-time on the initiative and incorporated CGSP as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the United States. As a not-for-profit corporation CGSP is accountable to its board of directors and is not owned or controlled by any individual or entity.

Who funds CGSP?

CGSP is funded by a combination of major foundations and revenue from both individual and institutional subscribers. CGSP does not, and will not, accept funds from governments, corporations, or government-affiliated entities that seek to promote an agenda.

Why does CGSP have a paywall?

While all of CGSP’s foundation-supported content is freely available, some material is accessible only to paid subscribers. CGSP is aiming to build a sustainable media enterprise that relies primarily on subscription revenue as way to ensure its long-term financial viability and editorial independence.

Is CGSP affiliated with China?

No. CGSP has no direct or indirect ties with the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party or any Chinese entity.

Why doesn’t CGSP produce content in Chinese?

In the mid 2000s CGSP experimented with publishing editorial content in Chinese opening a Weibo account and sharing articles on the popular platform Netease. But those efforts were short-lived. The editorial leadership ultimately decided to stop publishing in Chinese for two key reasons:

1. Censorship: China’s tight content restrictions make it nearly impossible to have the kind of open, honest dialogue that CGSP values. Rather than compromise our reporting to fit within censorship rules, we chose to maintain full editorial independence and integrity.

2. Security: The Chinese government is generally less concerned when foreigners publish content in English for an international audience. However, producing Chinese-language content aimed at domestic audiences, particularly outside of state-approved channels, can quickly draw unwanted attention. Not only does it risk provoking the authorities, but it also invites backlash from China’s large and often hostile online troll networks, which have previously targeted CGSP staff with threats and harassment.

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