Analysis
Diverse voices, unique insights on key issues shaping China’s engagement throughout the Global South.
analysis
2024 Will Set the Tone for the Next Phase of the Africa-China Relationship
As we settle into the new year, the Africa-China community is waiting for the announcement of the Chinese Foreign Minister's traditional first trip of the year, which is always to Africa. This year's visit will be pivotal because it will kick off the official race to the ...
COSCO Halts Shipments to Israel in Response to Red Sea Attacks, Chinese Diplomats Renew Calls for Ceasefire
China's state-owned shipping giant COSCO will halt all operations in-and-out of Israel in response to the worsening security situation in the Red Seas, according to Israeli news site Globes. Sunday's announcement by the company is a major setback for the ...
Latin America’s Diplomacy: Balancing EU and China With Mercosur
By Alvaro Mendez and Chris Alden The negotiations for the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have spanned over two decades and are now facing renewed delays. This prolonged process is a crucial moment in Latin America's trade policy, especially as Brazilian ...
China Cuts Off Vital Lifeline to Argentina, Recalls Ambassador
The younger generation loves to say — with saltier wording — “You mess around and find out.” Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei — who while campaigning used fierce anti-China rhetoric — has apparently messed around and found out.
5 Most Important China Stories of 2023 in Southeast Asia’s Climate Landscape
With the overwhelming war in Gaza and the return of rising COVID-19 cases around the world, as we end the year, it’s easy to lose track of other defining events in the past twelve months. From China’s river diplomacy in Mekong ...
China Doesn’t Join U.S.-Led Red Sea Force
The United States announced it will coordinate joint patrols with allies to guard commercial ships in the Red Sea as the region comes under repeated attacks from Yemeni Houthi militias. China did not join the coalition, named Operation Prosperity Guardian. It includes the EU, NATO, Japan, and ...
The Incredible Shrinking Africa-China Relationship
After 2022’s COVID lockdowns, this year saw a return of China to the international stage. With it came prominent Africa-China events, notably the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and the prominent presence of some African leaders at the Belt and Road Forum in ...
Saudi Arabia, Iran Reaffirm Support of Chinese-Brokered Détente, Call for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
Senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia and Iran returned to Beijing for the first time since the two countries re-established diplomatic ties this year as part of a Chinese-brokered deal unveiled in March. Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji and Iranian Deputy ...
China’s Crisis Diplomacy Is in Overdrive – but to What Effect?
By Lukas Fiala 方朗克 When China’s Horn of Africa Envoy, Xue Bing, returned to Ethiopia earlier this week, he did so in the context of China’s increasingly proactive diplomacy across Africa and the Middle East. From the conflict in Gaza to the peace ...
The Chinese on the Lion Mountain: Peering Into China’s Evolving Diaspora and Soft Power in Sierra Leone
A casino sits on the northwestern tip of Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa. Shining neon lights unquelled by the hourly power outages adorn its exterior, flashing hues of pink, green, and yellow onto the red lanterns hanging outside the main entrance. Women dressed in qipaos deal cards ...
TikTok Finds Its Way Back Into Indonesia’s Booming E-Commerce Market
Chinese-owned TikTok announced on Monday that it is taking over 75% stake in Tokopedia, the Indonesian e-commerce unit of GoTo’s super-app ecosystem. The company said that it will spend a total of $1.5 billion and that the transaction will be completed by the first quarter of ...
COP28 Ends With Fossil Fuel Compromise, Many Unanswered Questions
This year’s COP28 will likely be remembered for its epic fights about fossil fuel use. For the first time in the gathering’s history, an explicit commitment to “phase out” fossil fuels was on the agenda. The delegates didn’t get there, committing to “transition away” from hydrocarbons instead. ...