Analysis
Diverse voices, unique insights on key issues shaping China’s engagement throughout the Global South.
analysis
Saudi, Iranian Foreign Ministers Sign Deal in Beijing to Restore Diplomatic Ties, Resume Flights
The foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia and Iran made it official to fully restore diplomatic ties and resume direct flights between the once-rival countries. Iran's Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed the follow-up statement on ...
Fitch Ratings Dismisses China’s Calls for Multilateral Development Banks to Take Losses on Loans to Poor Countries
One of the world's most important credit ratings agencies, Fitch Ratings, warned investors that China's demands for multilateral creditors to take losses on their loans to developing countries would undermine their all-important credit rating, but added there's not much to worry about since Beijing remains isolated on ...
Malaysian Prime Minister Targets U.S. Dollar, South China Sea During Beijing Visit
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s state visit to Beijing has been marked by both pressure for increased cooperation and security tensions. Anwar promoted an increase of Belt and Road cooperation in the post-pandemic era, calling for the infrastructure-focused initiative to “regain its momentum.” ...
World Bank President Renews Calls for China to be More Transparent in its Lending Practices
The outgoing president of the World Bank, David Malpass, again expressed his concern about the opacity of China's lending practices to developing countries. He told the BBC that Beijing needs to be "more transparent." Malpass's comments are the latest in a ...
Does China Sit Atop the Drone Throne?
By Lukas Fiala On Wednesday, it was reported that China donated four Type PMR-50 UAVs to Benin. Produced by China’s state-owned defense major NORINCO, the PMR-50 is a small, close-range drone and will reportedly support Benin’s counterterrorism efforts, likely by enhancing ...
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Arrives in Beijing for Talks With President Xi Jinping
Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Beijing on Wednesday on his first visit to the Chinese capital as Prime Minister. Ibrahim, along with a large delegation of ministers and corporate leaders, have a full schedule of high-level talks and deal signings ...
Lending Data Offers Clue to China’s Global South Influence
A new report led by the U.S.-based research center AidData is drawing global attention this week. It shows that from 2008 to 2021, China spent $240 billion in bailouts and liquidity support to 22 Global South countries. Even though the report focuses ...
Fierce Debate Underway in the DR Congo Over Whether China Has Met Its Infrastructure Development Obligations
The Congolese stakeholders in the controversial Chinese mining joint venture Sicomines are calling for further revisions to the controversial multibillion-dollar resource-for-infrastructure deal. At issue are stark differences in what the Congolese side believes it's owed in terms of infrastructure development and ...
China’s Lending to Latin America and the Caribbean Begins Again with Smaller, Targeted Support
By Rebecca Ray and Margaret Myers Chinese development lending to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has begun to rebound, according to the latest update of the Chinese Loans to Latin America and the Caribbean Database, maintained by the Boston University ...
Chinese Central Bank Official Explains Why Beijing Is so Worried About Debt Restructuring
A senior official with the People's Bank of China, the country's central, provided new insights as to why Beijing is demanding that multilateral development banks (MDBs) also take losses on their loans to developing countries -- a key sticking point that has brought debt restructuring processes in several ...
China to Decide When Brazilian President Will Visit, Says Minister
The Chinese government will be responsible for choosing a new date to host Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after his state visit to Beijing was postponed over the weekend due to illness. Monday would have marked the start of a ...
Insecurity in Pakistan: Losses and Gains for China
By Saniya Kulkarni Security in the Central-South Asian region is an issue of increasing importance to China, especially in light of growing uncertainty in Pakistan and an ongoing threat to infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K, or ...