Analysis
Diverse voices, unique insights on key issues shaping China’s engagement throughout the Global South.
analysis
History’s Solution to the China-U.S. Debt Standoff
By Kevin P. Gallagher History is repeating itself, but Western leaders are experiencing a selective memory loss that is preventing learning the lessons of that history. If developing countries are to mobilize the necessary resources ...
Key Foreign Policy Outcomes From the Opening Weekend of China’s Two Sessions
Foreign policy priorities featured more prominently at China's annual legislative gathering that kicked off in Beijing over the weekend than in recent years. The event known as the Two Sessions is a joint convention of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and ...
Has France Just Taken a Page out of China’s Playbook?
By Lukas Fiala With great powers bickering over an impasse in the debt negotiations while reheating the ‘lab leak theory’ in the debate on the origins of COVID-19, it seems we’re once again far away from a constructive solution to some ...
China’s Premier Promises IMF Chief “Constructive” Cooperation on Debt
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the head of the International Monetary Fund that China is open to participating “in a constructive manner” with debt restructuring efforts. During a call with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Li said: “China is willing to take ...
Qin Gang to Attend G20 Forum in New Delhi, First Chinese Foreign Minister Visit to India Since 2019
The Chinese government confirmed that Foreign Minister Qin Gang will attend a G20 forum in New Delhi on Thursday at the invitation of his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar. Qin will be the first Chinese foreign minister to visit India since his ...
China Sticks to Its Position That Its Not to Blame for Delays in Zambia’s Debt Restructuring Process
Any hope China would soften its hardline position on debt restructuring following last weekend's talks among G20 finance ministers was dashed on Monday when Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning restated Beijing's longstanding demand that multilateral creditors also take losses on their loans to developing countries. ...
In Crafting Special Economic Zones, Ethiopia and Vietnam Learned from China and Taiwan
By Keyi Tang The Taliban administration recently announced plans to convert former US military bases into special economic zones (SEZs) with the aim of promoting economic self-sufficiency through increased trade and investment. The Taliban are not ...
It’s Time to Stop Pretending the System Still Works
In hindsight, it was foolish to think that China, the U.S., India and the Europeans were somehow going to put aside their differences to make desperately-needed compromises to help the world's poorest countries restructure their debts. We should have known this ...
Lots of Talk, Little Consensus and No Action Following G20 Debt Roundtable Discussion Among G20 Finance Ministers
The world's most powerful finance ministers, central bank heads and development finance leaders met on Saturday in Bengaluru, India for a highly-anticipated roundtable that many hoped would unblock the current impasse on debt relief for poor countries. While debt ...
China, Russia, and the New Era of “Systemic Competition”
By Lukas Fiala Earlier this week we had the opportunity to host the German Marshall Fund’s Andrew Small for a discussion about his latest book The Rupture: China and the Global Race for the Future. As the title suggests, Andrew ...
What’s the Strategy Behind South Africa’s Joint Naval Exercises With China and Russia?
South Africa’s joint naval exercises with China and Russia are drawing sharp criticism domestically and from Western allies. Beyond questions about the symbolism of its timing - overlapping with the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine invasion - many are baffled as to why SA is participating ...
And…That’s How It’s Done in the Congo: Chinese Mining Venture Settles $17 billion Claim With a $500 Million Check
Negotiators for the state-owned China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) finalized a deal with the Congolese government to pay for $500 million of new infrastructure this year. While that may sound like a lot of money, it's a lot less than ...