Analysis
Diverse voices, unique insights on key issues shaping China’s engagement throughout the Global South.
analysis
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 ...
China Unphased by Report IMF May Circumvent Beijing on Sri Lanka Debt Relief
Sri Lankan debt restructuring seems to be hitting a stalemate, judging by Monday’s Foreign Ministry press briefing. Asked about a recent Bloomberg report that the IMF is considering circumventing Chinese approval in providing a relief deal to the bankrupt country, spokesperson Wang Wenbing basically restated China’s current position.
Another $4 Billion on the Table? The Role of China’s Sinosure in Africa’s Debt Negotiations
By Oyintarelado Moses On February 17, 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) convened a roundtable discussion on sovereign debt restructuring, bringing together creditor and debtor stakeholders involved with ongoing and upcoming debt restructurings. Leading ...
Chinese Embassy in DR Congo Dismisses State Auditor Report That Demands $17 Billion in Additional Infrastructure
The Chinese embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo blasted a report published late last week by the state auditor in Kinshasa that called for an additional $17 billion of infrastructure as part of a 2008 infrastructure-for-minerals deal. In its report, the General ...
China’s Debt Fight Has High Stakes
We’ve covered Chinese lending to the Global South through the boom days of the BRI and the current debt busts cratering Zambia, Sri Lanka and other economies. One of the things we’ve learned is that China plays a weird dual role in the global development finance landscape. ...
India Thinks It Can Persuade China to Take Big Losses on Its Loans to Poor Countries
The Indian government, in its role as rotating head of the Group of 20, is drafting what will no doubt be a controversial proposal that calls on all major international creditors, namely China, to take large losses on its loans to poor countries.