Why is China Being So Elusive on African Debt Relief?

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian speaks at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020. GREG BAKER / AFP

When a Reuters reporter asked Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian last week to provide specific details about what Beijing is doing to help Angola with its request for debt relief, there was a brief second of excitement.

Finally! We might get a hint of a clue about what might possibly be going on.

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