Author: Barry van Wyk
Barry van Wyk is a South African-native with more than 15 years of experience working in and on China. A graduate of the London School of Economics, Barry spent two years studying Chinese in Tianjin before working as a business consultant and media industry project manager for six years in Beijing. Prior to joining CGSP, Barry was the Project Coordinator of the Africa-China Reporting Project in Johannesburg for seven years, and then worked as a China business and tech editor and journalist at The China Project.
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Chinese Embassy in Manila Hits Back at U.S. For ‘Egging on’ Manila
The Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Wednesday released a statement saying Washington should refrain from “instigating trouble” in the South China Sea and that the U.S. was to blame for stirring up trouble in the region. This follows similar denunciations ...
Wang Yi Warns Australia about ‘Third Party,’ in Veiled Reference to U.S.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Wednesday, the newest indication that the relationship is warming up after a period of tension. In his opening remarks at the ...
Why the United States Struggles to Compete With China in Building African Infrastructure: Report
When it comes to building infrastructure in Africa, the U.S. dreams of competing with China, but in reality, there is hardly any contest to speak of. This is the main thrust of a new report by the Chinese research body, the Institute for International and Area Studies, ...
The Scholarly Debate Over Whether China Aims to ‘Weaponize’ the Global South Against the U.S.
There's an increasingly widespread perception among some scholars and government officials in the U.S. that China is leveraging its considerable influence in developing countries to mobilize them against the U.S.-led international order. Michael Shuman, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic ...
Signing Ceremony Takes Place in Kinshasha for Revised Sicomines Deal
Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi oversaw a signing ceremony in Kinshasha on Thursday for the fifth revision of the Sicomines copper and cobalt mining deal with a consortium of Chinese companies. The latest revision of the controversial deal marks some ...
Xiaomi Is Challenging Transsion’s Dominance in Africa’s Smartphone Market
Xiaomi is on a roll. The Chinese tech giant announced it will soon start delivering its long-awaited first electric vehicle (EV), a major new direction for a firm known for its smartphones and Steve Jobs-esque CEO. In Africa, where ...
Chinese Engineer Kidnapped in Nigeria
A Chinese road engineer was kidnapped in Nigeria, and a member of his security detail was killed. The Chinese national is likely being held for ransom by a kidnapping gang, but no ransom has yet been demanded. The identity of the ...
South Africa’s Ruling Elite Bid Farewell to China’s Ambassador
Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong is leaving South Africa after the end of his term of nearly four years in a routine change of the guard. Chen’s tenure was largely unremarkable, especially in light of his predecessor, Lin Songtian, who maintained a ...
Two Chinese Factories Closed Down in Angola for Safety Violations and Mistreatment of Workers
Angolan media reported that a Chinese metals processing factory was shuttered for operating without a license and polluting the water. In a separate case, 131 local workers were rescued from a Chinese plastics factory. The metals processing factory was allegedly not ...
Smartphone Sales Rebounded Last Year in Mideast and African Countries, Led by Chinese Brands
Smartphone sales in the Mideast and Africa rose sharply last year, led by Tecno, a subsidiary of Shenzhen-based Transsion Holdings, which surpassed Samsung in market share for the first time. Overall, sales in the region increased by 30% in Q4 2023 ...
The Man Who Would Be China’s Next Foreign Minister
Speculation is circling that Liu Jianchao might be China’s next foreign minister. Some expect he could be officially named in the position as early as this week during the National People’s Congress legislative session. Liu’s appointment would likely not herald radical changes ...
BYD Launches Low-Cost Model in Mexico and Will Choose Site for Plant This Year
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD launched its Dolphin hatchback model in Mexico with a price tag around half that of the cheapest Tesla model. Stella Li, president of BYD Americas, stated that the company will choose a site for its new ...