Author: Cobus van Staden
Chinese Nationals Evacuated As Sudan Enters Shaky Ceasefire
A 72-hour ceasefire started in Sudan on Monday night, the third so far in the deadly conflict that broke out ten days ago. As Sudanese keep struggling with disrupted water, electricity, and internet services, the first group of Chinese nationals was evacuated to neighboring countries. ...
Secret EU Document Reveals Big Plans for Key China Allies
Politico has obtained a confidential EU briefing outlining plans to regain influence in four “priority countries” deemed too close to China and Russia. In order to isolate China and drum up global support for Ukraine and against Russia, the document advised the ...
Guatemala Leans Into Its Support for “Republic of Taiwan”
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei pledged his country’s unconditional support for what he repeatedly called ‘the Republic of Taiwan.’ He is on a trip to Taipei following a visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to Guatemala City in early April. Giammattei repeatedly expressed support for ...
CMOC Deal Signals A New Moment in China-DRC Relations, With Possible Global Impacts
Shares in China Molybdenum (aka CMOC) jumped by 10% in Shanghai and 12% in Hong Kong on the news that the mining giant reached a deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo that will allow it to resume copper and cobalt exports from the Tenke Fungurume mine, one of ...
China Ready for Israel-Palestine Mediation: Foreign Minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Monday spoke by phone to both his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts. This has strengthened impressions that Beijing could be considering a mediator role in one of the Middle East’s most intractable conflicts in the aftermath of its success in de-escalating similarly long-running ...
China’s Economy Rebounds on Back of Increased Trade
China’s economy rebounded in the first quarter of this year, with gross domestic product growing by 4.5%, exceeding expectations. A recovery in retail spending and real estate prices has added to growth, according to new economic figures released on Monday. The 4.5% growth ...
Geopolitical Pressure Is Just One of the Global South’s Problems
I'm writing to you shortly after recording a podcast episode with the technology expert John Lee about the ramifications of the U.S.-China tech dispute for the rest of the world. That conversation will reach your inbox next week, but it made ...
Brazil’s President Lula Kicks Off Official Visit in Shanghai
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in Shanghai on his way to a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing later this week. His time in Shanghai will include attending the inauguration of former Brazilian president and Lula ally Dilma ...
First Signs of Progress on Debt at Spring Meetings, But Much Remains Unclear
There is cautious optimism at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) spring meetings in Washington DC for progress on debt relief. Earlier this week, Reuters and other outlets reported that China could be willing to drop its demand that Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) like the World Bank ...
The Philippines Walks a Tricky Line Between the Superpowers
China has rejected a joint call by the Philippines and the United States to scale back its presence in the South China Sea. This follows Tuesday’s 2+2 talks between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Philippine Secretary of ...