Author: Cobus van Staden
Dr. Cobus van Staden is an accomplished scholar, journalist, and think tank analyst with more than 20 years of experience in Africa and Asia. Previously, he was the senior China-Africa researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in Johannesburg. Cobus completed his Ph.D. in Japanese studies and media studies at the University of Nagoya in Japan in 2008. He focused on comparisons of Chinese and Japanese public diplomacy in Africa during postdoctoral positions at the University of Stellenbosch and the SARCHI Chair on African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg before joining the Department of Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2013. His academic research focused on media coverage of the China-Africa and Japan-Africa relationships, as well as the use of media in public diplomacy in the Global South.
Related Posts
Pentagon Not Happy About South African Naval Exercises But Won’t Admit It Publicly
The United States military is staying largely quiet over the ongoing joint naval exercises in South Africa that include Russia and China. Earlier, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Chidi Blyden said the U.S. respects South Africa's ...
Major Powers Express Ambivalence Going Into This Weekend’s Critical G20 Debt Relief Talks in Bangalore
As major powers head into this week’s G20 talks on debt restructuring, the mood is grim. The outcome of the talks will be decisive for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process and will have a direct bearing on talks affecting Zambia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ecuador and ...
Sharply Contrasting Views on Whether China is Right to Demand Multilateral Development Banks to Take Losses on Their Loans
The dispute between China and Western lenders about how Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) should take part in debt restructuring goes beyond current U.S.-China tensions. Rather, it relates to the fundamental question of how to fund development, rooted in much broader differences ...
DR Congo Buys Nine Chinese Attack Drones for Use in War Against M23 Rebels
The Congolese government is stepping up the fight against M23 rebels with the purchase of nine Chinese CH-4 attack drones, according to a report in Africa Intelligence. The first batch of three drones will be delivered next month, with ...
What is Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative? New Government Document Gives Clues
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the Global Security Initiative in 2022, but since then, the initiative has raised more questions than answers. Now, a new concept paper has been put out by the Chinese government, which adds detail on both the GSI's broad principles and some concrete ...
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.
Toxic Politics to Blame if G20’s Debt Relief Efforts Fail, Says Deborah Brautigam
Vulnerable societies like Zambia could be crushed if geopolitics are allowed to hijack debt renegotiation processes. So warns the Africa-China and debt expert Deborah Brautigam in a recent article in Foreign Affairs. The article is very useful for those following the ...
Chinese Fleet Arrives in South Africa for Controversial Joint Exercises With Russia
The 42nd Chinese naval escort fleet that includes the guided-missile destroyer Huainan and the missile frigate Rizhao arrived on Sunday in South Africa's Port of Richards Bay to participate in this week's controversial joint naval exercises with Russia. The drills, known ...
Chinese Weapons Manufacturers Take Part in UAE Arms Show
Nine Chinese arms manufacturers are taking part in the 16th International Defense Exhibition and Conference, a military technology expo in the United Arab Emirates, the first time since China’s COVID-related shutdowns. Chinese companies are showing 500 different products. They range from ...
Why China Must Partner With Global South Countries to Build a “New International System”
China should respond to pressures from the United States and its allies by building a new global system based on coalitions with Global South countries. So argues Yang Ping, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the influential magazine Beijing Cultural Review. An edited translation of ...
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. ...
Iranian President Embarks on Critical Visit to China
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi is visiting China for his first state visit and the first by an Iranian president in two decades. Raisi is traveling with a large entourage, including Iran’s central bank chief and its top nuclear negotiator.