Author: Eric Olander
Eric Olander is the co-founder of the China Global South Project, an independent, non-partisan media initiative dedicated to exploring every facet of China’s engagement in Africa. Eric is a fluent Mandarin-speaker and a longtime China-watcher with more than 25 years of journalism experience at many of the world’s leading media companies, including CNN, the BBC, and FRANCE24, among others. He received his undergraduate degree in East African History from the University of California at Berkeley and holds a master’s degree in Chinese Public Affairs from the University of Hong Kong.
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Update on China’s Role in the Burgeoning Global South Debt Crisis
There was a lot of excitement earlier this month at the IMF and World Bank's annual gathering in Washington, D.C. about rumors that the impasse between China and multilateral development banks (MDBs) had been resolved. That stalemate between the Chinese and ...
The U.S.-China Cobalt Test in the DR Congo
There's a lot of talk these days in Washington policy circles about the urgent need for the United States to "de-risk" or "de-couple" itself from Chinese supply chains needed to manufacture batteries required to power the green mobility revolution. A lot ...
Problems Arise Just Hours After Qin Gang Wrapped Up a Diplomatic Repair Mission to the Philippines
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Taiwan, Not South China Sea is the Real Reason Behind the Expanding U.S. Military Presence in the Philippines, Says Prominent Chinese Analyst
This month's massive 17,000-strong joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises code-named Balikatan (Tagalog for "shoulder-to-shoulder") focused a lot of attention on drills in the South China/West Philippine Sea. The U.S. has deployed considerable military force to the South China Sea region in recent ...
China Still Keen to Join Pan-Pacific Trade Pact and Expects All 11 Members to Support Its Bid, Says Vice Minister
One of China's top trade negotiators said Beijing is still committed to joining the pan-Pacific trade pact known as CPTPP (formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership) even though the odds of admission in the current political environment are close to zero. ...
More Evidence of China’s Diminishing Appetite for African Oil
It wasn't that long ago when China sourced a third of its imported oil from three African suppliers that included Angola. Today that figure is down to just 10% and appears to be steadily declining as Chinese buyers shift to sourcing crude from Russia, Persian Gulf countries ...
Awards for Online Influencers From Global South Countries Who “Tell Good China Stories”
Chinese propaganda authorities recognized seven online content influencers from various countries around the world, including Cameroon and Iran for their contributions to "presenting a true, panoramic view of China." The awards were given on Friday at the inaugural China Storyteller ...
Bright Simons on Africa in the Era of Great Power Competition
Many African countries are confronting unprecedented challenges from a convergence of forces far beyond their control. Africans are suffering disproportionately from the effects of climate change, global economic disruption and are being pushed to the middle of yet another Great Power ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese and Indian Oil Buyers Ignoring West’s Price Cap on Russian Crude
Chinese and Indian oil buyers are ignoring the West's price cap on Russian crude, snapping up a majority of Moscow's output at prices well above the $60 per barrel limit. The cap was imposed by G7 countries in a bid to curb revenue used by the Russian military ...
Zambia’s Creditors to Reconvene in May, Amid Growing Global Debt Concern
Bloomberg reports that Zambia’s official creditor committee, which is co-led by China, has reportedly made progress in meetings this week, which will lead to them reconvening for a follow-up session next month. The next meeting could see them signing a memorandum ...
China’s Newest Talking Point on Debt: The U.S. Dollar is to Blame
As China faces increasing criticism around perceptions that it is holding up debt relief processes, its state media seems to be trying out new talking points in its messaging on the issue to Global South audiences, as seen in a recent article in the state-owned tabloid Global Times: ...