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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Africa, Meet Qin Gang… Qin Gang, this is Africa
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang begins a five-nation, week-long tour of Africa in what will be his first public appearance in his new role. Qin, who until a few weeks ago was Beijing's envoy to Washington, D.C., is a Europeanist who has no background in African affairs ...
Mixed Reactions in Asia, Africa About the Return of Chinese Tourists
For the first time in three years, as of Sunday, Chinese nationals are now permitted to travel abroad, prompting a wave of nervous excitement among tourism operators in Asia and elsewhere about the long-awaited return of cash-flush Chinese travelers. Outbound travel ...
Why a Chinese Coal Buy From Australia Should Worry Some Developing Countries
One of China's largest coal importers, the China Energy Investment Corp., bought at least two shipments of Australian coal on Friday in the latest sign of thawing ties between the two countries. While the amount purchased is not significant, it's the first ...
China, Like the U.S., Wants to Onshore More of Its Critical Resource Mining
China appears to share many of the concerns over the security of its supply chains for critical minerals that now dominate conversations in North American, European and some Asian capitals. Wang Guanghua, China's minister for natural resources, explained in a lengthy ...
Afghanistan Signs New Oil Deal With China, Assures Beijing It Will Also Improve Security For Its People
The Afghan government signed a symbolically important oil extraction deal with a Chinese state-owned company, the first such agreement since the Taliban took power in 2021. The Chinese side will own 80% of the venture and invest $150 million annually in ...
South Africa’s Ruling ANC Party Calls For BRICS Expansion
South Africa's ruling African National Congress party said the government should use its position as chairman of the BRICS group to welcome new countries to the China-founded bloc. “The ANC and ANC-led government should support the expansion of BRICS by admitting ...
China-Global South in 2023: Our Views on What to Expect
Eric Olander, Editor in Chief China's efforts to build a parallel international order are going to accelerate in 2023. Led by a new foreign policy team that will assume office in March, Xi Jinping's new Global Development Initiative will take shape, ...
The 2022 Africa-China Year in Review With Gyude Moore
Chinese trade with Africa is widely expected to break yet another record in 2022, while Chinese lending to countries across the continent fell again. Meantime, African leaders this year also forcefully pushed back against both the U.S. and China to avoid ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: U.S. Launches New “China House” Initiative to Coordinate Foreign Policy Towards Beijing
The U.S. government drew on its Cold War history on Friday with the launch of a new "China House" initiative that aims to coordinate foreign policy towards Beijing. The new office will house an expanded inter-agency team of China experts who will focus on competition with China in ...
Why Rapprochement Between China and Australia Could Have Far-Ranging Consequences on Developing Countries
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday night for a landmark visit that points to a thaw in the icy relations between the two Pacific powers. In fact, she's the first Australian FM to travel to Beijing since ties began to deteriorate more than three years ...
Pressure Mounting on Biden to Counter China’s Free Trade Push in South America
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso's visit to Washington this week prompted urgent calls from Capitol Hill for the President to do more to counter China's growing influence in South America. Lasso met with Biden on Monday at the White House with a nearly-done Chinese ...
New Satellite Images Show Widespread Road Building on Both Sides of the Disputed India-China Border
The Chinese and Indian militaries are building out transportation infrastructure high up in the Himalayas along their disputed border known as the Line of Actual Control, according to new satellite imagery published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. "While India maintains control ...