Author: Eric Olander
Eric Olander is the co-founder of the China Global South Project (CAP), 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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Midway through Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's 10-day South Pacific tour and the trip, so far, is not going according to plan. Normally on these kinds of high-profile extended diplomatic excursions to strategically important regions, Chinese officials work hard to ensure that all parties are in alignment ...
Australia Breathes a Big Sigh of Relief After Pacific Island Countries Push Back Against China
You can see from the expression on visiting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong's face the palpable relief from the reception that she received in Fiji over the weekend and, no doubt, to the news that as a group, Pacific Island Countries balked at China's plan to deepen ...
Chinese Lending Poses “Serious Danger” to Poor Countries Warns German Chancellor
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz became the latest Western leader to warn about the purported systemic risks to the global economy posed by Chinese lending to developing countries. Chancellor Scholz addressed the issue at an event in Stuttgart ...
China’s Tecno and Infinix Ranked Among the Top Brands in Africa
Transsion's Tecno unit slipped a spot to #6 in Brand Africa's annual ranking of the most admired brands but it still remained firmly in the top ten and was the highest-ranked of any Chinese company. Two other phone brands, ...
China Celebrates African Business Competition Launched by a Man and His Former Company Who Shall Not Be Named
Up until a few years ago, the annual African Business Heroes (ABH) competition was a huge deal, generating massive online excitement. Today, well, not so much. In fact, it's hard to tell that the ABH contest ...
U.S.-China Tech Competition in the Middle East
While U.S. President Joe Biden is stepping up his efforts to confront China's dominance in the Asia-Pacific, he might also want to pay attention to what's happening in the Middle East. Chinese influence in the ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Heavy Rains Are Once Again Pounding South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province
Heavy rains are once again pounding South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, no doubt causing serious concern among mining companies in neighboring Zambia and DRCongo who rely heavily on the KZN's Port of Durban to export copper and cobalt, mostly to China. Massive floods last month forced the port to ...
Wang Yi Lands in the South Pacific With Big Ambitions to Expand Chinese Influence in the Region
Great Power politics arrived in the South Pacific on Wednesday night when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-member entourage landed in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara. Wang is embarking on a 10-day, seven-nation tour of the region where he is expected to ...
Wang South Pacific Tour Provokes Strong Response From Both Australia and New Zealand
Anxieties in Australia and New Zealand about China's growing influence in the Solomon Islands and the greater South Pacific had already been running high before Wang's arrival on Wednesday. Now, however, those worries have moved into overdrive. The governments in both ...
Solomon Islands Media Protest Press Restrictions During Wang’s Visit
The Media Association of Solomon Islands announced that it will boycott a "press conference" on Thursday with Wang Yi and his SI counterpart Jeremiah Manele to protest against rules that only allow the Chinese state-broadcaster CCTV to ask Wang just one question.
Drivers Who Claim They’re Broke Force Chinese Contractor to Re-Think Nairobi Expressway Toll Plan
It's been a rocky start for the new Chinese-built Nairobi Expressway that opened to the public two weeks ago. Complaints that the tolls are too high, accidents, and now massive traffic jams have all marred what the government had hoped would be a more upbeat reception for the 27-kilometer roadway.
Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe Can’t Stop Talking About the “Malicious Activities” of Another “Foreign Embassy” in Harare
The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe has been on a tear for the past several weeks, angrily fuming on its Twitter feed and in local press interviews about the "malicious activities" of "#Mr1K" aka a "certain foreign embassy" in Harare. The Chinese mission is seemingly upset ...