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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As U.S. and Israel Strike Iran, China Watchers See Beijing Poised to Profit From the Chaos
Almost immediately after the U.S. and Israel launched "major combat operations" against Iran, a vigorous debate erupted online over what this latest conflict in the Persian Gulf would mean for China. The discourse largely broke down into two distinct categories:
China Evacuates 3,000 Nationals From Iran as Beijing Condemns U.S. and Israeli Strikes as Violation of International Law
At least 3,000 Chinese nationals have been evacuated from Iran over the past 72 hours, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning. The exodus follows calls for Chinese nationals across the Persian Gulf and the Mideast to leave, if possible, or shelter in place if not. ...
China Stocks Steady as Surges in Energy, Defense Shares Offset Airline Losses; HK Drops
China's equity benchmarks were little changed on Monday in the wake of the Iran conflict as surges in energy, defense and gold stocks offset plunges in airline and tourism shares. Mainland sentiment was supported by expectations that Beijing may step in ...
With Pakistan and Afghanistan at War, China Confronts a Strategic Moment on Its Frontier
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared "open war" against Afghanistan on Friday amid a surge of fighting between the two South Asian neighbors. Pakistan said it's retaliating against Afghanistan for a series of attacks, including a suicide bombing in early February that killed ...
Latin America Split Over How to Counter China’s Steel Surge
Argentina terminated anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminum foil, removing trade barriers that had restricted shipments from China and reopening the market to Chinese producers. The move marks a notable shift in South America’s trade posture toward Chinese industrial exports, even as ...
China Highlights Tracking of U.S. Military Movements Near Iran
People’s Liberation Army-linked analysts and social media accounts have publicized satellite imagery and flight-tracking data purporting to show U.S. military aircraft and naval movements near Iran, raising questions about whether Beijing is signaling its intelligence reach. The reports, amplified by Chinese commentators ...
Angola Turns to China for $4.8 Billion Refinery Loan
Angola’s state oil company, Sonangol, is seeking a $4.8 billion loan from Chinese lenders to finance the long-delayed Lobito refinery, reinforcing Luanda’s continued reliance on Beijing for large-scale energy infrastructure funding. The project aims to reduce Angola’s dependence on imported fuel ...
EU Lawmakers Question Global Gateway’s Africa Spending as China Comparison Intensifies
The EU's answer to China's Belt and Road Initiative is facing new scrutiny from lawmakers at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Global Gateway (GG), a program launched in 2021 to finance infrastructure in developing countries, was the focus of a new ...
Chinese Think Tank Calls Myanmar Vote a ‘Fake Election’ but Sees Strategic Gains for Beijing
In a rare blunt assessment, an analysis from China’s prominent state-backed think tank, The Institute for International Affairs in Qianhai, a district of Shenzhen in southern China, denounced Myanmar’s general election under military rule last month, saying the process lacked legitimacy and would do nothing ...
Chinese Commentator’s Defense of Missile Sale to Iran on Russian TV Lends Credence to Report
While the Chinese government has not officially commented on the reported sale of supersonic anti-ship missiles to Iran, one of China's most outspoken media provocateurs appeared on Russian state television on Tuesday to defend the move. Victor Gao, vice president of ...
China Close to Deal Selling Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles to Iran
After two years of negotiations, Iran is close to finalizing a deal with China to buy supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, according to Reuters. Reuters cited six sources who confirmed that Iran is poised to acquire Chinese-made CM-302 missiles, nicknamed "Carrier-Killers," that are ...
U.S. Wants China Out of Latin America. Is that Even Possible?
The Panamanian government formally took over the two ports operated by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison this week at both ends of the Panama Canal. U.S. officials celebrated the move as part of their larger effort to expel China from the Western ...