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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Chinese Ambassador and Egyptian PM Visit Local Factory That Will Produce Sinovac Vaccines
China's ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang was accompanied last week by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for an onsite visit of the Egyptian pharmaceutical plant that will serve as a manufacturing hub for Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines. Already, the facility has produced a million doses that will be available for ...
Professor Li Anshan Explains Why is Africa Important to China
With the triennial Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit that will take place online and in Senegal less than three months away (it will likely occur in September), there's growing speculation as to what will be on the agenda and what that will say about Beijing's evolving priorities ...
The Haval Jolion Highlights The Major Inroads Chinese Cars Are Making in the African Auto Market
The popular South African auto review site cars.co.za just couldn't be more effusive about Great Wall Motors' new Haval Jolion SUV. "Should you buy the Jolion," the online review asked rhetorically, "you’d be silly not to." But the ...
G20 Reps Close Another Meeting Without Any Firm Commitments on Vaccines or Debt Relief For World’s Poorest Countries
In what's becoming a predictable routine, high-level representatives from the world's wealthiest countries get together, express anguish over the rapid spread of COVID-19 in developing countries, issue a call for more equitable distribution of vaccines and then restate longstanding positions that bilateral creditors (read China) and bondholders ...
China Pushes Back Against U.S. Criticism That It’s Not Doing Enough to Support the G20’s Debt Relief Initiative
The Chinese government is becoming increasingly impatient with the persistent U.S. criticism that it isn't doing enough to support the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). U.S. officials have steadily increased their critiques in July in the run-up to the G20 finance ministers meeting in Italy that ...
Scholar: G7’s B3W is Just a Bad Copy of China’s Belt and Road
It's been a month since the G7 unveiled its new "Build Back Better World" (B3W) initiative that aims to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative by providing an alternative source of infrastructure development financing that is presumably more transparent and sustainable. So far, ...
Two Recent Setbacks in France and the U.S. Highlight the West’s Challenges in Competing With China in Africa
U.S. and European officials are now more aligned than they've been in years in their determination to challenge China's growing influence in Africa and other regions throughout the Global South. And while Western leaders have clearly articulated their desire to confront China, turning rhetoric into action is ...
Nigerian Transportation Minister Tells Local Contractors “They Are Not Qualified” To Build Infrastructure Like the Chinese Do
Nigeria's outspoken transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi delivered a blunt message to local construction companies who've long complained that they're shut out of bids for the large infrastructure projects that often go to Chinese contractors: "We are not using our local contractors because they are not ...
Chinese Embassy in Harare Angrily Refutes “Smear Campaign” by Zimbabwe Unions
The Chinese embassy in Harare came to the defense of a local Chinese tile company accused of forcing its employees to endure “slave-like working conditions.” The embassy published a statement on its website that challenged the authenticity of videos that have been circulating depicting the poor ...
Tensions Between a Chinese Manager and Congolese Employee at a DRC Mine Erupt… and Go Viral on Social Media
Videos of brawls between expatriate Chinese managers and local employees in African countries are surfacing with increasing frequency. On June 30th, a fight broke out between a Congolese employee at the Tenke Fungurumé Mining company in Kowlezi and his Chinese manager over the worker's reported frustration about poor ...
Local Chinese Businessman in Lagos Awarded Second Nigerian Chieftancy Title
For the second time in just three years, Chinese expatriate businessman Liu Zhiyong has been granted an honorary chieftaincy title in Nigeria's Lagos state. Liu received his latest title last month from Chief Gbobaniyi (photo) for his contributions to the local economy and development in Lagos State.
When It Comes to China, Africa and Central Asia Actually Have Quite a Bit in Common
It's not obvious, but when it comes to managing ties with China, countries in Central Asia and Africa have a lot more in common with one another than many would first assume. Both are among ...