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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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who announced last week that he will step down for health reasons, was an enthusiastic proponent of a robust African engagement strategy. In particular, the prime minister advocated for a trade-led foreign policy with Africa that was highlighted ...
Indian, U.S. Perspectives on Taiwan-Somaliland Relations
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Czech Republic's senate speaker Milos Vystrcil will "pay a heavy price" for violating Beijing's sacrosanct "One China" policy for his ongoing visit to Taiwan. Foreign Minister Wang's sharp tone offers a preview ...
There’s a Complex Mix of Historical Anxiety Wrapped Into Nigerians’ Concerns Over Chinese Loans
To get a sense of just how widespread the concern is in Nigeria over Chinese loans, head over to the Twitter page of popular comedian and actor Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, where since last Thursday he's pinned a semi-serious ...
China-Africa Relations in 2020: Perceptions and Realities
Just by looking at social media and news coverage in countries like Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, it would be safe to assume that China-Africa ties are in serious trouble. The prevailing narrative in many countries is one where Africa is ...
FT Article Sparks a Lot of Excitement About Chinese Debt Restructuring Deals But Details Still Remain Sparse
An FT story published over the weekend injected a burst of rare optimism into the African debt relief discussion. The article by U.S.-based Markets Correspondent Camilla Hodgson reported on last Tuesday's remarks by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian that Beijing had reached debt relief ...
The Nigerian Government’s Seemingly Endless Effort to Correct Misinformation About the Country’s Debt
Nigeria's Debt Management Office, once again, issued a breakdown of the country's debt to external creditors in a bid to push back against the widely-held, yet misinformed perception that the country is in debt beyond its capacity -- mostly to China. ...
U.S. Sanctions State-Owned Chinese Infrastructure Company That Has a Huge Presence in Africa
The move by the United States last week to sanction the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) could have far-reaching implications that extend all the way to Africa, where the state-owned construction giant has an enormous presence. The U.S. State and Commerce ...
China Communications Construction Company in Africa
The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) is Africa's largest international contractor, with a 40-year history of building some of the continent's largest infrastructure projects, according to a company promotional video. Some of CCCC's recent projects are among Africa's ...
China’s Controversial Territorial Issues Gain Prominence in Beijing Diplomatic Engagement With African Stakeholders
China's territorial issues related to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea are becoming increasingly prominent topics of discussion when Chinese ambassadors engage with African governments and media. While these so-called "core interests" have always been a part of ...
Africa Isn’t Alone Trying to Find a Space in Between the U.S. and China
Last week's announcement by the U.S. government that it will add 24 more Chinese companies to its so-called entities list was probably met with dread and concern in capitals throughout the global south. After all, these companies, most notably China Communications ...
Is Paying for Fertilizer the Answer To Advancing African Agribusiness? Lessons From China
Agriculture is an important piece of Africa’s development puzzle. Resource-wise, the continent is blessed with 60% of the world’s arable land, yet only 17% of the world population. Dependency-wise, Africa is largely sustained by agriculture, with two-thirds of the population being employed within the ...
Chinese High School Students Reflect on Anti-African Discrimination in Guangzhou
It's been almost five months since a spate of anti-African discrimination erupted in Guangzhou, home to the largest overseas African population in Asia. Back in April, amid mounting fears of a COVID-19 outbreak in the southern Chinese, dozens, possibly hundreds of ...