China’s New Mediation Body Courts the Global South on Dispute Resolution

A couple of weeks ago in Hong Kong, China quietly inaugurated the International Organization for Mediation (IoM), marking what may become a significant shift in global dispute resolution. Thirty-two countries from Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe attended the launch, underscoring Beijing’s ambition to build a ...

How the Global South Became Central to China’s Narrative Strategy on Russia’s War in Ukraine

By Lukas Fiala Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a little over three years ago marked a critical juncture in the development of European and international security. Far from merely a regional issue, the war has since then affected many beyond the old ...

Xinhua Lays Out China’s Approach in the Middle East

Since the Hamas attacks on Israel triggered a growing conflict, China’s position has come in for a lot of discussion around whether it will mediate in the crisis, as offered earlier. However, China has so far largely followed a cautious approach, sticking ...

China Offers to Serve as Mediator in Niger

The Chinese ambassador to Niger, Jing Feng, met with the transition Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zene on Monday and offered to serve as a mediator to help defuse the escalating political crisis in the West African country. “The Chinese government intends ...

Chinese Nationals Evacuated As Sudan Enters Shaky Ceasefire

A 72-hour ceasefire started in Sudan on Monday night, the third so far in the deadly conflict that broke out ten days ago. As Sudanese keep struggling with disrupted water, electricity, and internet services, the first group of Chinese nationals was evacuated to neighboring countries. ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

BRICS Announces Numerous New Initiatives

The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...