CGSP Podcasts
Weekly discussions with key thought leaders about China’s engagement in Africa and the Global South.
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Active Non-Alignment in the Era of U.S.-China Rivalry
From Panama to Kenya to Indonesia, a growing number of developing countries are being pulled into the intensifying rivalry between China and the U.S. For these middle powers, the stakes are high as they must carefully navigate the tension to avoid ...
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How Chinese EVs Are Powering Africa’s Mobility Revolution
Chinese e-mobility technology is poised to transform large swathes of Africa's transportation ecosystem in the coming decade, but in very different ways than in other regions where EVs are the primary focus. Bicylces, scooters, tricyles, tractors, cars, minibuses, and full-sized coaches, all ...
As Bolt and Uber Dominate, Kenyan Startup Pushes Local Alternatives
Ride-hailing in Africa has long been dominated by global giants like Uber and Bolt—especially in Kenya, East Africa’s tech innovation hub. But as the electric vehicle movement gathers momentum, a new wave of local startups ...
Why the India-China Détente May Be Over
After several months of steadily improving ties, India-China relations appear to be cooling once again following the recent clashes in Kashmir. China’s military support for Pakistan during the conflict earlier this month has triggered fresh concerns in New Delhi, with ...
China’s Mideast Strategy in the Trump 2.0 Era
Donald Trump’s return to the Middle East marks a shift toward transactional diplomacy, emphasizing trade, investment, and a retreat from human rights rhetoric. In a striking parallel, China has long pursued a similar approach in the region—prioritizing business ties over political entanglements. ...
Suspected bot posts on X that accuse Chinese nationals in Ghana of fueling the illegal mining crisis.
By Nicholas Roll Before Ghana banned foreigners from its gold trade earlier this year, an online bot campaign pushed anti-Chinese sentiment, blaming Chinese nationals for exploiting the country and stealing its resources. The west African nation has long been ...
It’s Payback Time For a Lot of Those Chinese Loans
Borrowers in Africa and other developing regions are expected to repay $35 billion of Chinese loans this year, with two-thirds of the amount coming from the world's poorest countries. Many of these debts were taken out in the mid-2010s and are ...
China Forced to Regroup After Israel-Iran War
China is emerging from the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in a much weaker position. For years, Beijing counted on Tehran to serve as a bulwark against Washington. Today, though, that's no longer possible as the Iranian government and its proxies across ...
China’s Africa Security Strategy: Training, Arms, and Political Influence
Over the past 25 years, China’s military engagement with Africa has grown dramatically. In 2000, fewer than 5% of African weapons came from China. Today, Chinese-made armored vehicles are used by 70% of African militaries, and China has become the continent’s ...
How Middle Powers Are Navigating the U.S.–China Rivalry
In this new era of surging instability and geopolitical uncertainty, so-called "Middle Power" states are rapidly diversifying their foreign policies to deepen engagement with other countries in the Global South, while reducing their exposure to the U.S. and China.
The Chinese FDI Boom in Africa That Wasn’t
For years, China has been seen as the pivotal international economic partner across Africa. That was certainly true in terms of steadily rising trade volumes and a fire hose of state backed loans that built roads, railways, and ports across the ...
How China’s EV Price War Is Reshaping Africa’s Electric Vehicle Market
Vehicle buyers in various African countries are turning to affordable electric vehicles (EVs) from Chinese manufacturers for compact EVs, which are well-suited for taxi services and short-distance travel, as practical replacements for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
Choosing Sides or Playing Both? Latin America Navigates U.S.–China Rivalry
Latin America is the key focal point for the United States in its global competition with China. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he deems China's growing presence in the Western Hemisphere a direct threat to U.S. interests in ...
Trump’s New Africa Policy Focuses on Deals… and China
U.S. foreign policy towards Africa has been totally upended since Donald Trump returned to power earlier this year. Gone are the decades-old humanitarian programs that have been replaced by a new strategy that focuses on expanding U.S. commercial ties and countering ...
China-Africa Critical Minerals Update: Clean Up in Zambia, Disputes in the DR Congo
In Zambia, efforts to clean up a massive acid spill from a Chinese-owned mine have been met with skepticism, despite government assurances. Officials claim restitution is underway and rehabilitation plans are in place, but activists question the fairness of compensation and ...
China Courts Latin America as U.S. Pressure Mounts
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Latin American leaders on Tuesday to stand with Beijing in the fight against Donald Trump's campaign to upend the international system. Xi made the appeal at a ministerial gathering of leaders and senior officials from across ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China Becoming Africa’s Go To Source for Weapons
The Nigerian military signed a deal with Chinese state-owned weapons manufacturer Norinco to set up a factory as part of an effort to develop a domestic arms production capacity in the West African country. The ...
The Future of U.S. and Chinese Aid Programs in the Global South
Two years ago, Daniel Russel and Blake Berger, senior analysts at the Asia Society Policy Institute, embarked on an ambitious project to bring U.S. and Chinese stakeholders together to speak in a safe, controlled setting about their respective countries' aid strategies ...