U.S. Ethnic Cleansing Charges Against Ethiopia and China May Be Helping to Foster Closer Ties Between Addis and Beijing

The U.S. State Department submitted a report to Congress this week that named both Ethiopia and China among a group of countries that commits ethnic cleansing against their own people. The designation has roiled ties between the U.S. and Ethiopia, in particular, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed vehemently denying that his forces are targeting civilians in the Tigray region.

One of the consequences of the new U.S. designation is that it appears to be creating an opening for Addis Ababa and Beijing to foster closer ties with one another.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
3
Rubio to Welcome Asian ‘Quad’ Back to Washington
4
Chinese-Moroccan Joint Venture Inaugurates EV Battery Parts Plant
5
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Appoints “Tiger-Fighter’ as New Leader
6
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity

You Might Like

Just as the U.S. is Trying to Bolster Its Standing in Africa to Challenge China’s Rising Influence, Washington Stumbles in Ethiopia

U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion to the Sudanese and Israeli prime ministers in a call last weekend that Egypt might “blow up” the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam if Cairo and Addis Ababa can’t ...

China Could Factor Into the U.S. Debate Over Duty-Free Trade with Ethiopia

A lively debate is underway in the United States now over whether Trade Representative Katherine Tai should remove Ethiopia’s duty-free access to the U.S. market as part of the African Growth and Opportunity ...

China’s UN Envoy Criticizes U.S. Sanctions Against Ethiopia, Pushes Instead For Multilateral Response

The brief respite from U.S.-Chinese sniping at the United Nations over the deteriorating situation in Ethiopia came to an abrupt end this week. The two countries had momentarily put aside their differences on ...

Chinese State Media and Ethiopian Twitter Are Gleefully Comparing How Wang and Blinken Handled Ethiopia

Wang Yi’s surprise visit to Ethiopia on Wednesday sparked an online meme among Chinese state media staff and Ethiopian Twitter users about the stark difference between how U.S. Secretary of State ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP