Rajpriya Gautam

As South Africa’s power woes worsen, Cape Town is seeking to double electricity supplies from hydropower from the current 200 megawatts (MW) in a desperate bid to reduce the impact of chronic power outages. South Africa’s second-biggest city is trying to reduce its reliance on the national utility, Eskom which is struggling to meet electricity demand. This has seen the company impose rotational blackouts which are sometimes lasting more than 10 hours every day . 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinagloba...

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong embarked on a week-long trip to China on Monday that will include meetings with both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.  The visit marks the Singaporean leader’s first visit to China since the COVID-19 pandemic.  (STRAITS TIMES) Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said he had “positive and encouraging meetings” during his visit last week to Beijing, where he sought Chinese debt relief assistance.  The finance minister did not specify whether or how Chinese creditors would restructure $1.7 billion of loans to Ghanaian borrowers.  (JOY NEWS) 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 unli...

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong  made a brief stopover in China’s southern Guandong province on Wednesday  during his six-day visit to China. Lee paid a courtesy call to the province’s top official, Communist Party Secretary Huang Kunming , to discuss  deeper economic integration between the Lion City and what’s known as the “Greater Bay Area”  that encompasses Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau — a burgeoning regional economic powerhouse with a combined $2 trillion. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn Mo...

DR Congo Finance Minister Nicolas Kazadi pushed back against the narrative that Kinshasa is specifically targeting Chinese companies over unfair mining contracts. The minister was adamant in his discussion with Financial Times correspondent Tom Wilson at the FT Commodities Global Summit  that the heart of the issue is about fairness rather than politics. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/30/challenging-chinese-mining-contracts-isnt-about-politics-its-about-whats-fair-says-dr...

Honduran President Xiomara Castro looked visibly pleased with her decision to switch ties from Taiwan to China last week  when she announced on Twitter that she’ll soon be headed to Beijing  to sign a raft of new agreements. The President did not provide further details as to which agreements but no doubt top of her list would be to receive long-sought finance for the  Patuca II hydroelectric dam . 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/30/honduras-president-announces-t...

U.S. Vice President landed in Zambia on Wednesday for the second leg of a three-nation, week-long Africa tour.  During her first stop in Ghana, the Vice President assiduously tried to avoid any reference to China despite persistent questions from the traveling press corps. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/29/harris-arrives-in-zambia-where-china-questions-will-loom-much-larger-than-in-ghana/

U.S. Vice President landed in Zambia on Wednesday for the second leg of a three-nation, week-long Africa tour.  During her first stop in Ghana, the Vice President assiduously tried to avoid any reference to China despite persistent questions from the traveling press corps. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/29/harris-arrives-in-zambia-where-china-questions-will-loom-much-larger-than-in-ghana/

The Fijian government allowed Taiwan to  reinstate the old name of its representative office in the South Pacific island country  to include its official moniker “The Republic of China.” While a simple name change may not seem like a big deal, in the context of the China-Taiwan rivalry, the use of language to describe Taiwan remains one of the main points of contention. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/29/after-a-setback-in-honduras-taiwans-diplomacy-gets-a-small-boost...

The shift to renewable energy is gaining momentum in Africa with the Ivory Coast signing an agreement with Masdar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) renewable energy company on the exploration and development of a 50-70 megawatt (MW) solar power plant. In what could be seen as a race to conquer the continent which is lagging behind in energy access , Masdar is getting into a domain that has China as a frontrunner in the provision of power grid alternatives. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.co...

Zambia’s debt renegotiation is being delayed by barriers within China’s banking system and by Western pressure. So says Professor Tang Xiaoyang, a prominent expert on Chinese overseas development finance and the director of the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University,  in an interesting interview with the hawkish magazine Guancha (The Observer). Tang said that Zambia’s debt renegotiation is proceeding, but that pressure from Western powers for a quick solution based on Paris Club conventions and to shield Western private investors is causing problems. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Ye...

One stop into her week-long, three-nation African tour, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has yet to mention the “C” word. But China is very much on the minds of her traveling press corps that seems to take every opportunity it can to frame the visit more in terms of confronting China  on the continent than the specifics of Washington’s new engagement strategy in Africa. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/28/chinese-scholars-see-u-s-veeps-africa-tour-in-the-context-of-gre...

Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina looked visibly pleased this weekend when he shook hands with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang after the pair  formally oversaw the establishment of diplomatic ties. The signing ceremony took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Sunday  and marks a setback for Taiwan as the island loses yet another diplomatic ally — trimming the number of countries that recognize Taipei to just 13. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com...

The Southwestern Chinese industrial mega-city Chongqing hosted a delegation from South Africa last week to discuss how the two sides can further increase the $600 million of trade the two sides did last year.  The event highlights how sub-national actors like municipalities including Chongqing, are playing a more prominent role in China-Africa economic engagement.  (ICHONGQING) 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/27/south-africa-hosts-trade-discussions-with-chongqing-one-...

Egypt and China are seeking to consolidate economic and investment cooperation in various areas of common interest, including clean energy. The China International Energy Group (CIEG) intends to establish a $5 to $8 billion project to produce green hydrogen in the North African nation. In a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and CIEG Chairman, Ye Jianming, discussions also focused on water treatment plants, desalination, electricity and renewable energy, and transport infrastructure among others. Ye, who was accompanied by a delegation of senior CIEG executives added that Egypt had great potential in the green energy sector. In June last year, Egypt submitted a revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) before COP27 took place. Hosting the COP triggered increased investment in energy efficiency, green solutions, and cleaner energy sources. Egypt is scaling up solar energy installations across the country which is a boost to clean and affordable energ...

The Chinese government clapped back on Wednesday against renewed criticisms from outgoing World Bank President David Malpass that Beijing isn’t moving fast enough to restructure debts in many of the world’s poorest countries. Earlier this week, at a speech in New York at the Council on Foreign Relations, Malpass said even though China has emerged as a major lender to developing countries,  “they haven’t been in the habit of [restructuring debt].” 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/20...

The China-Africa Business Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a seminar in Beijing this week that brought together high-level representatives from government, industry and civil society to discuss how to increase the value of African exports to China. The conference also focused on boosting the level of industrialization within some African supply chains. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/23/key-international-stakeholders-gather-in-beijing-to-discuss-how-to-bol...

Equatorial Guinea (EG) Foreign Minister Simeón Oyono Esono Angue  began a four-day visit to Beijing on Wednesday , where he will meet with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang. Normally, a visit like this from such a small country doesn’t generate much interest from the U.S. embassy in Beijing, but this time may be different, given  longstanding U.S. concerns that EG is the desired place for a second Chinese military base in Africa. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/22...

Vietnamese customs authorities in the northern port city of Hai Phong  intercepted a massive seven-ton shipment of illicit ivory  that originated in Angola and traveled via Singapore. Inspectors discovered the contraband on Monday  after seeing a discrepancy in shipping documents that listed the contents of the containers as “peanuts.” 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/22/vietnamese-authorities-seize-tons-of-ivory-most-likely-bound-for-china/

New satellite photos show that  Chinese contractors have made considerable progress in building an extension of the Ream Naval Base in Cambodia. The images taken by the private company Blacksky reveal the submerged foundation for a long pier that will extend out from the base. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/22/newly-released-sat-photos-show-chinese-funded-navy-base-taking-shape-in-cambodia/

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will embark on  a three-nation tour of the Americas  that will include a stopover in the United States before heading to Belize and Guatemala, two of Taipei’s last remaining diplomatic allies. Tsai’s trip comes in the wake of  Honduras’ decision last week to abandon switch diplomatic recognition to China , a major setback for Taiwan, that now has official ties with just 13 countries. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/22/taiwan-presiden...

Speculating about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s motives for meeting with Vladimir Putin and whether he’s serious about brokering a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine or just trolling the West  has become something of a parlor game among China Watchers. But while most commentators in the U.S. and Europe are focusing on the potential impact that Xi could have on Putin vis-à-vis the war in Ukraine , Evan Feigenbaum, vice president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and one of Washington’s most highly regarded Asia analysts,  wrote a column on Monday that encouraged observers to take a broader view of Xi’s agenda  in Moscow this week: 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 Sout...

The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe published a blistering response to comments made by U.S. Ambassador-designate Pamela Tremont during her Senate confirmation hearings last week in Washington, D.C. During questioning, Tremont was pressed by senators to  contrast China’s engagement in Zimbabwe with that of the United States: 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/21/the-chinese-embassy-in-zimbabwe-takes-aim-at-remarks-by-washingtons-ambassador-designate-to-harare/

International Monetary Fund Managing Director  Kirstalina Georgieva will travel to China at the end of this week  for a visit that will be closely watched by finance ministries throughout the Global South. The primary purpose of Georgieva’s trip is to deliver keynote addresses at the upcoming China Development Forum in Beijing on March 26th and at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan province on March 30th. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/20/imf-he...

Three of the U.S. military’s regional theater commanders for Asia, Africa and the Middle East spoke publicly last week in testimony and speeches that highlighted how the Pentagon now sees China as its top global challenge. The top commander of U.S. forces in Africa (AFRICOM), General Michael Langley and Central Command (CENTCOM) commander General Michael Kurilla appeared together last Thursday at the Senate Armed Services Committee,  where China was referenced 84 times during the hearing . 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More ...

United States Marine Corps General Michael Langley  made his first appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee  as the top commander for U.S. forces in Africa or AFRICOM. Langley replaced Army General Stephen J. Townsend last year , who played a critical role in elevating concern on Capitol Hill about China’s growing influence on the continent,  particularly related to unconfirmed reports that the PLA was seeking to build a second military base in Africa . 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source h...

Fresh off his success in brokering a restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Chinese President Xi Jinping will next head to Russia.  Xi reportedly plans to visit Moscow next week where he is widely expected to discuss Beijing’s Ukraine peace proposal with his counterpart Vladimir Putin.  (REUTERS) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is headed back to Africa this week for a short three-day, two-nation trip to Ethiopia and Nigeria.  While some U.S. media are framing the visit as part of a broader effort to counter China, the State Department said post-conflict stability will be the focus in both countries.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS) 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....

Senior diplomats from the United States and China, along with the Prime Minister of Denmark, are currently in Africa. No doubt they all have watchful eyes on each other: CHINA:  Beijing’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Xue Bing, made a surprise appearance in Addis Ababa on Tuesday where he reaffirmed China’s support for the Tigray peace process and pushed back on accusations that China engages in predatory lending in Africa.  (XINHUA)   INSIGHT: Xue is ostensibly there to ensure China is relevant in the ongoing peace process but so far he’s had little impact. UNITED STATES:  Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the implementation of the Tigray peace process but did not, as some expected, restore Ethiopia’s free trade access to the U.S. market.  (REUTERS)   INSIGHT: Unlike previous Secretary of State visits where U.S. competition with China was always a prominent issue, this time China has barely come up in Bl...

Canadian mining giant Ivanhoe released its 2022 full-year earnings on Monday that revealed the company made a robust profit of $434 million from the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which it jointly operates with Chinese mining major Zijin Mining Group. The Kamoa-Kakula mine generated 215 percent more copper in 2022 than it did in 2021 and Ivanhoe expects it to produce even more in 2023.  (MUGGLEHEAD MAGAZINE) 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/0...

The Chinese government warned that the deployment of nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia would provoke a dangerous new arms race and undermine the increasingly fragile stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin issued a blunt response  when asked on Tuesday at the Foreign Ministry’s regular press briefing  for China’s reaction to the news that the U.S. and UK will sell Australia at least half-a-dozen submarines valued at an estimated $368 billion: 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click He...

T 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/15/why-encirclement-has-become-a-chinese-talking-point/

For the second time in a week, the Chinese government has issued a warning to the Philippines not to grant the U.S. military access to more bases in the country. An editorial in Tuesday’s edition of the state-run China Daily newspaper  was clear: get too close to the U.S. and suffer economic consequences: 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/15/china-issues-fresh-warning-to-the-philippines-about-expanding-military-ties-with-the-u-s/

Few countries are as directly affected by the Saudi-Iran deal as Israel. The announcement seemed to have caught the Netanyahu government off guard and occasioned intense discussion, with incumbent and opposition politicians blaming each other for appearing “weak” and lessening Israel’s clout in the region. Some commentators have argued that the deal sets back Israel’s aim of building an Arab alliance against Iran and normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, key Netanyahu priorities . These questions come against the background of serious domestic disputes around a proposed overhaul of Israel’s judicial system – which opposition politicians have argued dimmed Israel’s regional focus. 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 a...

The Chinese sci-fi spectacle, The Wandering Earth II, is slowly turning into a global blockbuster. The film debuted to enthusiastic audiences in Egypt after getting similarly  positive responses  in other  African countries , including South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/14/chinese-blockbuster-wandering-earth-ii-extends-africa-release-with-premiere-in-egypt/

Given that China and the Mideast are two of the three primary obsessions among U.S.-based national security think tanks (Russia being the third, of course), it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that analysts reacted very fast with their assessment of Friday’s rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Atlantic Council was the first to respond (and the most prolific), publishing insights from 14 different analysts  within 24 hours of the deal’s announcement. But over the course of the weekend,  the debate shifted to Twitter , where it became almost impossible to keep up with the pace of commentary from scholars and analysts in the U.S. and around the world. 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 So...

While the bulk of the discussion in the news media and on Twitter about the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia focused on the magnitude of the deal — both in terms of the impact on Mideast politics and because of China’s surprise role as mediator — some commentators also urged everyone to step back, take a breath and reserve judgement. First, they noted that the deal was negotiated by Iranian and Saudi Arabian security officials, not the countries’ diplomats. This should prompt consideration as to whether key internal stakeholders on both sides are truly ready to put aside decades of mistrust. 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...

Publicly, the White House says it supports anything that “ de-escalates tensions ” in the Mideast. Privately, there’s probably a lot more teeth-gnashing going on in the corridors of the National Security Council (NSC.) This is because the deal gives China a huge diplomatic win while also bolstering Washington’s rivals in Tehran. The White House provided only a brief comment on the story late Friday when NSC Spokesperson John Kirby held a media briefing. That sparked a burst of coverage the following day, but by Sunday the story had been  overshadowed by the Silicon Valley Bank collapse . 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. M...

Conservative U.S. lawmakers and the right-wing media reacted strongly to the news that China had brokered a restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia on Friday, blaming President Joe Biden for what they say is more evidence of the administration’s failed foreign policy: TERRIBLE DEVELOPMENT :  “The end result is China is stronger, Iran is stronger. The United States and Israel are weaker and the Middle East is more vulnerable. This is a terrible development”  — John Ratcliff, Former Director of National Intelligence  (FOX NEWS) AMERICAN DECLINE: “ The U.S. was once the indispensable nation but President Biden’s often incompetent management of int’l affairs is undoing that. Biden let Communist China become the Middle East’s new power broker. This is what American decline under Biden looks like” — Bill Hagerty, Republican Senator from Tennessee  (@SENATORHAGERTY) WORLD #2 SUPERPOWER:  “A new world order, one where China is the...

Japan will upgrade its ties with the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN later this year to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” — joining both the United States and China at this level.  Tokyo is moving quickly to strengthen its ties in the region in response to heightened tensions with China and a desire to diversify critical manufacturing supply chains.  (KYODO NEWS) A PLA Navy warship along with at least 42 Chinese military vessels were spotted this weekend near a Philippine-occupied island in the South China Sea, further straining maritime ties between the two countries.  The Philippines Coast Guard called the Chinese naval presence near the island a “blatant violation of (its) territorial integrity.”  (REUTERS) 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 t...

China is sharply increasing its budget for diplomacy and influence-building around the world after three years of retreat from the world stage. The announcement of a 12.2% increase follows Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s recent comment that “Chinese diplomacy has pressed the accelerator button” in the wake of its post-pandemic shutdown. Allocations for diplomacy fell by 11.8% in 2020 before creeping up by 2.4% in 2022. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/09/china-announces-double-d...

China featured prominently in this week’s  U.S. House Armed Services Committee testimony  on U.S. national security challenges in North and South America. This follows an  annual threat assessment  by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,  which emphasized  cooperation between China and Russia.  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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/09/u-s-generals-warn-congress-about-chinas-growing-presence-in-the-americas/

Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan,  blamed China  for increasing tensions in East Asia.  Speaking with CNN , he framed regional military buildups and the strengthening of U.S.-centric blocs like  the Quad  (a defense-focused alliance between the U.S., Australia, Japan and India) as responses to Chinese aggression.  Beijing tends  to frame these as attempts at containment. Emanuel praised Japan for doubling its defense budget and said that countries respond to the U.S. because China doesn’t understand “the gravitational pull of freedom:” 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. Monthly $19/mo OR ...

Australia  should prepare  for a U.S.-China war within three years and should consider reinstating the draft and reintroducing nuclear weapons.  These were some of the talking points at a recent roundtable convened by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on national security challenges. 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More source https://chinaglobalsouth.com/2023/03/09/china-is-the-clear-and-present-danger-facing-australia-warn-security-analysts/

Qin Gang’s first press conference as foreign minister on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress now underway in Beijing will be remembered  for his warning to the United States that if Washington really wants to pick a fight with China, then that’s what they’ll get. But in between Qin’s various counterattacks against the U.S. on Tuesday , the new foreign minister also laid out several important new themes in Chinese policy that will shape Beijing’s engagement in developing regions: 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. Monthly $19/mo OR Yearly $199/yr (17% Savings) Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn ...