Episode 17: Chinese lending and debt-trap diplomacy

Nicholas Crawford, Research Associate for Conflict, Security and Development, joins Dr Kori Schake for this episode of Sounds Strategic.Nicholas and Kori discuss China’s lending to African states, touching on the IMF’s recently approved bailout package for the Republic of Congo and its implications. With a research focus on conflict and development, Nicholas is perfectly placed to explore China’s actions across the developing world within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. He debunks the idea that China engages in debt-trap diplomacy and deliberately lends money with the goal of trapping other countries, highlighting the economic and political risks that China faces in this situation. With debt levels rising in many countries across the world, Nicholas advocates for greater transparency from China in order to help provide more effective debt relief.

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