The China-Global South Podcast

China's rapid ascent from rural poverty to industrial superpower reshaped the global economy and established a new center of gravity for manufacturing. Today, Chinese factories anchor much of the world's supply chains, producing goods at a speed and scale that few countries can match. Behind this transformation is a system that author Dan Wang describes in his new book "Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future" as the "engineering state," a model defined by massive investments in infrastructure, strategic planning, and so-called "process knowledge" gleaned from the country's rapid industrial development. Now, more and more, the Chinese government touts this development model as an example for other countries in the Global South to emulate. Dan joins Eric to discuss whether the so-called "engineering state" is replicable elsewhere or if it's a uniquely Chinese phenomenon. CHAPTERS: • Setting the Stage – China's rise from rural poverty to industrial superpower • The Engineering State – How China builds, plans, and organizes at a massive scale • Roots of the Model – East Asian development traditions and Soviet legacies • Infrastructure as Strategy – High-speed rail, bridges, airports, and the costs behind them • Industrial Capacity – Manufacturing clusters, supply chains, and process knowledge • The Speed Advantage – Why Chinese firms move faster than global competitors • Tech Transfer Debates – Joint ventures, old IP, and myths about forced transfers • Subsidies and Support – What Chinese industrial subsidies do—and what they don't • Exporting the Model – Limits of replication in Africa, Asia, and the Global South • The China Price – How scale, logistics, and workforce learning lock in dominance • Internal Tensions – Debt, underused infrastructure, and diminishing returns • Shifting Priorities – Xi's push away from consumer tech and toward strategic industries • Global Backlash – Overcapacity, trade pushback, and rising protectionism • Future Crossroads – Why China's development engine is losing momentum • Lessons for the Global South – What countries can adapt—and what they must avoid JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH & SPANISH: French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

In this engaging discussion, James Kynge, a veteran Financial Times journalist and author of Global Tech Wars, explores China's manufacturing dominance. He emphasizes how China's ability to produce a $6 toaster underscores its vast industrial capacity, which challenges less developed countries seeking progress. Kynge elaborates on the unique advantages of industrial clusters like Shenzhen, the impact of cheap robotics, and the significant hurdles the Global South faces in competing against the 'China Price.' His insights reveal the complexities of global trade dynamics.

In this conversation, Greg Chin, a political science associate professor at Boston University, and Kevin Gallagher, the director of the Global Development Policy Center, explore China's evolution in global finance. They delve into China's transition from being a 'rules taker' within the Bretton Woods system to a 'rules maker' through institutions like the AIIB. The duo discusses the strategic motivations behind these changes, the implications for the Global South, and how China's approach to debt and green finance reshapes international norms and partnerships.

China sits at the heart of Indonesia's energy paradox — driving the country's ambitious shift toward renewables while remaining deeply entrenched in its coal economy. Chinese financing and technology are accelerating Indonesia's clean energy buildout, from nickel refining to electric vehicles and solar manufacturing. Yet the same Chinese firms are also behind large swathes of Indonesia's coal infrastructure, including off-grid plants that power the smelters fueling its industrial boom. Kevin Zongzhe Li, an affiliated researcher at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, explored this paradox in a recent report that also details how Jakarta is carefully positioning itself among the major powers to facilitate the transition to more sustainable energy supplies. SHOW NOTES: The Asia Society Policy Institute: Indonesia's Energy Transition: Exercising Strategic Agency in Partnership with China by Kevin Zongzhe Li JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @christiangeraud Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH & SPANISH: French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth

James Crabtree, a distinguished fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, dives into the shifting alliances in Asia under Trump’s erratic policies. He explores how China's economic downturn is met with growing confidence, while regional leaders grapple with waning U.S. security guarantees. Taiwan's uncertain standing, Vietnam's balancing act with tariffs, and India's pivot toward Europe highlight the complex geopolitical landscape. The discussion paints a vivid picture of a dynamic yet precarious Asian power narrative.

Francisco Urdinez, an expert on China–Latin America relations and assistant professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, discusses China's growing dominance in Latin America as the U.S. retreats. He describes how this shift creates new economic opportunities for the region while exploring China's strategic investments, such as the Chancay Port in Peru. Urdinez also highlights the impact of local actors in attracting Chinese capital and analyzes how public opinion and upcoming elections in Latin America shape views on China and the U.S.

Brian Wong, an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong and expert on global governance, joins the discussion on China’s ambitious Global Governance Initiative (GGI). He dives into how China frames the GGI as a solution to U.S. dominance while promoting multilateralism. Wong also reveals the vagueness of these initiatives, which strategically opens political doors for China. The conversation explores economic motivations behind the GGI and China's necessity to reassure its neighbors amidst rising tensions, illustrating a complex interplay of diplomacy and development.

Professor Jabin Jacob, an expert in China-India relations, shares insights into the complexities of India and China's improving yet fragile ties. He discusses historical tensions, especially the heavily militarized border dispute, and how China's evolving narratives around maps and names complicate negotiations. Jacob emphasizes that past attempts at resetting relations have often faltered due to deep-seated distrust. He also highlights the differing development trajectories of both nations, shaping their perceptions and political dynamics in South Asia.

Tulio Cariello, Director of Content and Research at the Brazil-China Business Council, reveals the explosive growth of Chinese investment in Brazil, with a stunning 113% increase in just one year. He discusses how these investments span crucial sectors like renewable energy, mining, and manufacturing. As China shifts its focus from the U.S. and seeks strategic partnerships, Cariello explains the importance of localized negotiations and Brazil's emerging role as a gateway for Chinese companies in Latin America.

The reset between India and China appears to be holding. Nearly two weeks after President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, five years of frigid ties between the two Asian powers are steadily thawing. However, it will take more than summits and statements to rebuild trust, particularly among Indian policymakers who remain wary of China's close ties with Pakistan and Beijing's broader ambitions across South Asia. Constantino Xavier, a senior fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress in New Delhi and co-author of an in-depth report on Chinese engagement in South Asia, joins Eric to discuss how Modi aims to balance ties with China, the U.S. and Russia while preserving India's legendary non-alignment strategy. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth