The China-Global South Podcast

Eram Ashraf, a UK-based scholar on China-Pakistani relations and author, discusses the evolving ties between China and Pakistan against a backdrop of geopolitical shifts. She delves into Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visits and the implications for regional stability. Ashraf highlights the challenges of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, shifting dynamics in Sino-Pak economic relations, and tensions involving India. Her insights shed light on the intricate balance of power in South Asia and the role of gender issues in these geopolitical discussions.

In this engaging discussion, Bill Figueroa, an expert on Iran-China relations and assistant professor at the University of Groningen, sheds light on the complexities of the partnership between China and Iran. He explains why China is adopting a hands-off approach, offering moral support and purchasing oil, while staying clear of military commitments. The conversation also touches on unmet expectations regarding a significant $400 billion deal and China's strategic focus on stability in the Middle East, balancing its interests with regional dynamics.

Christoph Nedopil, Director at Griffith Asia Institute and expert in green finance, joins the discussion to unveil a surprising resurgence in Belt and Road investments, defying expectations. Private Chinese firms are ramping up efforts in energy, mining, and construction, achieving a record $123 billion in engagements. The conversation highlights a dramatic shift towards mega deals, innovative financing strategies, and China's proactive stance in global investment, particularly in Africa and renewable sectors, signaling a new era of ambitious infrastructural expansion.

Khang Vu, a Vietnamese political scientist and visiting scholar at Boston College, dismantles the notion that Vietnam will join a U.S. coalition against China. He highlights Vietnam’s preference for national security over economic ties with the U.S., amid ongoing trade negotiations and tariffs. The discussion emphasizes Vietnam's diplomatic balancing act, its historical mistrust of China, and exciting shifts in its global relations with countries like Russia, India, Japan, and South Korea, showcasing a more independent foreign policy approach.

There was widespread disappointment in Iran that China didn't do more to help Tehran during the recent 12-day war with Israel and the United States. Beijing, for its part, offered robust rhetorical and moral support, but little else. The calculus for Chinese policymakers is that Iran just isn't as strategically important to its foreign policy as other countries in the region, namely Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Jonathan Fulton, an associate professor at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi and a leading expert on Sino-Persian Gulf relations, joins Eric to discuss his new book that explains China's rapidly expanding portfolio of interests in the region and why Iran, in particular, is not among Beijing's top priorities. SHOW NOTES: Amazon.com: Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China's Middle East Math by Jonathan Fulton China-MENA Newsletter: The myth of China's leverage in Iran by Jonathan Fulton Bloomberg: Israel Urges China to Pressure Iran to Rein In Nuclear Ambitions 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 AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat 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

Gedaliah Afterman, head of the Asia-Israel Policy Program at the Abba Eban Institute and a noted Israeli China scholar, dives into the intricate relationship between China and Israel in the aftermath of the Iran war. He discusses China's diplomatic positions and ambitions as a regional mediator, alongside the evolving dynamics that could foster closer connections. The conversation highlights the complexities of economic ties, regional stability initiatives, and how global power shifts influence these bilateral relations.

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 the Middle East have been neutralized, at least for now. The conflict also exposed a major Chinese vulnerability following threats that Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the attacks on its nuclear facilities. This would be devastating for the Chinese economy, given that between a third and half of all Chinese oil imports pass through this strategic waterway. Ahmed Aboudouh, head of the China research unit at the Emirates Policy Center and an associate fellow in the Chatham House Middle East and North Africa program, joins Eric & Cobus to discuss the new realities facing Beijing in the aftermath of the war in Iran. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat 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 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.  But the approach taken by these middle power countries varies a lot. A new report by the Körber Foundation in Germany surveyed foreign policy experts from India, Brazil, and South Africa, revealed sharp divergences in how these countries view the global order, the roles of China and the U.S., and the future of multilateral institutions. Eric & Cobus speak with two of the report’s contributors, Manjeet Kripalani in Mumbai and Carlos Coelho in Rio de Janeiro, about how countries like India and Brazil are navigating this increasingly contested world. JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social FOLLOW CGSP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com | @SinSharqAwsat 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

Parsifal D'Sola Alvarado, a longtime China analyst and founder of the Andres Bello Foundation, sheds light on Latin America's precarious position between U.S. and Chinese influences. He discusses Colombia's shift towards China under its leftist president and Brazil’s strategic engagement amidst geopolitical tensions. The conversation explores the historical context of U.S.-China rivalry in the region and the critical need for enhanced understanding of China’s role in the Global South, underlining the challenges and opportunities this presents for Latin American countries.

Jorge Heine, a former Chilean ambassador and research professor at Boston University, discusses strategies for developing nations in the U.S.-China rivalry. He explores 'active non-alignment' as a means for countries like South Africa and those in Latin America to prioritize their own interests without being beholden to either superpower. The conversation delves into Angola's strategic diversification of partnerships and emphasizes the significance of collective action among middle powers amid global tensions.