The China-Global South Podcast

Dan Ford, a Quincy Institute researcher who studies DFC projects, and Karthik Shankaran, a geoeconomics fellow at Quincy, discuss the DFC’s reauthorization and why framing it as a tool to beat China is risky. They cover the Lobito Corridor, limits of development finance against Belt and Road, shifting congressional mandates, and where the DFC could better focus such as energy, critical minerals, and supply chains.

Christoph Nedopil, director at the Griffith Asia Institute and acting director at Fudan's Green Finance and Development Center, led the 2025 BRI data analysis. He discusses the surprising 2025 surge in Belt and Road engagements. He highlights Africa's rebound, a boom in energy projects both fossil and renewable, the rising role of Chinese private firms, and how geopolitics and trade policy shaped these moves.

Mandakini D. Surie, a development consultant with decades of South Asia experience, and Sagar Prasai, an advisor on regional geopolitics, discuss how small South Asian states respond to shifting great-power rivalry. They cover declining U.S. influence, China's expanding economic reach, strategic hedging between India and China, infrastructure competition, and the rise of mini-lateral cooperation among vulnerable states.

Judd Devermont, former White House Africa strategist turned Kupanda Capital partner and CSIS advisor. He discusses U.S. retrenchment in Africa, China’s shrinking but shifting finance, the diplomatic damage from recent U.S. policy moves, and why African leaders view China as opportunity. Short-term aid cuts vs long-term partnership and new U.S. strategies are also debated.

In this engaging discussion, Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, unpacks the implications of Mark Carney's bold declaration about a global rupture in the order. She highlights how China is navigating its role as a potential peer to the U.S. without provoking conflict. Liu also delves into China's strategies for reshaping global norms, the myths surrounding the debt-trap narrative, and the struggle for credibility in the Global South. Her insights provide a compelling view of China's evolving landscape in a post-American world.

William (Bill) Figuera, an assistant professor and leading China–Iran scholar, dives into the complexities of China's foreign policy regarding Iran and Venezuela. He contrasts China's muted response to Iranian unrest with its vocal opposition to U.S. actions in Venezuela. Bill highlights the serious nature of recent protests in Iran, economic disparities in the China–Iran relationship, and debunks myths around the supposed $400 billion partnership. He also discusses China's cautious military stance and its preference for diplomatic influence over direct intervention.

In this special bonus episode, Eric speaks with Kaiser Kuo, host of the popular Sinica Podcast, about China's response to the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Many U.S. and European analysts have framed Maduro's downfall as a "setback" or even an "embarrassment" for Beijing, but while that may be true, Eric argues that it's also premature to make such declarations less than a week after Maduro's downfall. After all, U.S.-led military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya all started well but ended up being very costly failures for Washington. 📌 Topics covered include: China's reaction to Maduro's detention Why "China setback" claims may be premature Beijing's messaging vs. Chinese social media Why Venezuela ≠ Taiwan China's economic exposure in Venezuela The rise and fall of oil-backed loans What "all-weather partnership" really means Panama Canal risks for China Limits of U.S. hemispheric leverage China's Latin America knowledge gap Beijing's coup-response playbook Military lessons—and misreadings Instability as a threat to China's trade model What signals to watch next 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 Spanish: French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas Join us 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

Alonso Illueca, a Latin America and Caribbean analyst specializing in China–Latin America relations, discusses the implications of Nicolás Maduro's detention for China's role in the region. He examines whether this setback is a significant failure for Beijing or a manageable shock. Topics include China's economic ties with Venezuela, recent electoral challenges to Chinese influence in Latin America, and the long-term geopolitical landscape. Illueca also highlights the complexities of U.S.-China rivalry and the enduring commercial connections that hinder rapid decoupling from China.

In this special year-end edition of The China-Global South Podcast, Eric, Cobus, and Géraud look back on the top stories of 2025 and look ahead to the key trend to watch in 2026. 📌 Topics covered include: Simandou goes online (Guinea) and the iron ore geopolitics shift Zambia's Kafue River spill and the China narrative battle China's manufacturing push, overcapacity, and export pressures Soybeans and South America's growing leverage in U.S.–China trade China–India détente and what it changes (and doesn't) G20 turbulence around South Africa and global governance fractures 2026 outlook: Southeast Asia rivalry, Zimbabwe lithium value-add, Senegal hidden debt Show Notes: The Financial Times: The American company seeking to counter China in Africa by David Pilling and Leslie Hook Foreign Policy: China's Appetite for Rosewood Is Causing Chaos in Africa by Joshua Eisenman and Caroline Costello Environmental Investigation Agency: New Report Finds That Home Depot Sold Illegally Sourced Tropical Wood for Years Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @stadenesque | @christiangeraud Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish: French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas Join us 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

Jane Perlez, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former Beijing bureau chief for The New York Times, delves into the intense U.S.-China rivalry that is shaping the Global South. She discusses the personalities of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, revealing how their leadership styles influence relations. China’s foreign aid strategy, the frustrations of its Gen Z, and the challenges faced by journalists cover critical dimensions of this conflict. Perlez also highlights important trends in tech competition and China's growing influence in the Pacific.