Alex Colville is a freelance journalist whose work has featured in The Financial Times, The Economist, and Foreign Policy Magazine, among others. He won a SOPA Award for his work with The World of Chinese in Beijing.
Seeing its oil draining away, Trinidad is seeking to become a logistics hub for international trade, capitalizing on its position between Latin America and the Panama Canal. So, naturally, China was one of its go-tos.
Since establishing ties in 1974, China has dealt with only two Gabonese leaders: Omar Bongo and his son Ali. But a recent coup has suddenly created uncertainty, including over plans for an Atlantic military port that China has long wanted.
Guatemala’s newly elected president, Bernardo Arévalo, has said he will “continue working with both” Chinas. He’s had talks with Taiwan about how to advance their diplomatic relationship, but also has said he’d like to expand trade relations with the P.R.C.
Zimbabwe is one of only 14 countries China considers an "all-weather friend." Former president Robert Mugabe went further, describing China in 2006 as “our second home…a part of us.”
The Philippines is one of the most vocal states protesting China’s claims to the South China Sea — a sore point in what would otherwise be a prosperous relationship.
China says it hopes Niger can find a "political resolution" to its coup. After all, there is business to be done, with whichever Nigerien government comes out on top.
Solomon Islands switched its diplomatic relations to Beijing from Taipei in 2019. The two countries have signed numerous deals since then, including a recent controversial policing pact, but overall, things could be better.
Kuwait was the first Gulf state to recognize the People’s Republic of China, and has maintained a healthy economic relationship with the country ever since.
For Chile, China is a bigger destination of exports than the next five countries combined. For China, Chilean resources are crucial in sustaining its solar panel, wind turbine, and EV output. But prosperous partnerships aren’t always trusting ones.
Zambia represents one of the People's Republic of China's earliest success stories in Africa. The relationship is one that Chinese leaders past and present have tried to cultivate.