Chinese leader Xi Jinping is embarking on a three-day state visit to South Africa, with the aim of strengthening Beijing’s influence among developing and emerging nations. This trip comes as ties with the United States remain strained and China faces economic troubles at home. It is only Xi’s second international trip this year, a significant contrast to his pre-pandemic days of extensive diplomacy.
Xi’s last international visit was in March when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. During this meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their strategic alignment against the US and expressed their vision for a new world order that is not dominated by the West. Xi sees the upcoming BRICS summit as another opportunity to advance this vision.
The BRICS grouping, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, represents more than 40% of the global population. These countries share a desire for a more multipolar world and a greater say in global affairs. Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London, explains that Xi’s long-term goal is to change the world order into a Sino-centric one. To support this ambition, China engages with the Global South, which is more numerous and mostly authoritarian in governance structure.
China’s ambassador to South Africa, Chen Xiaodong, describes BRICS as an important platform for cooperation among emerging and developing nations and the backbone of international fairness and justice. He believes that the traditional global governance system is out of order and the international community looks forward to BRICS playing a leading role.
Xi’s visit to South Africa comes shortly after US President Joe Biden met with the leaders of Japan and South Korea to show solidarity against rising threats from China. The summit saw the US and its allies deepen military and economic cooperation while criticizing China’s behavior in the South China Sea. With the intensifying rivalry between China and the US, the BRICS summit holds greater strategic relevance for Beijing.
Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, explains that Xi will be the center of the BRICS summit since Putin will not be attending in person. Putin, who faces an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, will participate via video from Russia. Nantulya sees BRICS as another multilateral platform through which China can exert influence, especially in the Global South.
However, Xi’s visit to South Africa comes at a challenging time as he grapples with domestic challenges. China’s anticipated economic rebound from the COVID-19 lockdowns is faltering, and the country is facing a spiraling property crisis, mounting local government debt, and worsening deflationary pressure. The youth unemployment rate has reached record highs, prompting the Chinese government to suspend its release.
Overall, Xi’s visit to South Africa and the BRICS summit provide an opportunity for China to strengthen its influence among developing and emerging nations, as it seeks to reshape the world order in its favor.
How does China’s engagement in Africa and other developing nations contribute to its aim of counterbalancing Western powers’ influence?
Tarian in nature, in order to gather support and counterbalance the influence of Western powers.
South Africa, as the only African member of BRICS, holds a strategic position for China’s plans. During his visit, Xi is expected to meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and other top officials to discuss trade, investment, and political cooperation. China is South Africa’s largest trading partner, and the two countries have deep economic ties. However, China’s economic troubles, including a slowing economy and rising debt levels, have raised concerns about the sustainability of this partnership.
On the international stage, Xi aims to showcase China’s leadership and influence among developing nations. China has been actively providing aid and investments to countries in Africa and other parts of the Global South, positioning itself as a reliable partner. This approach has allowed China to gain support and expand its influence in international organizations such as the United Nations. Xi’s visit to South Africa is part of his broader strategy to strengthen ties with emerging nations and promote China’s vision of a new world order.
While Xi focuses on expanding China’s influence globally, tensions with the United States continue to strain relations. The trade war between the two countries, along with issues related to human rights, technology, and security, has created a challenging environment for bilateral ties. The recent deterioration of relations between China and the US has fueled Xi’s motivation to strengthen ties with other countries, particularly those in the Global South. By forming alliances and partnerships with developing nations, China hopes to counterbalance the influence of Western powers and reshape the global order in its favor.
Overall, Xi’s visit to South Africa serves as a symbol of China’s ambition to strengthen ties with emerging and developing nations. As China faces economic challenges and strained relations with the United States, Xi sees the opportunity to promote his vision for a new world order and expand China’s influence. Through engagements with countries like South Africa, China aims to gather support and reshape the global order in a way that aligns with its own interests.
It’s interesting to see how world leaders are seeking new alliances amidst changing global dynamics.