China Bolsters Ties with Zambia, Asserts Global Leadership Amidst U.S. Pressure
China deepens its relationship with Zambia, elevating it to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as part of its efforts to boost ties with the Global South and solidify its global leadership position. This follows recent agreements with Cambodia and Venezuela, highlighting China's growing influence in various regions. Despite concerns over high debt levels resulting from China's investments, the country aims to shape a system aligned with its interests and gain more international support. China's diplomatic efforts are geared towards establishing itself as a leader of the Global South and projecting its power in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
China strengthens its ties with Zambia, upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. This move is part of China's broader efforts to forge deeper ties with the Global South and position itself as a global leader amidst growing pressure from the U.S. and its partners.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Zambian counterpart announced the agreement following Xi's meeting with the new prime minister of Cambodia. This flurry of diplomatic activity comes just days after Xi elevated China's ties with Venezuela to an "all-weather partnership", a relationship granted to only a handful of nations.
The trio of leaders from Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America exemplify China's growing role in these regions and its ambitions to be a global leader. China aims to shape a system that aligns with its interests and recognizes its status as a great power, and to achieve this, it seeks to enhance its ability to influence global discourse by garnering more international support.
Last month, the five BRICS member countries agreed to invite several nations to join in what would become an 11-nation bloc, further solidifying China's influence in the Global South. China also named a new ambassador to Afghanistan, gaining international recognition from the Taliban government.
China's investments in the developing world, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative, have led to access to natural resources and diplomatic support from many Global South countries.
However, these development loans have also resulted in high debt levels for countries like Zambia and Cambodia, potentially stymying economic development. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet's visit to China comes amidst disapproval from the U.S. over the expansion of a Cambodian naval facility with Chinese assistance.
China, however, denies having been granted the right to set up its own military base at the Ream Naval Base. China's diplomacy, under President Xi, has undergone significant change. While its long-term goal is to become the number one global power, its near-term goal is to establish itself as the leader of the Global South.
China strengthens its ties with countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, it aims to project itself as a powerful nation standing up for the interests of the Global South.