China-Global South Project
U.S. center-left, independent non-profit
Background
The China-Global South Project began in 2010 as a part-time 'nights and weekends' passion project by journalist Eric Olander and media scholar Dr. Cobus van Staden, then called The China Africa Project. For its first nine years it operated informally before the founders went full-time in August 2019 and incorporated the organization as a U.S. 501(c)3 non-profit. It subsequently broadened its scope beyond Africa to cover Chinese engagement across Asia and other developing regions, and rebranded to its current name. Funding comes from foundations including the Ford Foundation and Hewlett Foundation, as well as subscription revenue from individuals and institutions; it explicitly rejects government and corporate funding. Media Bias/Fact Check rates it Left-Center with High factual reporting and High credibility, noting it uses credible sources such as The Washington Post and The Economist. The outlet frequently publishes analysis critical of China's lending practices, debt diplomacy, and influence operations in the Global South, while also criticizing U.S. policies — particularly under the Trump administration — that it argues create openings for Chinese influence. Coverage since January 2025 has focused heavily on how Trump's executive orders, cuts to foreign aid, and withdrawal from multilateral bodies benefit China strategically in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Sources
- About CGSP - The China-Global South Project
- FAQs – The China-Global South Project
- China Global South Project - Bias and Credibility - Media Bias/Fact Check
- The China-Global South Project – Hewlett Foundation Grant
- The China-Global South Project – Ford Foundation Grant
- Trump's Executive Orders, China, and the Global South - The China-Global South Project
Profile compiled 2026-07-25; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.