China's Global Role

Green Shoots in Berkeley and Beijing

Grace Mang
Grace Mang In the past three months, I've set up temporary homes in Beijing, Sydney and San Francisco, all for for my new post with International Rivers: in Beijing to polish my Chinese; to spend some time saying goodbye to family in Sydney, Australia; and finally to settle into the coldest summer in 40 years in San Francisco. I do hope the recent upheaval has prepared me well for my new post here at International Rivers as the China Global Program Coordinator. Peter Bosshard and I recently finished up a trip to Beijing, China where we met with many of our partner organizations, shared

Ecological Destruction? ICBC Loan for an Africa Water Project Draws Controversy

Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Originally published in China Business News (Unofficial translation by International Rivers) "I have a savings card issued by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). I certainly do not want that the money in my account be used for the destruction of environment." Dr. Peter Bosshard held up a savings card and was slightly agitated. Mr. Bosshard is the policy director of the environmental group, International Rivers. Recently, it was said that ICBC has agreed to a US$400 million loan for Ethiopia's Gibe 3 Dam project. Some environmental groups believe that this project

China’s Influence on Global Dam Standards: A Race to the Bottom?

The temporary camp for Merowe Dam affected people.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
From June 2010 World Rivers Review In 1999, a Sudanese government delegation traveled around the world to raise funds for the planned Merowe Dam on the Nile. It returned home empty-handed. Export credit agencies from France, Canada and other countries turned the project down because of serious concerns over its human rights impacts. Their caution was a sign of the times. Throughout the 1990s, funding for large dams dwindled over environmental and human rights concerns. The temporary camp for Merowe Dam affected people. A rude awakening soon followed. Chinese companies gained the know-how

Smartening up Global Infrastructure

John Briscoe, one of the most vocal proponents of aggressive global dam building, argues that the World Bank should take a book from China’s page and step up its support for large hydropower projects. China Dialogue, the Chinese-English internet platform which published John’s commentary, asked me for a response to this opinion piece. In my response, I argue that dams are an outdated technology, and that a smarter approach to energy development is possible – in China and internationally. Here is my commentary for China Dialogue. Investment in agriculture, infrastructure and industri

China’s Biggest Bank to Support Africa’s Most Destructive Dam

Thursday, May 13, 2010
China’s Biggest Bank to Support Africa’s Most Destructive Dam Ethiopia’s Gibe 3 Dam is one of the most destructive hydropower projects being built today. If completed, it would destroy fragile ecosystems on which 500,000 poor indigenous people depend for their survival. A worldwide civil society campaign has held international financial institutions at bay for several years. Yesterday, however, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) offered to step in with a $500 million loan. If the loan is confirmed, China’s biggest bank will become responsible for a massive social and e

The Real Story of China in Africa

Christopher Herwig If we believe the news headlines, China is propping up dictators, dispensing billions of dollars for shady deals, and destroying whole ecosystems in its quest to extract oil and minerals from Africa. Beijing’s scramble for Africa will establish a new era of resource colonialism, and intensify corruption, human rights abuses and economic dependence on the continent. The Dragon’s Gift, a new book by Deborah Brautigam, looks behind this media hype. It offers surprising insights and challenges us to take a new look at Africa’s development. In 1978, an emerging powerh

Eyewitness Account: China’s Dam Builders Go Global

China counts half of the world’s large dams within its borders, and is the biggest producer of hydropower. Throughout the 20th century, Western companies helped China build up its hydropower capacity. Yet in the huge Ertan and Three Gorges projects of the 1990s, China changed the rules of the game. Companies interested in the multi-billion dollar contracts had to manufacture half the turbines and generators on Chinese soil, in cooperation with Chinese partners. The leading hydropower firms of the time - including ABB, Alstom, General Electric and Siemens - complied, and transferred their

Quality issues pose threat to Sinohydro's global ambitions

Thursday, February 11, 2010
Originally published in the South China Morning Post It may have helped build the monumental Three Gorges Dam, but Sinohydro Group's attempt to engineer a successful A-share listing is proving an equally tough task. The engineering giant hopes the initial public offering in Shanghai - that could be one of the biggest share sales in the world - will establish it as a global brand. But holding back those ambitions is international criticism of its environmental and safety record as well as serious management problems. Its parent firm - where President Hu Jintao worked in the 1960s and 1970s -

China’s Dam Builders Go Global: an Eyewitness Account

Construction work on China's Kamchay Dam in Cambodia
Construction work on China's Kamchay Dam in Cambodia Marcus Rhinelander China counts half of the world’s large dams within its borders, and is the biggest producer of hydropower. Throughout the 20th century, Western companies helped China build up its hydropower capacity. Yet in the huge Ertan and Three Gorges projects of the 1990s, China changed the rules of the game. Companies interested in the multi-billion dollar contracts had to manufacture half the turbines and generators on Chinese soil, in cooperation with Chinese partners. The leading hydropower firms of the time – including ABB

White Cats, Black Cats and China’s Foreign Aid

“I don’t care if a cat is white or black so long as it catches mice,” China’s former leader Deng Xiaoping famously commented on the role of ideology in economic development. In line with this credo, China offers foreign aid with no political strings attached. The only exception is that recipient governments must accept the One-China policy, i.e. may not recognize Taiwan. “Business is business. We try to separate politics from business”, China’s Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed in 2004.   After the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund tied their loans to the pri

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