Description: Chinese diplomats pressured official representatives from two African countries to cancel their participation in an International Parliamentary Group critical of China. China’s diplomacy has started pushing the envelope on international pressure to gain influence and establish dominance in critical regions and areas of interest on the African continent. The US’ unilateral withdrawal from most international organizations fueled a power vacuum which China would use to forward their regional interests. Recent examples are the Malawi and Gambia’s withdrawal from the Inter – Parliamentary Alliance on China over pressure related with Chinese soft power influence on the African continent. The African continent has always been a significant area of interest due to its mineral riches and oil potential, goods which fuel the economy and secure geopolitical prevalence. The Chinese diplomatic lobby coerces groups of interest worldwide to spread negative influence on Taiwan’s self-proclaimed independence and forward Chinese interests on the global stage.
Impact: The US withdrawal from critical organizations such as the WHO and the closure of programs such as USAID enables China to aggressively approach global areas and countries of interest. China has been present in Africa for decades mostly through state – owned companies, financed by state – owned banks in infrastructure development projects, which subtly allowed the country to infiltrate highest levels of government in a wide porfolio of African countries. This trend would continue with Russia also joining the fold as they also have vested interests in Western and Central African regions. The US’ conservative and protectionist foreign policy in the long term could cripple their global influential and operational outreach, which could disintegrate key strategic alliances in important regions and countries of interest.