Link to article: https://english.news.cn/20260911/4d6642e6b91146c1b6c307ce8cb5876b/c.html
The article looks at China wanting to strengthen cooperation among countries in the Global South by using organizations such as BRICS and the SCO to do so. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the SCO summit in Bishkek and was preparing to attend the BRICS gathering in New Delhi. The article explains that China wants BRICS and the SCO to focus more on development, trade, investment, energy, technology and reducing poverty. President Xi Jinping also promoted initiatives like the Global Development Initiative. These initiatives aim to support development and training programs in impoverished countries that are in desperate need of infrastructure. The article also talks about giving Global South countries a greater voice in the world stage. In fact, China argues that in the status quo, global affairs is being controlled by only a few powerful countries.
China wanting to strengthen the Global South is important because looking at the global stage, it could change the balance of power in international politics. If countries in the Global South work together through organization like BRICS and the SCO, they can bring together a powerful collective voice that when major global issues happen they have a say in it. China themselves recognize that in order to have a powerful voice on the global stage, they need to compete with countries such as the US and countries in the UN. So, they are using their economic power and technological advancements to strengthen relationships in the Global South. What this does is that is will give the developing countries opportunities for investment. However, since it is China that is investing into these countries there could also be a shift in the Global South that would make them more independent of the Western hemisphere increasing China’s influence.
If China continues to strengthen BRICS and the SCO, these organization will increase their membership and cooperation. China will most likely continue to leverage their economic power to promote investment within the region. Other Global South countries will capitalize on the opportunity. However, since this increases Chinese influence, western powers will respond by strengthening their own relationships with developing countries. Long term, I believe the Chinese will have their influence imbedded in the Global South causing polarized ideologies in the East Asia, Global South and the Western powers. If western powers don’t want that to happen, they themselves will invest in these countries and they will also give them a more powerful voice on the global stage considering their interests.
The article connect to what we have talked about in class about IGOs.BRICS and the SCO bring multiple countries together to cooperate on economic, political, and security issues. it also shows how states use IGOs to increase their influence and create global relations.