Advertisement

China is facing more overseas security risks in year of elections, report says

  • With more than 60 countries heading to the polls – including the US, Russia and India – expect a ‘new phase in the geopolitical game’
  • Researchers from Chinese think tank analysed Beijing’s relationships with hundreds of countries, as well as their ties with Washington

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
3
This year’s election calendar is packed, with more than 60 countries heading to the ballot box. Photo: Shutterstock Images
China could face more uncertainty and challenges in safeguarding its overseas interests this year, as more than 60 countries head to the polls in 2024, according to a Chinese think tank.

With elections to be held in countries including the United States, Russia and India, it “will usher in a new phase in the geopolitical game”, Renmin University’s China Overseas Security Research Institute (COSRI) said in its latest report.

The report, which was released on Wednesday, analyses China’s relationships with 193 countries – 60 of them with elections coming up – and their ties with the US.

It notes that countries such as Togo and Rwanda in Africa, and Tajikistan in Central Asia, could see a transition of power after decades under their current leaders.

The researchers named 29 countries – including the US, India, Ukraine, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe – as “extremely high” overseas security risks for China.

Some 63 nations were considered “high” risk, including Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and Myanmar.

The risk was “moderate” in Thailand, France, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and another 70 countries, while Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and 24 other nations were in the “low” risk category.

Qi Kai, secretary general of COSRI, told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday that these assessments were based on the countries’ bilateral ties with both China and the US, as well as election forecasts and their participation in Beijing’s global investment and infrastructure scheme, the Belt and Road Initiative.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2-3x faster
1.1x
220 WPM
Slow
Normal
Fast
1.1x