https://www.scmp.com/rss/322939/feed Charles R. Stith is chairman of the Pula Group, a US-based company that invests in Africa. He is the non-executive chair of the Johannesburg-based African Presidential Leadership Centre, and served as the US envoy to Tanzania in the aftermath of the embassy bombing by al-Qaeda. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com When I am on the road, it’s not unusual for me to fall asleep with the television on. A few days ago, in the early hours, I awoke to a CNN “Breaking News” story. The lead was “secret documents reveal China mishandled the early stages of the pandemic.” This was almost one year to the day from when the first case of Covid-19 was identified. Enough already. US President Donald Trump has already tried blaming China for the pandemic and the chaos that followed. That dog did not hunt then and it will... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3113625/why-trump-blaming-china-coronavirus-pandemic-waste-time-and-energy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3113625/why-trump-blaming-china-coronavirus-pandemic-waste-time-and-energy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Dec 2020 17:15:10 +0000 It has often been said that in war, truth is the first casualty. Whether it’s because of America’s trade war with China or America’s war with itself, in the war against the coronavirus, truth has, at least, been severely wounded. One of the ugly truths that has got short shrift is the extent to which US paranoia towards China has helped feed the panic and the pandemic. On January 30, the World Health Organisation declared a global health emergency over the spread of the coronavirus. Within hours... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3081025/us-paranoia-about-china-misplaced-and-its-now-impeding-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3081025/us-paranoia-about-china-misplaced-and-its-now-impeding-global?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:00:13 +0000 While data about the coronavirus’ impact on Africa has been slow to emerge, African leaders are stepping up to play their part in the global effort to battle the outbreak. Algeria, Morocco, Djibouti, and Kenya have ordered sweeping travel restrictions and quarantine measures. Some countries, like Tanzania, are taking a more measured approach. Among the most dramatic (and worrying) steps taken have been those by the Rwandan and South African governments. They have ordered lockdowns of 14 and 21... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3077737/africa-economic-shutdown-may-devastate-more-lives-coronavirus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3077737/africa-economic-shutdown-may-devastate-more-lives-coronavirus?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2020 01:00:12 +0000 It seems light years ago that Donald and Melania Trump were dancing the inaugural night away to I Did It My Way. Given his unorthodox presidential campaign, no song seemed more fitting. But, in the almost 200 crazy days since then, it is the opening line of his signature dance tune – “and now, the end is near” – that seems downright providential. With the stench of Russian involvement in the 2016 election looming large over his presidency, it does indeed seem that Trump’s days in The White House... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2101317/three-reasons-why-trump-soap-opera-good-world-and-will-ring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2101317/three-reasons-why-trump-soap-opera-good-world-and-will-ring?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jul 2017 04:11:10 +0000 Over the past couple of months, I’ve been on a road trip that has taken me to the Middle East, Africa, and now Asia. Everywhere I have gone, people want to talk about the upcoming US presidential election. Everyone everywhere has, at least, the same two questions: How did Donald Trump wind up as the presumptive Republican nominee? And, can he win? Given some of Trump’s outlandish statements about building walls, barring Muslims and trade rape by China, the concern is well placed. Specific to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1985554/next-us-president-must-choose-engage-china-not-try-contain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1985554/next-us-president-must-choose-engage-china-not-try-contain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Jul 2016 05:30:45 +0000