BRICS Meeting, China- and Russia-Friendly Peace Activists, Bootleg “Barbie,” Aesopian Language, Prigozhin
What We’re Reading, Hearing and Watching -- August 24, 2023
BRICS Summit, a Big Deal for China
Chinese state media and state-affiliated commentators have given a great deal of attention to the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa this week. BRICS is a grouping of states including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Before the opening of the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived a day early and paid a state visit to South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa. On the eve of the visit, South Africa media published an article authored by Xi, entitled “Sailing the Giant Ship of China-South Africa: Friendship and Cooperation Toward Greater Success.” It was rare to see a signed article by Xi published in foreign media. In the article, Xi described China and South Africa as having “brotherly sentiments” toward each other. The relationship between the two countries “has achieved leapfrog development – from a partnership to a strategic partnership, and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership.” (Note: Russia is the…
