The First Tranche

All Blog Posts

Chasing copper and cobalt: China’s mining operations in Peru and the DRC As Beijing employs a global playbook to secure access to transition minerals, two countries of focus for its development finance portfolio have emerged: Peru and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lea Thome, Katherine Walsh, Jacqueline Zimmerman, and Brooke Escobar
2025-02-27

Chasing copper and cobalt: China’s mining operations in Peru and the DRC

As Beijing employs a global playbook to secure access to transition minerals, two countries of focus for its development finance portfolio have emerged: Peru and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A truck transports mined goods along a road. Photo by Parilov/Adobe Stock, used under the Standard license.
China’s global scanner dissemination Billions of people and goods travel every year through scanners at customs checkpoints. Where has China provided this scanner equipment—and what are the security implications? Lea Thome
2025-02-20

China’s global scanner dissemination

Billions of people and goods travel every year through scanners at customs checkpoints. Where has China provided this scanner equipment—and what are the security implications?

A customs officer seals the doors of a container after inspections. Photo by Andri/Adobe Stock, used under the Standard license.
AidData and Rappler data journalism course explores China’s influence on global development The training equipped practicing journalists with critical tools for analyzing economic and financial data to uncover trends in foreign funding to the Philippines. Alex Wooley and Sethu Nguna
2025-02-06

AidData and Rappler data journalism course explores China’s influence on global development

The training equipped practicing journalists with critical tools for analyzing economic and financial data to uncover trends in foreign funding to the Philippines.

Attendees of an AidData and Rappler data journalism bootcamp work during a session. Photo by Sethu Nguna/AidData, used with permission.
New AidData report, dataset track China’s investments in critical minerals It’s the first systematic attempt to understand Beijing’s strategy to control key segments of the global supply chain for transition minerals. Alex Wooley
2025-01-28

New AidData report, dataset track China’s investments in critical minerals

It’s the first systematic attempt to understand Beijing’s strategy to control key segments of the global supply chain for transition minerals.

Faceted silvery-red cuprite, a copper oxide, is embedded on pale blue-green chrysocolla, a minor copper ore. These minerals are from Kolwezi, the mining capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the site of significant Chinese investment. Photo by Mineral Vision via Adobe Stock, used under the Standard license.
How does Beijing use information and public diplomacy to win the narrative? AidData shared insights from our research at a recent meeting of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. Samantha Custer
2025-01-23

How does Beijing use information and public diplomacy to win the narrative?

AidData shared insights from our research at a recent meeting of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry is interviewed by Xinhua news at their Beijing studio on July 19, 2016. Photo by WIPO/Samar Shamoon via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO.
Decoding the message: Uncovering Beijing’s media strategies in the Philippines Marco Antonio Luisito V. Sardillo III, Timothy Joseph G. Henares, Alec Julian A. Templonuevo, Isabel Sofia C. Santiago
2025-01-17

Decoding the message: Uncovering Beijing’s media strategies in the Philippines

As Latin America shifts toward China, AidData research examines Beijing’s growing influence A new AidData policy brief sheds light on China’s state-directed engagements in Honduras and neighboring countries. Jonathan A. Solis
2025-01-13

As Latin America shifts toward China, AidData research examines Beijing’s growing influence

A new AidData policy brief sheds light on China’s state-directed engagements in Honduras and neighboring countries.

Chinese yuan and Honduran lempira are shown together. Photo by Rochu_2008 via Adobe Stock, used under the Standard license.
Mapping China’s COVID-19 aid footprint What does China’s billion-dollar campaign tell us about future pandemic diplomacy? Sailor Miao
2024-12-19

Mapping China’s COVID-19 aid footprint

What does China’s billion-dollar campaign tell us about future pandemic diplomacy?

A health worker prepares a syringe with the Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac vaccine at the Ospital ng Malabon (Hospital of Malabon) in the Philippines. Photo by Lisa Marie David/IMF via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Chancay port opens as China’s gateway to South America Peru’s new megaport is poised to transform global trade—but China’s portfolio stretches far beyond the port. Lea Thome
2024-11-14

Chancay port opens as China’s gateway to South America

Peru’s new megaport is poised to transform global trade—but China’s portfolio stretches far beyond the port.

Chancay megaport in Peru while under construction. Photo by rjankovsky via Adobe Stock, used under the Standard license.
Workshop series explores Chinese investments and media in Philippines Researchers from AidData and Asia Society Philippines shared findings, new dashboard with hundreds of participants. Isabel Sofia Santiago, Bryan Burgess
2024-10-28

Workshop series explores Chinese investments and media in Philippines

Researchers from AidData and Asia Society Philippines shared findings, new dashboard with hundreds of participants.

A workshop participant uses the AidData dashboard to track and analyze Chinese development finance and relationships in the Philippines over time, by sector, and geography. Photo by Glimpse, commissioned by Asia Society Philippines, used here with permission.
Innovative research aims to revolutionize deforestation compliance in coffee production A groundbreaking study evaluates digital tools for EUDR compliance in coffee supply chains. Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA)
2024-10-03

Innovative research aims to revolutionize deforestation compliance in coffee production

A groundbreaking study evaluates digital tools for EUDR compliance in coffee supply chains.

Ubaldo Trochez stands in his irrigated coffee field in Honduras. The EU has passed new deforestation regulations that coffee growers, including small-scale producers like Ubaldo, will need to follow to export their coffee to the EU. Photo by USAID via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
AidData and Rappler to provide data journalism training in the Philippines Apply by October 5th to reserve a spot Alex Wooley
2024-09-24

AidData and Rappler to provide data journalism training in the Philippines

Apply by October 5th to reserve a spot

Rappler's 3rd cycle of journalism fellowships for community journalists, student/campus journalists, and Southeast Asian journalists