China And South Africa Relations From The Perspective Of Brics

China and South Africa relations have grown exponentially since the first establishment of official relations in the post apartheid era. In recent years the intensification of relations based on the rhetoric of south-south cooperation has seen the upgrading of a "strategic partnership" to further refined "comprehensive strategic partnership". South Africa’s ascension into BRICS was strongly influenced by the insistence of China, due to improved bilateral relations and respective mutual strategic benefits. The BRICS dimension has provided China and South Africa relations with extra partners in propagating common stances in the international arena. When South Africa served its second tenure on the UN Security Council, its aspirations for putting the interests of Africa first was largely respected and supported by China and other BRICS states. Though South Africa’s credentials and legitimacy in the BRICS grouping has been widely contended, despite being a smaller economic player globally, its inclusion presents a geopolitical advantage for the group.However, South Africa’s smaller economic clout becomes glaringly noticeable in the BRICS efforts to reform international financial institutions, though South Africa supports the principle and actions geared to reforms in the IMF and World Bank, despite the recent shift in quota shares to emerging BRICS economies, South Africa benefits the least in individual gain on these terms due to the smaller size of its economy which translates to very limited impact in these institutions. Thus cohesion with BRICS partners who are slowly gaining in this aspect will prove to be a peripheral benefit for South Africa, in addition to the BRICS effort in improving trade, economic and financial cooperation through the establishment of the BRICS trade liaison contact group and the stock exchange alliance.This study has carefully examined both rhetoric and actions of the BRICS group since the official inclusion of all five members in April2011, with particular focus on South Africa and South Africa’s relationship with China in this context. China’s invitation for South Africa’s inclusion into the BRICS, and the future benefits the Chinese government foresee by including South Africa are discussed at length. BRICS having emerged from an investment banking acronym to a political forum at summit level and thereby prompted discourse on what the implications of a multi-regional emerging power grouping may have in the global arena. This study also examined the significance of BRICS as a formation which has influenced a revisit to the theoretical conjecture of increasing multi-polarity in the international system, what is clearly stemming from the composition of BRICS in the context of the global arena is that the world is no longer structured around clear cut north-south divides as it was during the period of the nonaligned movement’s inception.The composition and divides of equality and power within the global south itself has further complicated and diluted into a diverse asymmetrical pattern with rising states grasping greater economic influence while still being considered members of the global south. BRICS is indicative of the sub divide of states emerging at the forefront of the developing world with considerable economic and political clout challenging western led agenda and assuming leadership and representation for the broader global south. The group has thus far demonstrated persistence in attaining a leveled and equal right in the share of international decision making whether that be over peace and security issues or on international financial and economic issues.The infancy and novelty of the grouping is characterized by a lack of formal structure, however member states have demonstrated a relative degree of commitment to the forum by arranging BRICS meetings of ministers and other relevant officials in congruence with major international summits and within international organizations. The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa has proved to be very crucial in their relationship with fellow BRICS states and other countries in the international system. With all BRICS states on the UN Security Council for the year2011, a relative degree of cooperation and coalesce was demonstrated by the stance taking by the five countries on matters related to the Arab Spring, the narrative and actions were largely backed by arguing the need to respect sovereignty and protect territorial integrity of the states involved.The sovereignty argument is both the theory and principle which BRICS have used to counter proposals drafted by developed states in the UN. In an ever interdependent and interconnected world, the rising and emerging BRICS states are using this grouping as a fulcrum for asserting their independence and position on relevant issues of concern to their national interests. Therefore BRICS states, democracies included, have a propensity to diverge from the vision of Western countries to support the principle of sovereignty above all.BRICS as an emerging market economies have the collective concern of a post crisis instability affecting their respective potential for growth in the world economy, the BRICS states have also show a level of commitment in strategizing around areas of mutual interest, through the pivot of the G20major economies with regards to the reform of international financial institutions with particular attention being weighted on the IMF due to the instability of the international monetary system. The overall intent of reforms was to rebalance quotas so the emerging BRICS markets are yielded increased representation in these organizations. Additionally the group has begun several initiatives outside of international structures to facilitate economic cooperation within the grouping as a means to ensure economic growth by expanding opportunities with fellow emerging economies. The setting up of a common currency plan and BRICS stock exchange alliance are a case in point of efforts to circumvent the possible pitfalls of dollar and euro uncertainty in the aftermath of the2008-2009global economic downturns.BRICS’s is commonly criticized for its lack of formal structure and permanent secretariat, however the current amorphous nature of BRICS allows for a certain amicability in the working group, where underlying tensions are not directly tapped into which could create impediments in cooperation.Though greater definition in agenda and plan of action is crucial to the future effectiveness of BRICS, overly stringent definition of structure similar to that of replicating an institution may not be the most pragmatic or beneficial course of action. As a loose working group allows the coalition of countries to navigate around collective and individual issues that could as a means of tactfully avoiding tensions in the international community. The unity and efficacy of groupings hit roadblocks when individual state interests are threatened, thus aspirational overreach needs to be guarded against.This study finally examined China and South Africa relations and the impact of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and how it has influenced further cooperation between the other BRICS states.