Chinese Online Outrage Over $80 Billion Zambia River Suit

2 Oct 2025 · 1 h 01 min · S16 E63

Episode Chinese Online Outrage Over $80 Billion Zambia River Suit

0:00 1:01:02

More than six months after 50,000 liters of toxic water from a Chinese-run mining site spilled into Zambia's Kafue River, there's still no resolution to what's become a massive environmental crisis.

The government is siding with the company, Sino-Metals, while local farmers and activists remain unsatisfied with the response and have launched multiple lawsuits, including one seeking $80 billion in damages (more than twice the entire size of the Zambian economy).

That's sparked outrage on Chinese social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo, where commentators are fuming over what they perceive as blatant extortion of a Chinese company.

Eric, Cobus, and Géraud are joined this week by CGSP's Critical Minerals Editor, Obert Bore, to discuss the latest in the Kafue River situation and why Chinese social media is reacting so angrily.

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