The Real Geopolitics Behind China's Belt And Road Initiative

What is the Real Geopolitics Behind China's belt and road initiative ?

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) remains an important point in recent geopolitics. The initiative was launched in 2013. It's announced aims are to enhance connectivity and infrastructure development across Asia, Africa, and Europe, through trade routes, infrastructure projects, and economic partnerships. But here we will analyse the real nature of the initiative.

Let's first understand what is the meaning of Belt and Road in BRI: Belt is short for the "Silk Road Economic Belt", referring to the proposed overland routes for road and rail transportation through landlocked Central Asia along the historical trade routes. whereas "road" is short for the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road", referring to the maritime trade route as Indo-Pacific sea routes through Southeast Asia to Indian Ocean to reach middle East and Africa.

Now, let's understand the hidden motive of China behind BRI.

The real geopolitics Behind China's Belt and Road Initiative :

Geopolitical Influence: The BRI is China's hidden strategy to extend its economic, diplomatic, political and military influence globally, especially in regions which are strategic geopolitically. Through the BRI, China seeks to increase its presence in strategic locations to shape global economic and geopolitical dynamics in its favour. Let's understand how:

Debt Diplomacy : One of the significant point of the BRI is the concept of "debt diplomacy." Critics argue that China's loans for infrastructure projects are leading to debt traps for recipient countries, potentially compromising their sovereignty and allowing China to exert undue influence. Recently Sri Lankan crisis is an example. Next it is trapping Maldives in Indian Ocean.

Control Over Strategic Infrastructure: The BRI involves the development of crucial infrastructure, including ports, railways, roads, and energy projects. These infrastructure investments not only facilitate trade but also enhance China's strategic presence in key regions, such as the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and Central Asia which also can be used in case of  a war. String of Pearls is an example.

Geopolitical Responses: The BRI has sparked geopolitical responses from various countries and international organisations. Some countries view the initiative as an opportunity for economic development and cooperation, while others express concerns about its geopolitical implications and potential for creating dependency on China.

BRI Sucking world resources: It is not only the trade route but a route to suck world resources to china, example like 'China Pakistan Economic Corridor 'BRI is not only the trade route but also the energy and military route.

China's BRI don't respect sovereignty of other countries. Again for example China - Pakistan Economic Corridor is passing through POK which is an Indian territory. Therefore, it also not respecting the international laws. In South China sea also it is violating the UNCLOS (The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).

It is not a multilateral project. The BRI is not a multilateral agreement but the agreement is signed between other countries and China. China singlely is a party on one side, so it raises concerns. 

Geopolitical Challenges:  Obviously the BRI has to face geopolitical challenges, including political instability, security risks, cultural differences, and regulatory hurdles in participating member countries. These challenges will affect the implementation of BRI initiative as its debt trap strategy opening out to the member countries.

Conclusion: China's 'Belt and Road' initiative is a multi-edged strategy to fullfill it's energy demand, to enhance its economic development,  provides access to geographically strategic locations, control over critical infrastructures on the route. So it is economic, energy and military route. It's  debt trap tool to exploit countries diplomatically to gain geopolitically.