The Maldives Owes China $1.4B For Infrastructure Loans | Dec. 20, 2018, 9:18 a.m.

Under former president Abdulla Yameen, the Maldives took substantial loans from Beijing for infrastructure projects. $850 million of a $1.4 Chinese loan is expected to be drawn by year end as Beijing advances its projects in the country, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

China’s Expanding Presence in Southeast Europe | Dec. 19, 2018, 10:31 a.m.

China, Japan Vie For Philippines' LNG Terminal | Dec. 18, 2018, 9:15 a.m.

Tokyo Gas and China National Offshore Oil Corporation both partnered with Filipino companies to compete for the building of the Philippines' first liquefied natural gas terminal. Though Japan and China's leaders agreed to jointly advance third-country infrastructure projects, companies have not been able to shift from competition to collaboration in the field, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

China Prioritizes Construction Over Investment | Dec. 17, 2018, 9:16 a.m.

Data shows that between 2014 and 2017, the cumulative value of construction contracts has been 50 percent higher for Belt and Road projects, at $230 billion, than for unrelated deals, which amounted to $148 billion, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Infrastructure Competition in PNG | Dec. 12, 2018, 11:12 a.m.

China and the West have been vying for infrastructure projects in Bougainville, an autonomous region in Papua New Guinea, in an escalating battle for influence in the South Pacific, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

India Boosts Subway Network | Dec. 6, 2018, 9:19 a.m.

Indian cities are vastly expanding their subway networks to reduce road congestion and gasoline consumption. The Delhi Metro is expected to reach 378 kilometers of track this year, catching up with New York--the world's fourth-largest subway system.

The World, Built by China | Nov. 26, 2018, 2:19 p.m.

China envisions a vast global network of trade, investment, and infrastructure that will bring the world closer to Beijing. To better understand how China's vision is playing out on the ground, The New York Times examined nearly 600 Chinese-financed projects and the driving forces behind them, citing data from the Reconnecting Asia Project.

China To Invest In Philippine Rail And Dam | Nov. 20, 2018, 9:13 a.m.

China agreed to fund the $365 million Kaliwa dam and take part in the $3.3 billion southern Luzon railway project in the Philippines. A memorandum of understanding on oil and gas exploration was also signed between the two countries.

Why Did China Refuse To Bail Out Pakistan? | Nov. 19, 2018, 11 a.m.

Pakistan faces a financial crisis and has secured a bailout package from Saudi Arabia, but surprisingly, it has yet to secure a similar package from China. Pakistan expected a decent bailout package from China, which is often called Pakistan’s all-weather friend, but China likely wants more detailed negotiations. Five reasons help explain China’s surprising response.

US, China Vie for the Philippines | Nov. 19, 2018, 9:48 a.m.

China and the Philippines are expected to sign billions of dollars worth of Belt and Road deals on Tuesday, as the United States and the Philippines move forward on key issues including free trade talks, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

China and Russia’s Awkward Romance | Nov. 19, 2018, 9:16 a.m.

Washington’s shortsightedness is pushing its own competitors—the world's largest nuclear power and the second-largest economy—closer together.

Indonesia: Elections Could Spur China Rail Review | Nov. 16, 2018, 9:25 a.m.

Indonesia's vice presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno said on Tuesday that the government will review the Chinese-led construction of a high-speed rail line connecting Jakarta and the city of Bandung, if the opposition wins Indonesia's presidential election next year.

How the U.S. Is Countering China's Global Push | Nov. 15, 2018, 11:33 a.m.

Five years into China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative, the United States is trying to respond to Xi Jinping’s infrastructure-building spree. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Reconnecting Asia Director Jonathan Hillman discusses the craving for more alternatives to Chinese offers and the window of opportunity it creates for the United States.

Report to Congress: Recommendations on Belt and Road | Nov. 15, 2018, 11:11 a.m.

On November 14, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a body created by Congress to monitor and investigate national security and trade issues between the United States and China, published its 2018 Annual Report. Reconnecting Asia’s data and analysis are used to help discern China’s objectives for the Belt and Road Initiative and to highlight potential challenges and opportunities for the United States.

Pence To Unveil US Infrastructure Plan | Nov. 15, 2018, 10:42 a.m.

On his trip to Asia, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will play up Washington's efforts to boost infrastructure investment in the region at a time when China is doing the same with its Belt and Road Initiative, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

China Railway Joins Bid for Thai HSR | Nov. 13, 2018, 9:49 a.m.

China Railway Construction will join a consortium led by Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group) to bid for the construction of Thailand's $7 billion high-speed railway project that will link three major airports.

Linking the Eurasian Economic Union and China’s Belt and Road | Nov. 9, 2018, 11:20 a.m.

A milestone agreement on trade and economic cooperation signed in May 2018 represents an important step forward for the relationship between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Australia Reveals $1.5B Pacific Infrastructure Fund | Nov. 8, 2018, 9:05 a.m.

Australia will set up a $1.46 billion infrastructure fund for projects in the Pacific as the country looks to curb China's rising influence across the strategically important islands, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

China To Develop Supersonic Trains | Nov. 7, 2018, 9:39 a.m.

Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group signed an agreement with China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) to jointly develop "supersonic" trains in the country with a maximum speed of 620 mph.

Driving China’s Silk Road Economic Belt | Nov. 5, 2018, 10:09 a.m.

China's Belt and Road is commonly visualized as a train carrying commerce across Eurasia. But a train does not adequately capture BRI’s significance or scope. Instead, a Chinese flag is a better representation. Whether it is China’s intention or not, the increasing connectivity the BRI brings comes hand in hand with exposure to Chinese culture.

China To Build Large Offshore Wind Project | Nov. 5, 2018, 9:13 a.m.

China is starting to build its largest offshore wind-power facility in the latest move in an accelerating shift in Asia away from solar to wind and other renewable energy sources.

Laos To Build More Hydropower | Nov. 2, 2018, 9:10 a.m.

Laos is accepting more Chinese loans to build 50 hydropower dams by 2025 and is increasing its external debt, half of which is owed to China.

Pakistan To Renegotiate CPEC | Nov. 1, 2018, 9:09 a.m.

As he heads for a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan is reportedly planning to renegotiate CPEC and to make it align more with Pakistan's interests, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

It's a (Debt) Trap! | Oct. 29, 2018, 3:31 p.m.

When it was launched, China heralded its Belt and Road Initiative as a “golden opportunity” to revitalize the region, but today it has raised serious concerns about debt sustainability, drawing scrutiny from the IMF. One way for Beijing to demonstrate its commitment to addressing the IMF's concerns is by partnering to develop more sustainable and transparent lending practices.

Xi, Abe to Cooperate on Infrastructure | Oct. 29, 2018, 9:13 a.m.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to accelerate cooperation on overseas infrastructure projects and finance as a symbol of their revamped ties.

Japan To Partner With China | Oct. 24, 2018, 9:17 a.m.

Japan plans to stop offering development aid to China after nearly 40 years, seeking instead to establish a framework for the two countries to cooperate as equal partners on infrastructure and other projects in developing countries.

World's Longest Sea Bridge To Open | Oct. 23, 2018, 9:27 a.m.

The world's longest sea-crossing bridge, connecting mainland China and Macau with Hong Kong, is set to open on Wednesday, giving Chinese President Xi Jinping a centerpiece for his vision of a "Greater Bay Area" economic zone, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Japan To Expand Cheap Infrastructure Loans | Oct. 19, 2018, 9:54 a.m.

Japan drafted a plan to offer greater assistance for infrastructure development overseas ahead of a key summit with China next week, as it prepares to pursue joint projects with Beijing in third countries, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Hong Kong HSR Falls Short | Oct. 16, 2018, 10:11 a.m.

A recently opened express railway between Hong Kong and mainland China has drastically cut travel times, but has experienced less demand in commuters and tourists as initially anticipated, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Pakistan Pursues IMF Support | Oct. 12, 2018, 9:29 a.m.

Pakistan has formally asked the International Monetary Fund for financial assistance amid pressure to meet external debt obligations, reports the Nikkei Asian Review. IMF help will require absolute transparency on the nature, size, and terms of the country's debt, including its BRI investment from China.

Traveling 60,000 KM Across China’s Belt and Road | Oct. 11, 2018, 8:53 a.m.

The China Road Project, a team of researchers interested in China’s role in global development, will be traveling 60,000 kilometers over land and sea to investigate China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI), a foreign policy concept and global infrastructure plan announced by Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, to help close the information gap and shine a light on the multi-trillion dollar initiative.

BRI Investment Hits High | Oct. 9, 2018, 9:17 a.m.

Chinese capital flowing into the Belt and Road Initiative projects surged to a record $20.1 billion in 2017, even as the country's overall outbound foreign direct investment fell. That record will likely be beaten again this year, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

U.S. $60B Response to BRI | Oct. 5, 2018, 9:35 a.m.

With the approval of Congress, the U.S. moves forward with a $60 billion investment fund to boost foreign development funding. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, this is an effort to counter China's expanding influence under the BRI.

US Votes To Overhaul Overseas Infrastructure | Oct. 4, 2018, 10:02 a.m.

The U.S. Senate passed legislation overhauling the way the federal government lends money for foreign development, creating a $60 billion agency intended largely to respond to China's growing influence, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

China's Belt and Road at Five | Oct. 3, 2018, 9:49 a.m.

Five years ago, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a trillion-dollar plan that aims to connect more than 70 countries via an overland “belt” and a maritime “road.” On October 1, the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project hosted a half-day conference examining China’s BRI, including the challenges, risks, and opportunities it poses for the United States.

New Asian Leaders Question BRI | Oct. 1, 2018, 8:33 a.m.

Newly elected Asian leaders from the Maldives, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka question the "business sense" of some Chinese-funded infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, casting doubt on Beijing's strategy for building regional influence.

Myanmar, China Renegotiate BRI Port | Sept. 28, 2018, 9:17 a.m.

Myanmar and China renegotiated a BRI contract for the construction of Kyaukpyu deep-sea port, reducing Myanmar's financial burden. Construction will not proceed before certain demand conditions are met, according to the Nikkei Asian Review

Japan’s Nippon Express Launches China-Europe Train Service | Sept. 27, 2018, 11:02 a.m.

Japan’s Nippon Express will begin offering regular freight train shipping between China and Europe in February, as China’s Belt and Road Initiative accelerates the transfer of goods between the two markets, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

China, Japan Start Infrastructure Effort | Sept. 26, 2018, 9:24 a.m.

China and Japan announced plans to sign dozens of agreements on infrastructure and other projects when Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe visits China next month.

Special Report: China's Belt and Road Initiative | Sept. 26, 2018, 8:44 a.m.

Although Beijing insists that its Belt and Road Initiative has no geopolitical motives, the project has been at the center of an increasing number of political controversies, foreign and domestic, writes the Financial Times in a Special Report, citing analyses from the Reconnecting Asia Project.

Experts React | Sept. 25, 2018, 9:45 a.m.

Five years after the announcement of China's Belt and Road, the ambitious drive to build new infrastructure across Eurasia has produced a mixed track record on key issues such as its energy footprint, debt sustainability, and environmental impact.

Nepal Restores $2.5B Deal with Chinese Company | Sept. 24, 2018, 9:16 a.m.

Nepal's new government has restored a $2.5 billion deal with China Guangzhou Corporation to build the nation's largest hydroelectric power plant. This is part of prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli's strategy to use Chinese investment to improve Nepal's infrastructure, writes the Nikkei Asian Review.

Belt & Road Bolsters China’s Technological Clout | Sept. 24, 2018, 9:10 a.m.

As demand for network bandwidth grows among Belt and Road countries, China will exert its technological dominance and set global standards through centrally-coordinated fiber-optic roll-outs, the establishment of data centers, and the deployment of communications, positioning, and observation satellites.

EU Plans Asia Infrastructure Push | Sept. 21, 2018, 9:21 a.m.

The European Commission has announced "The European Way to Connectivity," a proposal aimed at boosting Europe's infrastructure links with Asia.

China's Cosco Acquires Taiwanese Ports | Sept. 17, 2018, 9:17 a.m.

View All Analysis | Sept. 17, 2018, 8:57 a.m.

Browse our analysis section for news and articles on topics such as China's Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR), the Competing Visions of Japan, India, and other regional powers, and the stakes for U.S. policy.

BRI Becomes Unclear | Sept. 14, 2018, 9:15 a.m.

Chinese infrastructure funding is as likely to go outside of Beijing's six defined economic corridors as it is to go in them; indicating a possible lapse of control from the central government. This could present opportunities for its partners and competitors, writes Jonathan Hillman in the Nikkei Asian Review.

China's Belt and Roller Coaster | Sept. 14, 2018, 8:47 a.m.

Five years ago, President Xi Jinping unveiled the Belt and Road Initiative, a vast investment scheme cloaked in the rhetoric of cooperation that was designed to pave the way for China's transition to great power status. Instead, it has become a roller coaster that Beijing is struggling to control.

Xi, Abe to Talk Infrastructure at Summit | Sept. 13, 2018, 11:50 a.m.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia this week. Both leaders decided to further pursue collaboration on infrastructure projects during Abe’s visit to Beijing next month, the first bilateral visit by a Japanese Prime Minister to China since 2011.

BRI to Link With EAEU | Sept. 12, 2018, 10:37 a.m.

Following their meeting at the 2018 Eastern Economic Forum, Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin affirmed their intention to link China's Belt and Road Initiative with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.