Gwadar Port City Criticized | March 2, 2020, 9:32 a.m.

The Gwadar Smart Port City Masterplan, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has attracted criticism due to lack of transparency and aims that some experts call unrealistic. The plan estimates over 2000 percent population growth by 2050 and will require more than $648 million for basic infrastructure alone, Nikkei reports.

View All Analysis | Feb. 27, 2020, 10:31 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.

Coronavirus Halts BRI in Pakistan | Feb. 3, 2020, 9:29 a.m.

Fears of the new coronavirus spreading to Pakistan have delayed projects along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Lahore and South Punjab, including work on the Orange Line Metro Train, Nikkei reports.

Pakistan Seeks Iran, Saudi Involvement in CPEC | Nov. 25, 2019, 9:28 a.m.

In in effort to make the costly China-Pakistan Economic Corridor profitable, Islamabad is encouraging nearby countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia to participate in the initiative alongside China, Nikkei reports.

China Seeks Afghan Participation in BRI | Oct. 28, 2019, 9:17 a.m.

Starting today in Beijing, China will begin brokering peace talks among rival Afghan factions in hopes of increasing stability in the region and furthering the reach of its Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia, Nikkei reports.

Pakistan PM Backs CPEC in Beijing | Oct. 7, 2019, 9:46 a.m.

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, is due to speak at a high profile China-Pakistan business forum on Tuesday where he is expected to reaffirm his country's openness to Chinese investment. His two-day visit to Beijing comes amid uncertainty over the future of projects under the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Nikkei reports.

China Attempts to Accelerate CPEC | Sept. 17, 2019, 10:18 a.m.

A Chinese delegation was in Balochistan, Pakistan early in September, attempting to speed up progress on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, which have moved slowly due to governmental and local criticism in Pakistan, Nikkei reports.

Pakistan Slows BRI Projects | Sept. 9, 2019, 9:42 a.m.

Pakistan's policymakers have cited financial pressures and the need to balance ties between China and the U.S. as the reasons behind slow progress on The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Nikkei reports.

Pakistan Fast-tracks BRI Projects | Aug. 20, 2019, 10:21 a.m.

The government of Pakistan has announced plans to set up a new body, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority, to expedite projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative, Nikkei reports.

Bailing Out China's Belt and Road | Aug. 19, 2019, 10:33 a.m.

This spring, when the International Monetary Fund approved a $6 billion bailout for Pakistan, an invaluable opportunity was missed to push for greater transparency of China’s Belt and Road Initiative by not requiring project contracts for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor—a significant source of Pakistan’s debt—to be made public.

Xi Touts BRI Nuclear Energy | Aug. 2, 2019, 12:27 p.m.

The China National Nuclear Corp. finished structural work for the Hualong One nuclear reactor in the Pakistani city of Karachi this June. Chinese President Xi Jinping hopes to install similar nuclear technology at more locations along the Belt and Road Initiative, with 30 units by 2030, which is estimated to create 5 million jobs and provide a total economic boost of $145 billion, Nikkei reports.

Can CPEC Meet Pakistan’s Development Goals? | July 11, 2019, 9:13 a.m.

Supporters of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have long argued that the initiative would spur development and improve Pakistan’s macroeconomic fortunes. As Pakistan faces its thirteenth IMF bailout in the last thirty years, it is clear that without serious reforms, the debt incurred to fund CPEC could do more economic harm than good.

Pakistan Slashes BRI Funding | June 18, 2019, 9:10 a.m.

Pakistan will slash spending on BRI projects in the next year as the government struggles to balance its finances. These budget cuts arrive amid growing recognition from Beijing of the complications involved with Pakistan and other nations incurring heavy debt to finance BRI projects, reports Nikkei.

Pakistan Faces Domestic BRI Concerns | April 2, 2019, 9:09 a.m.

Pakistan's prime minister, Imran Khan, visited southern Balochistan province last week following Balochistan's claims that the province was not getting a significant share of the Beijing-funded $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. During his visit to Balochistan, Khan inaugurated several construction projects seen as crucial for the local economy, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Islamabad Distances Itself from BRI | March 20, 2019, 10:22 a.m.

Pakistan has diverted around $171.6 million meant for joint infrastructure development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship effort under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), into other construction plans. This signals that Islamabad may be distancing itself from Beijing and the BRI, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Beijing-Backed Coal Projects Raise Concerns in Pakistan | Feb. 13, 2019, 9:31 a.m.

Weeks after a meeting of government officials from Beijing and Islamabad, the environmental impact of China-led coal-fired power generation projects in Pakistan is still a hot topic of debate. Lack of disclosure on plans associated with $62 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which forms a crucial part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, is spurring local environmental concerns.

Pakistan Disappointed by China Bailout | Feb. 11, 2019, 9:31 a.m.

China's $2.5 billion offer to bailout Pakistan as its foreign exchange reserves dry up disappointed Islamabad, which reportedly sought $6 billion from Beijing. Pakistan's balance of payments crisis could threaten the $62 billion Beijing has invested in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, reports Nikkei.

China Wary of Saudi Refinery at Gwadar | Jan. 29, 2019, 9:15 a.m.

Saudi Arabia plans to build Pakistan's largest oil refinery near Gwadar port, the flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The oil refinery, part of Saudi Arabia's new commitment to invest $15 billion in Pakistan over the next three years, could fuel competition with Beijing for economic leverage given China's significant investment there under CPEC, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Saudi Arabia Funds $10B Pakistan Refinery | Jan. 15, 2019, 9:15 a.m.

Saudi Arabia plans to set up a $10 billion oil refinery at Pakistan's Chinese-funded Gwadar port, according to a statement given by the Saudi energy minister. Pakistan's petroleum minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, has said that the project will make Saudi Arabia an important partner in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Pakistan Dam Draws Scrutiny | Jan. 11, 2019, 9:19 a.m.

The government of Pakistan awarded a $2.21 billion contract to build the Mohmand dam to a consortium of China Gezhouba and Descon—the latter founded by Abdul Razak Dawood, the prime minister's adviser on commerce and industry. The conflict of interest has drawn scrutiny from the government's leading opposition party which has called for an investigation of the project's procurement process.

Pakistan Asks China for CPEC Shift | Jan. 4, 2019, 9:26 a.m.

Pakistan is asking China to shift its investment focus from power and infrastructure projects to industrialization, agriculture, and education as regards the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Road Is Full of Holes | Sept. 5, 2018, 9:30 a.m.

Five years since it was announced, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has yet to materialize on the ground as promised. According to Chinese officials, the BRI includes six economic corridors that will carry goods, people, and data across the Eurasian supercontinent. But a statistical analysis of 173 infrastructure projects finds that Chinese investment is just as likely to go outside those corridors as within them.

Pakistan Weighs Help from IMF or China | Aug. 9, 2018, 10 a.m.

Pakistan's new prime minister Imran Khan is deciding whether the country should turn to the International Monetary Fund or to China for financial support. The new administration must resolve its shortage of foreign exchange reserves caused by a sharp increase in imports through BRI-related projects and the redemption of external debt.

China's BRI Stirs Up Anxieties | July 24, 2018, 9:42 a.m.

Rather than being roundly welcomed, China's Belt and Road investment and finance decisions have become cause for concern for some receiving states, according to the Nikkei Asian Review..

Mapping the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s Environmental Impacts | June 29, 2018, 9:46 a.m.

Energy projects account for more than 60 percent of the roughly $62 billion in investment along the China-Pakistan Economic Corrdior. While CPEC's power plants have the potential to greatly increase access to electricity for Pakistan’s population, they could also pose serious risks to surrounding wildlife.

In Pakistan, Tax Amnesty to Aid CPEC | May 8, 2018, 9:55 a.m.

Pakistan is offering an ambitious tax amnesty program which it hopes will help the country borrow $60 billion from China and commercial sources for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Is China's Belt and Road Working? | March 28, 2018, 9:29 a.m.

A special report by Nikkei Asian Review and The Banker which leverages data from the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project has found that China's Belt and Road initiative holds considerable promise for countries in need of infrastructure investment along its route, however, participation has been hampered by challenges ranging from a lack of participation by local workers and banks to unmanageable debt hangovers.

The Return of Marco Polo's World | March 12, 2018, 9 a.m.

As Europe disappears, Asia coheres. The supercontinent is becoming one fluid, comprehensible unit of trade and conflict, as the Westphalian system of states weakens and older, imperial legacies – Russian, Chinese, Iranian, Turkish – become paramount.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Three Years Later | Feb. 12, 2018, 1:25 p.m.

Nearly three years into CPEC, a number of projects have moved forward at breakneck speed, yet costs remain high and political rivalries still threaten to derail progress.

18 Projects to Watch in 2018 | Dec. 22, 2017, 9:21 a.m.

Reconnecting Asia is tracking developments across a vast landmass that includes 60 percent of the global economy. Every day, new infrastructure projects are announced, some are advanced, and others encounter obstacles. Here is a selection of the top projects to watch in 2018.

Many Belts and Many Roads | Oct. 11, 2017, 9:55 a.m.

Quotes and Quotas is a weekly digest of powerful phrases and facts that help explain Asia’s infrastructure push.

Mapping the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor | Oct. 4, 2017, 9 a.m.

This analysis evaluates the proximity of Pakistan's population to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor's highway network.

Modi Draws Business to Balance China | June 21, 2017, 10:12 a.m.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hopes to balance against Chinese influence in the region with his "Make in India" campaign by drawing private sector involvement and increased competition.

China’s Strategic Gateway to the Indian Ocean | May 24, 2017, 9:30 a.m.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor may have a great effect in Pakistan and on Pakistan-China relations, but it does not address issues of connectivity in South Asia.

Mishandled China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Could Misfire | April 14, 2017, 9:25 a.m.

Since it was launched two years ago, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has sparked praise, skepticism, and even violence, resulting in widespread confusion about what’s driving this $55 billion energy and infrastructure effort, and how it will impact the region.

Experts Hold Competing Views on CPEC | April 6, 2017, 9:04 a.m.

Experts Hold Competing Views on CPEC Outlook | March 27, 2017, 8:54 a.m.

Gilgit Baltistan | March 3, 2017, 9 a.m.

Gilgit-Baltistan has a rich history of connections to the Ancient Silk Road. Today the region once again finds itself at the intersection of a new Silk Road being paved by China, despite geographic and political challenges.

India "Acts East" through Regional Connectivity | Feb. 22, 2017, 9:03 a.m.

17 Projects to Watch in 2017 | Dec. 21, 2016, 9 a.m.

A selection of the top projects we’re watching this year.

Mapping CPEC’s Risky Terrain | Dec. 14, 2016, 12:09 a.m.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) traverses some of the world’s most dangerous terrain. Terrorist attacks have declined in Pakistan, but insecurity remains a major risk for ambitious projects.

China in Europe | Nov. 23, 2016, 9:03 a.m.

What is new about China's Belt and Road is that it is more likely to succeed outside of Eurasia, leading to new opportunities but also unexpected challenges for Europe and the United States.

Vaporware in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor | Nov. 21, 2016, 5:16 p.m.

CPEC may have a parallel outside the infrastructure space. In the computer industry, vaporware is a term used to describe a product or piece of software that is announced but never completed.