SE Asia Draws BRI Investment | Aug. 22, 2019, 11:03 a.m.

Southeast Asia is proving to be a hotbed for China's Belt and Road Initiative according to two new reports, with Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Vietnam topping the list of countries with the most contracts and investment out of an estimated $11 billion in the region overall in the first half of 2019, 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.

BRI Overtakes Trans-Siberian Rail | Aug. 19, 2019, 9:29 a.m.

The China Railway Express, part of the Belt and Road Initiative, has replaced the Trans-Siberian Railway as the main rail network connecting Asia and Europe.

Live Route: China-Russia Border Expedition | Aug. 16, 2019, 2:58 p.m.

In August, Ankur Shah and Vivek Pisharody departed on a 4,300km expedition along the China-Russia border to explore the regional impacts of China's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure initiative, the Belt and Road. Follow their progress in real-time on the interactive map below.

Japan Commits $2.84B for African Infrastructure | Aug. 15, 2019, 11:37 a.m.

Japan has pledged to invest $2.84 billion in Africa's infrastructure to encourage transparency, in what some have interpreted as a response to corruption allegations linked to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

India Competes With BRI | Aug. 13, 2019, 11:48 a.m.

As China increases its presence in South and Southeast Asia through its Belt and Road Initiative, India attempts to keep up by pushing similar connectivity projects in the region, Nikkei reports.

Tech Transfer, Local Labor Aid BRI | Aug. 12, 2019, 9:49 a.m.

While Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects have sparked concerns in recipient countries, the shift of Chinese manufacturing overseas has been embraced when it comes with technology transfer and job creation for locals, Nikkei reports.

Sign Up: Belt, Road, and Beyond | Aug. 8, 2019, 2:35 p.m.

September 11 - 13, CSIS will host a three-day Master’s-level introduction to China’s BRI. The course will explain what the BRI is, what it is not, and how it is impacting commercial and strategic realities on the ground.

China: BRI Natural Chinese Path | Aug. 8, 2019, 10:01 a.m.

While the U.S. has raised concerns over China’s port investments under its Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese analysts argue that the developments are driven by logistical concerns as China pursues the same maritime policies as other trading nations, rather than military motivations, Nikkei reports.

Currency Manipulation and the BRI | Aug. 7, 2019, 1:18 p.m.

In this episode, the Trade Guys and Andrew discuss the Trump administration's designation of China as a currency manipulator. They also welcome a special in-house guest, Jonathan Hillman, who is a senior fellow with the CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy and directs the Reconnecting Asia Project. Reconnecting Asia tracks new roads, railways, ports, and other infrastructure projects

U.S. Pitches Asia Green New Deal | Aug. 7, 2019, 9:38 a.m.

A proposed $10 trillion "Development Green New Deal" recently put forward in the U.S. would fund green infrastructure projects in Asia and elsewhere that could compete with China's Belt and Road Initiative, Nikkei reports.

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.

View All Analysis | July 31, 2019, 9:49 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.

What's Happening with China's Belt and Road? | July 31, 2019, 9:42 a.m.

Xi Jinping's signature foreign policy vision, the Belt and Road Initiative, is a long-term strategy to make China the center of the global economy. Can China deliver on its ambitious plans? CSIS Reconnecting Asia Director Jonathan Hillman explains what's happening with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Germany Slows China Investment | July 30, 2019, 9:59 a.m.

Germany lowered its national maximum foreign investment threshold from 25 to 10 percent in December, in part due to rising concerns over growing Chinese investment in digital and other infrastructure across Europe.

The Western Balkans with Chinese Characteristics | July 30, 2019, 9:30 a.m.

Through means, motive, and opportunity, China's expanding economic footprint and political avenues of influence in the Western Balkans have deepened and widened with profound implications for the region’s economic development and long-term dependency.

BRI Friction Rises in C. Asia | July 29, 2019, 9:39 a.m.

As Russia and China sign economic agreements and deepen their ties, they will also have to work through friction caused by China’s economic advancement under the Belt and Road in Central Asia, Nikkei reports.

Malaysia-China Rail Gets Price Cut | July 25, 2019, 10:24 a.m.

Malaysia has relaunched the East Coast Rail Link after re-negotiations with China led to The Export Import Bank of China backing 85% of the cost. The project price is now $11 billion, a third of the original expected amount, reports Nikkei.

BRI's Opportunity in Pacific Partnership | July 24, 2019, 9:12 a.m.

China's National People's Congress' new foreign investment law could pave the way for China to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and allow China to increase the Belt and Road Initiative's footprint in signatory countries, Nikkei reports.

Cambodia: Pentagon Flags BRI Port | July 23, 2019, 11:39 a.m.

A senior Pentagon official has suggested that China may be developing a military presence at Ream naval base in Cambodia, raising concerns that the port and other investments related to China's Belt and Road Initiative could create potential military advantages, Nikkei reports.

Exploring China's Border with Russia | July 23, 2019, 9:40 a.m.

By traveling the length of China's 4,300 km border with Russia, Ankur Shah aims to understand what China's Belt and Road Initiative means for daily life along on the border.

BRI Raises Concerns in Cambodia | July 22, 2019, 11:02 a.m.

Despite infrastructure development and employment opportunities generated under the Belt and Road Initiative, there are growing concerns and anti-Chinese sentiment among Cambodians, especially after the collapse of a Chinese-funded apartment construction project that left 28 dead on June 22, 2019, reports Nikkei Asian Review.

China Fuels Cambodian Construction | July 11, 2019, 10:01 a.m.

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.

Japan Revamps Myanmar Port | July 8, 2019, 9:12 a.m.

Japan will announce a new plan for Mynamar's Dawei special economic zone that focuses on building a port that will export to India. The proposal comes as China is building and financing Kyaukphyu port, increasing its economic influence in the country, reports Nikkei.

Xi, Erdogan Talk BRI Cooperation | July 3, 2019, 11:36 a.m.

In a meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed interest in deepening cooperation with China on its Belt and Road Initiative, including in the areas of infrastructure and defense in Central Asia and Africa, Nikkei reports.

BRI Aids China-Europe Rail Links | July 2, 2019, 9:23 a.m.

The freight unit of Germany's state-owned railroad group Deutsche Bahn plans a major increase in capacity for China-bound shipments, counting on continued support for overland transport under China's Belt and Road connectivity project, reports Nikkei Asian Review.

BRI Boosts China-Cambodia Ties | July 1, 2019, 9:28 a.m.

Xi, Abe Talk Infrastructure Cooperation | June 27, 2019, 9:07 a.m.

U.S., Japan, Australia Fund Indo-Pacific Infrastructure | June 26, 2019, 9:46 a.m.

Government-backed lenders in Japan, the U.S., and Australia plan to issue a statement on their joint infrastructure efforts, including possible joint-financing for an liquefied natural gas terminal in Papua New Guinea. The three countries agreed in November to collaborate on infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific as an alternative to China's Belt and Road initiative, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

China's BRI Scrutinized in Cambodia | June 25, 2019, 10:29 a.m.

Cambodia's real estate sector is facing scrutiny after a construction project being developed under China's Belt and Road Initiative collapsed. The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that an investigation will take place, but denied allegations linking the tragedy to heavy Chinese investment and ongoing corruption, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

SE Asia: BRI 2.0 Test Bed | June 24, 2019, 9:55 a.m.

BRI 2.0 represents an opportunity for Southeast Asia to enter the next phase of growth. China's commitment to transparency could usher a new era of partnerships that benefit multiple parties, writes David Liao for Nikkei Asian Review.

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.

World Bank Head Pushes China Transparency | June 12, 2019, 9:25 a.m.

Newly seated World Bank President David Malpass says the multilateral organization is working hard to ensure Beijing improves transparency in lending to countries involved in its Belt and Road Initiative, Nikkei reports.

Assessing the Risks of Chinese Investments in Sub-Saharan African Ports | June 5, 2019, 4:56 p.m.

Forming the backbone of China’s “Maritime Silk Road,” investments in African ports provide a gateway to the region’s trade and economic development, empower China with political leverage and clout on the continent, and provide a foothold for People’s Liberation Army Navy activities.

Five myths about China’s Belt and Road Initiative | May 31, 2019, 12:41 p.m.

Critics of China's Belt and Road Initiative caution that the project stokes corruption, harms the environment, creates financial dependencies and extends Chinese military power. Writing for The Washington Post, Jonathan Hillman tackles five myths that have been fueled by the ambiguity of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

US-China Rivalry Boosts SE Asia Infrastructure | May 29, 2019, 9:16 a.m.

Cambodia and other nations across Southeast Asia are emerging as vital staging grounds for a new form of power struggle between China and its rivals. The growth of Beijing's vast Belt and Road Initiative since 2013 has galvanized the U.S. and its allies -- including Japan, India and Australia -- and prompted them to draw up infrastructure and security programs of their own, writes Gwen Robinson for the Nikkei Asian Review

China's Evolving Energy Ambitions | May 23, 2019, 1:01 p.m.

Jonathan Hillman joins Jane Nakano and Nikos Tsafos for the CSIS Energy and National Security Program's Energy 360° Podcast to look at the importance of energy projects in the BRI, changing expectations from BRI partners, and what defines a successful BRI.

Beijing Shoulders BRI Debt | May 23, 2019, 9:34 a.m.

Belt and Road recipients are pushing to re-negotiate loan terms with Chinese banks, potentially shifting more of the BRI's financial burden on Beijing. As China's investments grow in Belt and Road countries, it risks losing its bargaining power as its sunk costs rise, reports Nikkei.

China Sees Greece as BRI Ally | May 17, 2019, 9:22 a.m.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos, calling on Greece to help promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Europe. Beijing is seeking support for BRI from within the European Union as Europe's trade and investment relations with China expand, reports Nikkei.

China Repairs BRI Partnerships | May 13, 2019, 9:10 a.m.

Beijing is striking a conciliatory tone abroad to repair ties with Belt and Road partners, particularly in Southeast Asia where negotiations with Chinese companies over halted infrastructure projects are restarting, Nikkei reports.

Italy, China’s Latest Gateway to Europe | May 7, 2019, 9:03 a.m.

The signing of an MoU during a March 22-24 by Chinese president Xi Jinping has made Italy the first G7 nation to join China's sprawling Belt and Road Initiative, but Rome will be wise to devote sustained long-term resources to the negotiation, implementation, and follow-up of whatever comes out of these memoranda to avoid the mistakes of other BRI partners.

ADB to Limit China Funding | May 3, 2019, 9:06 a.m.

The Asian Development Bank's President, Takehiko Nakao, has said the ADB is limiting the amount of funding it provides to China. Nakao noted that China is "becoming a country that can raise money by issuing its own debt" through projects such as the Belt and Road Initative, reports the Nikkei Asian Review

Thailand Pushes China-Funded Rail | May 2, 2019, 9:09 a.m.

Thailand's prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Laos and China to accelerate the construction of a much delayed high-speed rail line between northeast Thailand and Vientiane in Laos, reports Nikkei.

Charting Progress in China’s Belt and Road Initiative | May 1, 2019, 9:34 a.m.

This episode of the ChinaPower podcast discusses the Belt and Road Initiative's current projects and financing, including recent backlash and scrutiny from partner countries, as well as the approach the U.S. is taking toward the initiative in the lead-up to the second Belt and Road Forum.

Experts: China's BRI Requires Global Norms | May 1, 2019, 9:19 a.m.

If China's push to build a massive, continent-spanning economic zone is to yield true benefits for all involved, Beijing must shift its policy course and embrace internationally accepted norms for the BRI, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

The Give-and-Take of BRI in Africa | May 1, 2019, 8:53 a.m.

China’s hostile economic practices, military expansion, and coercive political and ideological tactics in Africa should not be ignored. However, establishing a clear distinction between detrimental and essential BRI engagement is crucial to fostering development, building common ground with China, and expanding the global market.

China Constructs Debt-Free Road in Cambodia | April 30, 2019, 9:17 a.m.

A Chinese state construction company is building Cambodia's first expressway which will connect Phnom Penh with the southern coastal city of Sihanoukville. China Road and Bridge Corp. will finance the nearly $2 billion project in an arrangement meant to help China avoid international accusations of predatory lending to developing countries, reports Nikkei.

A Road by Any Other Name | April 29, 2019, 12:38 p.m.

China's Belt and Road (BRI) has taken a beating, but its central feature of big infrastructure projects will remain recognizable for years to come.