On June 28-29, government leaders representing 85 percent of the global economy convened for the fourteenth G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. In the wake of the meeting, the CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy hosted experts including Japan’s ambassador to the G20, Koji Tomita, to discuss major outcomes, including China’s endorsement of the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment.
It is critical that public-sector officials responsible for infrastructure development—both at the local and national levels—commit to transparent practices to secure sustainable financing mechanisms.
The CSIS Africa Program assessed 46 African ports with financial, construction, or operational involvement by Chinese entities to identify potential threats to African sovereignty and U.S. strategic interests in the region.
China’s BRI offers lofty promises of “win-win” investments that have persuaded some 126 countries to sign on. But critics claim that it stokes corruption, harms the environment, creates financial dependencies, and extends Chinese military power. Writing for The Washington Post, Jonathan Hillman tackles five myths fueled by the BRI’s ambiguity.
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.