China's Belt and Road Initiative

China’s “Belt and Road” Initiative represents a sweeping vision for establishing a global economic network of trade and development, with infrastructure projects in nearly 70 countries stretching all the way to Western Europe. This collection of interviews and articles examines how the ambitious gambit—also known as One Belt, One Road, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road—is affecting bilateral relationships while bolstering China’s status as a global power.

Briefing Central Asia

China’s Charm Offensive Highlights Central Asia’s Rising Profile

Emil AvdalianiJun 8, 2023

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted an in-person summit with the presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. The gathering was the latest demonstration of China’s growing geo-economic role in Central Asia, marking what Xi called a “new era” in Beijing’s relations with the region.

Briefing Southeast Asia

The U.S. Is Losing Ground to China in Southeast Asia

Joshua KurlantzickMay 30, 2023

Over the past five years, Beijing has adopted a much more assertive military and diplomatic approach in Southeast Asia. While one could reasonably expect this to negatively affect China’s standing in the region, the opposite is the case. China’s influence in Southeast Asia has soared, largely at the expense of the United States.

In-Depth China

China Is Looking to Transform Global Development—Again

Cobus van StadenMay 2, 2023

The China that is reemerging onto the world stage after its multiyear pandemic shutdown is very different than the one that launched the Belt and Road Initiative a decade ago. Beijing seems interested in reshaping its role as an international development partner. The results of those efforts could transform global development itself.

China's Belt and Road Initiative

China’s Charm Offensive Highlights Central Asia’s Rising Profile

The U.S. Is Losing Ground to China in Southeast Asia

China Is Looking to Transform Global Development—Again

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In Latin America, the U.S. Is Getting Competition With China All Wrong

China and Saudi Arabia Are Making a Big Show of Upgrading Relations

Xi’s Third Term Could Be a Turning Point in China-Africa Relations

Western Expats Have a Privileged Lens on China

China Is Taking Advantage of Russia’s Weakness in Central Asia

Ardern’s Hot-and-Cold Approach to China Is Getting Harder to Follow

The U.S. Should Avoid the ‘China Trap’ in the Middle East

Central Asia Is Keeping a Nervous Eye on Russia’s War in Ukraine

In Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksas Made an Economic Crisis Worse

Biden Aims to Challenge China in Latin America With B3W

Chinese Influence Threatens the Neutrality of the SDGs

Another Chinese Megaproject Causes Controversy in Sri Lanka

Can the ‘Blue Dot Network’ Really Compete With China’s Belt and Road?

China’s Belt and Road ‘Reboot’ Is Really a Foreign Influence Campaign