The Belt and Road Initiative (bri)

China has been putting emphasis on the co-operative nature of The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its objective "win-win outcomes." In his address to the Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation in Beijing in May 2017, Xi Jinping framed the BRI in terms of "peace and co-operation", "openness and inclusiveness", "mutual learning", and "mutual benefit". Yet suggested by experts and skepticism especially through the perspective of other major powers such as the United States and India, behind the rhetoric of harmony and mutuality lies a substantive strategy for growing an emerging China-led operating system for the international economy. As a result, while there is a fair amount of optimism along the proposed routes, some countries are also wary of the security implications of the BRI, the ultimate intentions of China, and the ability of China to deliver its promises. It is crucial to recognize and understand China’s strategy in furthering its interests through the initiative particularly as a participating country.

Furthermore, the ambitious strategy involves the participation of over 60 countries of which requires substantial commitment by the participating countries in order for it to succeed. Thus, the geopolitics of the countries along the routes are significant factors as well as posing as one of the biggest challenges in the realization of the initiative; the long-standing security challenges in South and Central Asia such as in Pakistan and Afghanistan, dilution of Russia’s traditional sphere of influence, suspicions towards China’s geopolitical intentions in Southeast Asia given its assertiveness in the South China Sea disputes, as well as skepticism towards China along the proposed routes. A deeper understanding of the nature of these challenges and the views of parties involved are essential in order for China to organize its future steps in ensuring stable and continued development of the initiative.

Besides, to inquire the possible geopolitical implications of the initiative is also crucial in order to gain an understanding of the geopolitical risks and implications as to whether the initiative would bring prosperity or further conflicts to a region, particularly in developing countries in Central Asia.

Thus, this paper seeks to understand China’s ambitions and interests in the construction of Belt and Road Initiative. This paper also focuses on Central Asia as to analyze both the geopolitical challenges and possible geopolitical implications of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the region. This is due to reasons being that Central Asia is a key region connecting the East and the West, and of the ancient Silk Road, nonetheless comprises of multi-faceted geopolitical challenges such as trans-national terrorism and heavy involvement in Russia’s sphere of influence. Furthermore, an analysis of Central Asia would be to an extent, demonstrative of the geopolitical implications of China’s BRI in developing countries.