Though I’d link to this for anyone interested in China’s one belt, one road initiative. Here’s the description of the video:
Making me a lot of money at least. 
Well, hopefully it will stay that way for you. It’s a huge gamble for China, and their focus isn’t entirely on profit…this is part of their geo-political plans. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and how it changes and shifts the perception of China and whether it brings economic prosperity to those other countries involved, or just brings more power and control to the CCP in those countries…or whether it breaks China’s economy due to the huge amount of debt this is bringing, especially to countries who are likely to default on the loans.
Thanks. 
Its basically a copy what the Americans did in Europe, parts of the ME and the Far East post 1945, till about the start of the Washington Consensus. Major investments in foreign infrastructure, capacity building in the various fields, transfer of technology, training of human resources.
The Chinese are big fans of that concept. And its a proven one.
Well, this video doesn’t really go into a lot of the details, but it’s a bit different from what the US did. For one thing, when the US did this they deliberately used European labor and companies when possible. The Chinese don’t do that. They use strictly Chinese companies and labor for these mega projects. The US was also trying to rebuild infrastructure after a major war, and of course we were hoping this would bring about markets for our goods and services, but mainly we were wanting to build western Europe back up against the Soviets. China wants some of that (markets, say), but it isn’t the central goal. They don’t think that, say, Pakistan is going to be a major purchaser of their goods and services, but instead they want another route for their trade goods going to Europe that isn’t dependent on sea trade routes (protected and possibly restrained by the US). The US was also more selective on who got loans based on things like human rights records than China is…China really doesn’t care what a given countries human rights record is.
That said, there is some similarities between the US strategy post-war and what China is doing. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it seems similar now that you point it it out.
What China really wants, or at least expects, is for many of the countries they have loaned massive sums of money to build this infrastructure is to default so that China holds property or long term leases as they do on the Gwadar Port in Pakistan or Hambatota in Sri Lanka. This logistical foothold will give China both commercial and military dominance in the entire South Asian/Indian Ocean region.
Stranger
That’s rather simplistic. and while has been the subject of some hysterical headlines, does not seem to be the case when numbers are actually crunched.
China does not have a “lease” on Gwadar port, a Chinese company has a ports management contract, before them it was a Singaporean company. And frankly, Chinese Navy, which has to cross several Amercian controlled chokepoints to get there won’t find it of much use. At least a lot less use than several much more developed Naval bases nearby, like Pasni, Ormara, Karachi etc.
And you are certainly an unbiased observer, right?
China has been unambiguous about its desire to have plenary control over South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, to the point of actually constructing islands and fabricating a claim of territorial control over what was broadly agreed to be international waters. In the context of that ambition, the “Belt and Road” inititive (or “String of Pearls” as it is referred to in international strategy wonk circles) is pretty obviously about making sure that strategically important nations are obligated to Chinese interests.
Stranger
I agree, it’s pretty unambiguous what China’s goals are in this, and that profit isn’t the only or perhaps even the main focus in their strategy.
And, you are? Considering the US’s long-standing interests in the Gulf and Arabian sea? ANd the US has not necessarily been a benevolent actor in the S Asia region and has tried to absolutely obligate regional “strategically important” nations for decades and thrown hissy fits when its failed.
Look, we can argue on who is bad and good all day and get nowhere. But if you want an actual discussion of this, then can we go into actual details, not think pieces from internet websites.
Deep Breath
For instance, here is a report on the State of Pakistan’s economy published this year, and it discusses both the OBOR, (ch 4) and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is Pakistan’s part in it (ch 5 outline, later ch are specifics. The global context is Ch 3)
Its pretty good and the writers know their shit on this issue, it includes a former World Bank VP and Director China as well as a former Chief Economist WB for the Far East.
You can set up any strawman you like for the burning, but until you can actually find some quote of me espousing or defending this position, it is just you making up words to put in my mouth.
Stranger
Which I did not, as the deleted line from my post makes clear
I am honestly interested in your perspective on this issue. And have provided links which I think you and others might find useful.
The BRI is a very big deal that something like 60 countries have signed on to. In a few years, all the formerly isolated countries, like in Central Asia, will be tied together by a web of rail, road, and pipeline links. Freight trains are already running from China to London. There is even talk of a Bering Strait tunnel, which is technologically feasible, but the economics probably don’t work today It would allow rail travel from the New York to London. A truly wild idea.
“Broadly agreed” never included China in the conversation. Now that China’s grown up big bad teenager/twenty something tough guy, it’s flexing it’s muscle.
The US should quityurbitchin’ on China’s 2025 initiative and Belt and Road, and whip out the American playbook to invest internally and internationly again. Versus this whole trade war/Make America Great/Slash taxes/defund the UN/ad nausem reliquary.
In corporate America, there is a saying that no company became great by cost cutting. The US under Trump and divisible by all is doing an analogous cost cutting, and we can see the train wreck coming down the track.