scholarly journals Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Blues: Powering BRI Research Back on Track to Avoid Choppy Seas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Marc F. Blanchard
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Chinese Foreign Policy ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
The Road ◽  
Political Costs ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
On The Road

AbstractThis piece examines and critiques the massive literature on China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It details how research currently seems stuck on the road to nowhere. In addition, it identifies a number of the potholes that collective research endeavors are hitting such as that they are poorly synchronized. It also stresses that lines of analysis are proliferating rather than optimizing, with studies broadening in thematic coverage, rather than becoming deeper. It points out that BRI participants are regularly related to the role of a bit player in many analyses and research often is disconnected from other literatures. Among other things, this article recommends analysts focus on the Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) or Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) in specific regions or countries. It also argues for a research core that focuses on the implementation issue (i.e., the issue of MSRI and SREB project implementation), project effects (i.e., the economic and political costs and benefits of projects), and the translation issue (i.e., the domestic and foreign policy effects of projects) and does work that goes beyond the usual suspects. On a related note, research need to identify, more precisely, participants and projects, undertake causal analysis, and take into account countervailing factors. Furthermore, studies need to make more extensive use of the Chinese foreign policy literature. Moreover, works examining subjects like soft power need to improve variable conceptualization and operationalization and deliver more nuanced analyses. Finally, studies, especially by area specialists, should take the area, not the China, perspective.

Belt and Road Initiative alias Chinese Dream: How Are the Cards Dealt for This Game?

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150014
Author(s):  
Michaela Staníčková ◽  
Lenka Fojtíková
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Chinese Foreign Policy ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Xi Jinping ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
Road Project ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Ancient Silk Road

An old Chinese proverb says, “if you want to be rich, build a path”. The People’s Republic of China (from now on, China) has already verified this proverb’s validity in the old Silk Road. The oldest and most famous trade route in history has managed to help China and the surrounding region reach an imaginary peak in its time. Today, after centuries of unrest, wars, economic decline, and international isolation, China is once again building a path to help it return to the world’s most developed nations, the New Silk Road, respectively the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI has been defined as “the most eye-catching and possibly the one with the longest-term significance” (Ferdinand, 2017) [“Westward Ho — The China Dream and ‘One Belt, One Road’: Chinese Foreign Policy under Xi Jinping,” in Weiqing Song, ed., China’s Relations with Central and Eastern Europe: From “Old Comrades” to New Partners (London: Routledge, 2017), pp. 1–18]. The Silk Road project was introduced in 2013 by the Chinese President Xi Jinping in response to the economic crisis and the subsequent effort to find new markets and trading partners. The BRI restores the idea of the ancient Silk Road. The BRI is thus the result of a changed approach to foreign policy and the idea of opening up China. However, this policy cannot be perceived only as economic cooperation, but a well-thought-out Chinese foreign policy to expand its influence not only in Asia. The Sinocentric view of the world is thus one of the fundamental aspects of Chinese foreign policy formation. What will the country have to deal with in the future and, above all, what can we expect from China? This paper aims to provide insights into the visions proposed by the BRI, i.e. to capture the main milestones in the current development of the BRI, detailed analysis of its nature, and its current situation and implementation.

The Road and Belt Initiative in Malaysia: Challenges and Recommendations

Akademika ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-91
Author(s):  
Ku Boon Dar ◽  
◽  
Tan Chee Seng ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
The Road ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
Silk Road Economic Belt ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Belt And Road ◽  
The Silk Road

ABSTRACT In recent years, China has expanded its relations with other nations through the Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative was formally introduced after it was launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping. It comprises two components, namely, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, both of which aim to stimulate the acceleration of economic growth in Asia, Africa and Europe. This research attempts to provide a detailed review of the execution of this initiative through empirical studies based on qualitative analysis, which are closely related to BRI implementation in Malaysia. The focus of this research, however, is not limited to studying the viewpoints of leaders and scholars on the initiative; rather, it will also attempt to discuss theBRI’s progress and the obstacles encountered to date from the political aspects of both China and Malaysia. By identifying the potential challenges to come, this research will prove to be significant, as it proposes some comprehensive measures to address and forestall any setbacks that may arise, which may affect the implementation of the BRI between the two nations. Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative (BRI); Malaysia–China relations; Silk Road; China–ASEAN relations; Maritime Silk Road A

scholarly journals A brief analysis of new media pushing "The Belt and Road" Initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiqiang Xiao ◽  
Liang Chen
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
Silk Road Economic Belt ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Belt And Road

Abstract: in 2013, President Xi put forward the strategic ideas of "Silk Road Economic Belt" and "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" during his visit to central Asia and South Asia, which gained extensive attention from the international community. To promote the implementation of the "The Belt and Road" initiative, it is necessary to not only build good infrastructure to promote economic and trade exchanges between countries, but also create a good public opinion environment to enhance exchanges and mutual trust between countries. New media, as one of the main channels of information communication in the current era, plays an important role in spreading the culture of "The Belt and Road" initiative and promoting economic cooperation among countries with its characteristics of flexibility, interactivity and high efficiency. Exploring the role of new media in promoting the political, cultural and economic aspects of the "The Belt and Road" initiative will be of great significance to mastering the power of discourse of the Silk Road and strengthening the exchanges and cooperation among countries along the route.

scholarly journals Logistics Challenges Along the New Silk Roads

2021 ◽  
pp. 295-307
Author(s):  
Hans-Dietrich Haasis ◽  
Jianhui Du ◽  
Xuejun Sun
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Freight Transport ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
Silk Road Economic Belt ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Communication And Coordination ◽  
The Belt And Road ◽  
The Silk Road

AbstractIn 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping advised to establish the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road,” also referred as the Belt and Road Initiative or the New Silk Roads Policy. The intention is to promote international and regional trade as well as cooperation in and between Asia and Europe. Consequently, international maritime and terrestrial freight transport corridors are either established or strengthened and operated. The purpose of this paper is to reflect the Belt and Road Initiative from the perspective of logistics. The aim is to identify and formulate circumstances, expectations, opportunities, and peculiarities of logistics along the New Silk Roads. For this purpose, four corresponding challenges will be considered and outlined after an introduction to the Belt and Road Initiative. The four logistics challenges concern the awareness of new freight transport corridors and the assessment of possibilities for opening new transport relations and new markets, the implementation of new and the adaptation of existing supply chains to increase strategic logistics flexibility, the availability and use of digital infrastructure and connectivity for improved communication and coordination of logistical processes, and the willingness to consider regional and cultural differences in the preparation and realization of supply chain decisions.

scholarly journals Prospects for Science and Technology Cooperation between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Portugal under the Belt and Road Initiative

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaming Liang
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
Technological Cooperation ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Belt And Road ◽  
The Eu

President Xi, focusing on building a new pattern of all-round opening up to the outside world and promoting the common prosperity and progress of all countries, put forward a major proposal for the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the maritime Silk Road in twenty-first Century. The bay area economy, as an important coastal economic form, is the highlight of the current international economic map, and is a significant symbol of the world's first-class coastal city. The international first-class bay areas, such as New York Bay area, San Francisco Bay area and Tokyo Bay area, are characterized by openness, innovation, livability and internationalization. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has four world-class cities, name Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao, and the Pearl River Delta city cluster. It has an open economic structure, efficient resource allocation ability, strong agglomeration and spillover function and development international communication network plays a core function of leading innovation and gathering radiation. It is an important growth pole for promoting the economic development of the maritime Silk Road and a leader in technological change. With the help of Portugal's geographical position on the maritime Silk Road and market access advantages within the EU system, the Greater Bay Area should further deepen scientific and technological cooperation, improve the ability of scientific and technological innovation of both sides, let the scientific research subjects of the bay area help Portugal's scientific and technological development, and enhance Portugal's scientific and technological position in the EU. From the perspective of the Belt and Road Initiative, combined with the basic situation and cooperation of China, especially Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and the development of science and technology in Portugal, this article explores the technological fields, policy measures that are suitable for scientific and technological cooperation between the two sides, and puts forward corresponding suggestions to contribute to the technological development of China, Portugal and the global economic and social sustainable development.

scholarly journals Analyzing Interactions between Japanese Ports and the Maritime Silk Road Based on Complex Networks

Complexity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Zhi-Hua Hu ◽  
Chan-Juan Liu ◽  
Paul Tae-Woo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Automatic Identification ◽  
Identification System ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Connectivity Analysis ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
Maritime Networks ◽  
Belt And Road

This article considers how the Japanese ports interact with the ports of China and along the 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) while they are embedded in the global port network, especially in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. At a port level, it primarily uses connectivity analysis to analyze the port relations and significances in the maritime network. In contrast, at the network level, it applies the methods from network sciences to analyze the significances of these maritime networks and the interactions among the maritime networks of Japan, China, and MSR. This article extracts a large-scale maritime network from ports and vessels’ profiles and data of vessels’ Automatic Identification System (AIS). It then examines the relations among the networks (including Japan, China, MSR, and global ports) after defining the maritime networks, network generation schemes, and port network analysis tools. Based on the analysis results and findings, this study draws some implications for regional ports and shipping development and the global supply network.

Identifying the Factors of the Successful Implementation of Belt and Road Initiative on Small–Medium Enterprises in Malaysia

China Report ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-363
Author(s):  
Aye Aye Khin ◽  
Fong Yi Chiun ◽  
Lim Chee Seong
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Location ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
One Belt One Road ◽  
New Business ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Small Medium Enterprises ◽  
Medium Enterprises

This article is a conceptual review of identifying the factors of the successful implementation of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. China’s president Xi Jin Ping has launched the China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) initiative or BRI in 2013. BRI focusses on the connectivity and cooperation between Asian, European and African continents economically and strategically through massive infrastructure developments, trades and investments. BRI is specified to two international trade connections: land-based ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ and sea-based ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’. Malaysia is one of the Southeast Asia countries that actively participated in BRI. According to the World Bank, SMEs are almost 98.5 per cent of business establishments in Malaysia, which undoubtedly indicates how important SMEs are in Malaysia. As such, that is the question to ponder of how BRI could connect and associate with the enhancement and development of Malaysia’s SMEs. Therefore, the objective of the study is to identify the factors of the successful implementation of BRI on SMEs in Malaysia. Based on this study’s literature reviews, it would be suggested that new business and investment opportunity creations, connectivity and cooperation enhancement, trade and export boosting, geographic location and enhancement of e-commerce were the most critical factors in the successful implementation of BRI on SMEs in Malaysia.

Belt and Road Initiative in Africa: The Impact of Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya

China Report ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-240
Author(s):  
Nancy Muthoni Githaiga ◽  
Wang Bing
Keyword(s):  
Phase 1 ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Debt Sustainability ◽  
Maritime Silk Road ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Core Part

China’s Belt and Road has been billed as the single most significant undertaking by the country on the international stage. In Africa, Kenya is a core part of both the Maritime Silk Road and the Belt. The authors have examined the flagship project of this initiative in Kenya, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi, with a view to analyse the impact so far. Issues of employment, debt sustainability, neocolonialism and specific aspects of the project were looked at. Although our findings indicate that the SGR so far has both positive aspects as well as challenges, for the project to be successful both China and Kenya need to create a synergy towards solving concerns that have arisen from the completion of phase 1 of the project.

Opportunities of Tourism Development of Mongolia Under the Belt and Road Initiative

2019 ◽  
pp. 200-214
Author(s):  
Huilian Han ◽  
Hui Li
Keyword(s):  
Active Role ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
The Road ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
On The Road ◽  
Pillar Industry ◽  
The Belt And Road

The Belt and Road Initiative has had great impact on the countries on the road. The China-Mongolia-Russia corridor, as one of the six economic corridors, has seen rapid progress. In the progress, Mongolia not only plays important role as a bridge, but it actively participates in the initiative. As a leading industry, tourism has played an active role in Sino-Mongolian cultural exchanges and trade cooperation and has become a pillar industry in Mongolia. This chapter analyzes the limiting factors of Mongolian tourism and points out the new opportunities for tourism brought by the Belt and Road strategy. Though the analysis of the tourism industry in Mongolia and of the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, the chapter has important practical significance for the investors of China and Mongolia to correctly understand the Mongolian tourism industry's development status and prospects. Thus, they will strengthen the tourism industry cooperation in the future.

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