In great-power rivalries, it matters who's on your side. Twelve years since launching its Belt and Road infrastructure project, Beijing has funneled a trillion-plus dollars into projects in some 150 countries, literally planting its flag around the globe and acquiring a growing roster of economic and diplomatic partners in the process. In the first episode of our three-part series, “Building Influence,” the WSJ’s Gabriele Steinhauser and Lingling Wei, Boston University’s Kevin Gallagher and Stanford’s Eyck Freymann explain how the program has bolstered China’s economic security and given it a platform to cut deals that challenge Western-led norms and counterbalance U.S. influence. Luke Vargas hosts.
Further Reading:
China Shores Up Ties With Africa Despite Slowing Economy and Friction Over Debt
How China Capitalized on U.S. Indifference in Latin America
China’s Global Mega-Projects Are Falling Apart
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How China’s Trillion-Dollar Infrastructure Bet Undercuts U.S. Dominance | WSJ What’s News podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
