National

The World Bank has released a study on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that predicts major economic benefits, but only if Beijing makes some even bigger course corrections.

The big picture: While the authors find that infrastructure can increase growth  through trade and investment, these gains depend on a host of reforms such as greater transparency and data reporting — especially around debt, open procurement, and social and environmental standards. Essentially, the study advises China that success requires becoming more like the World Bank.

Details: The study focuses on the BRI's transportation projects, forecasting that they could lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty (earnings below $1.90 a day) if successfully completed.

The world needs more infrastructure, especially developing countries in Asia, and it stands to benefit from anyone who provides it the right way.

Yes, but: Building infrastructure does not automatically create value, the study warns. Success depends on picking the right projects and delivering them effectively, otherwise they destroy more value than they create.

While Chinese officials sell the BRI as “win-win,” some partner countries, like Mongolia and Tajikistan, could lose out as the costs of infrastructure exceed the gains. They also face particularly high risks of default from BRI–related financing.

About half of BRI transportation projects are expected to provide little value, according to another recent World Bank study.

Where it stands: China likes the BRI just the way it is.

Part of the problem is that its state-owned enterprises are eager to build regardless of economic viability; having poured more concrete between 2011 and 2013 than the United States used during the entire 20th century, they have run out of things to build at home.

In the absence of transparency and effective oversight, these firms can bribe local officials in recipient countries to greenlight more and bigger projects.

Between the lines: China also faces a massive coordination challenge. Unlike efforts led by multilateral development banks, most of the BRI’s transportation corridors are defined only at the national level and do not name or prioritize individual cities and roadways. Without adequately defined scopes, these projects could squander resources.

The bottom line: The potential benefits the World Bank lays out are not unique to Chinese transportation projects. But China’s current approach to delivering infrastructure makes it less likely those benefits will materialize.

Jonathan Hillman is director of the Reconnecting Asia Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Without reforms, China's Belt and Road projects could fall short

Some projects create too little value while others impose heavy debt burdens.

Xi Jinping and Emomali Rahmon shaking hands

China's President Xi Jinping and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon at the Second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in April 2019. Photo: Valery Sharifulin/TASS via Getty Images

World

One Belt One Road Initiative

Expert Voices

China

The World Bank has released a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.worldbank.org_en_topic_regional-2Dintegration_publication_belt-2Dand-2Droad-2Deconomics-2Dopportunities-2Dand-2Drisks-2Dof-2Dtransport-2Dcorridors-3Fcid-3DSHR-5FSitesShareTT-5FEN-5FEXT&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=XD06fu5AI3hcYHLrLsN9cyu4EulX7i4oQRb99Nmjy0k&amp;s=WZ435J89-S2bvWS9QgyqeU3_Vwm808SXEMWard-nKiQ&amp;e=" data-vars-content-id="23c1eee7-be8a-4e30-b57b-fc494578560c" data-vars-headline="Without reforms, China&#x27;s Belt and Road projects could fall short" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.worldbank.org_en_topic_regional-2Dintegration_publication_belt-2Dand-2Droad-2Deconomics-2Dopportunities-2Dand-2Drisks-2Dof-2Dtransport-2Dcorridors-3Fcid-3DSHR-5FSitesShareTT-5FEN-5FEXT&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=XD06fu5AI3hcYHLrLsN9cyu4EulX7i4oQRb99Nmjy0k&amp;s=WZ435J89-S2bvWS9QgyqeU3_Vwm808SXEMWard-nKiQ&amp;e=" target="_blank">study</a> on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that predicts major economic benefits, but only if Beijing makes some even bigger course corrections.The big picture: While the authors find that infrastructure can increase growth through trade and investment, these gains depend on a host of reforms such as greater transparency and data reporting — especially around debt, open procurement, and social and environmental standards. Essentially, the study advises China that success requires becoming more like the World Bank.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

Huawei is set to sell its underseas cable business, a move that could help China continue a critical part of its global infrastructure push.

Why it matters: Two weeks ago, the U.S. Commerce Department added Huawei to  its “entities list,” blocking it from U.S. suppliers. The sale of Huawei’s underseas cable business would effectively pass the baton to another Chinese national champion, Hengtong Group.

Context: Submarine cables carry the vast majority of international data, from cloud computing to text messaging, and will only become more critical with the arrival of 5G.

China aims to capture 60% of the world’s fiber-optic communications market, and it is not getting out of the underseas cable business, which is far too important, commercially and strategically.

Between the lines: Huawei’s move puts the spotlight on Hengtong Optic-Electric,  a subsidiary of Hengtong Group whose ties with the Chinese military could draw just as much scrutiny.

Like Huawei, Hengtong's founder served in the People’s Liberation Army.

The PLA also gave the company an innovation award in 2015 and formed an academic partnership to research underseas cables the following year.

The Chinese government has praised Hengtong as a model of “civil-military integration” for developing military-grade cable technology, underscoring the dual-use history of its technologies.

The impact: The sale would barely put a dent in Huawei’s portfolio. Last year, its underseas cable business generated $17 million in net profit, according to Huawei’s  annual report — a drop in the bucket of its $8.6 billion in net profit.

What to watch: U.S. officials have been concerned that Huawei’s growing involvement in underseas cables could allow China to monitor or disrupt data traffic, per a Wall Street Journal report in March. Rather than limiting the fallout, Huawei’s sale might simply spread the damage by putting Hengtong in U.S. crosshairs.

Sale of Huawei's underseas cables could leave risks unaddressed

China would then continue this critical part of its global infrastructure efforts.

Hengtong Group Chairman Cui Genliang speaking at a microphone

Hengtong Group Chairman Cui Genliang. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Huawei

Big Tech

Huawei is set to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sell" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.axios.com_huawei-2Dundersea-2Dcable-2Dsale-2Dchina-2Deconomy-2D7d83fad9-2D7fbd-2D44b2-2D8f77-2Dec8ad9b94cea.html&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=dQ8oAAH1t4GGGRldgVNxY2Y_WY8wRRF4i-gbcn53uUg&amp;s=TrlwwCX5275Fg7T5WPRJM6er65MW8ES7FUHUd3Mjymk&amp;e=" data-vars-content-id="388845c5-efa8-413d-95d2-06fe93de9c06" data-vars-headline="Sale of Huawei&#x27;s underseas cables could leave risks unaddressed" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.axios.com_huawei-2Dundersea-2Dcable-2Dsale-2Dchina-2Deconomy-2D7d83fad9-2D7fbd-2D44b2-2D8f77-2Dec8ad9b94cea.html&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=dQ8oAAH1t4GGGRldgVNxY2Y_WY8wRRF4i-gbcn53uUg&amp;s=TrlwwCX5275Fg7T5WPRJM6er65MW8ES7FUHUd3Mjymk&amp;e=" target="_blank">sell</a> its underseas cable business, a move that could help China continue a critical part of its global infrastructure push.Why it matters: Two weeks ago, the U.S. Commerce Department added Huawei to its “entities list,” blocking it from U.S. suppliers. The sale of Huawei’s underseas cable business would effectively pass the baton to another Chinese national champion, Hengtong Group.

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

China plans to send government agents to monitor projects along its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), potentially extending the Chinese Communist Party's arm deeper into participating countries.

The big picture: Corruption has been damaging Chinese President Xi Jinping's signature foreign policy initiative. He now wants to deploy abroad the same Orwellian-sounding Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that has helped carry out his domestic anti-corruption campaign.

What's happening: Chinese projects have sparked allegations, investigations and convictions around the world.

The Malaysian government seized Chinese funds earlier this week, arguing that Chinese contractors took 80% of the funding for 2 pipeline projects after completing only 13% of the work.

In Ecuador, a dam financed and built by China was at the center of several convictions, including that of a former vice president of Ecuador who was caught on tape discussing Chinese bribes.

Chinese employees of the state-owned China Road and Bridge Corp. were arrested in Kenya after trying to bribe officials investigating a ticketing scam.

In Kyrgyzstan, following the failure of a Chinese power plant, an investigation revealed the contractor had been inflating costs, buying $1,600 fire extinguishers and $320 pliers.

Where it stands: China is eager to repair the Belt and Road brand and has promised to clean things up.

In April, at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, Xi declared, "In pursuing Belt and Road cooperation, everything should be done in a transparent way, and we should have zero tolerance for corruption."

Yes, but: The Chinese government does not want to get rid of all corruption, only unsanctioned corruption.

It wants to assert more control over its state-owned enterprises, which often have more influence than Chinese ministries, while preserving the flexibility to buy friends and pursue its own aims with less scrutiny.

What's needed: There are more effective ways China could reduce BRI corruption:

Make the program more transparent by releasing financing terms and contracts.

Enforce the foreign bribery laws it has already adopted.

Increase funding for anti-corruption training programs offered by independent international organizations.

Block Chinese companies that have been debarred by multilateral development banks for fraud and corruption from receiving BRI-related contracts.

The bottom line: The BRI is opaque by design, and it is unlikely to become more transparent until China faces higher financial and reputational costs or stronger demands from its partners.

Big Brother hitches a ride on China's Belt and Road

President Xi wants to send government agents abroad to monitor corruption.

Construction of a bridge in Mombasa, Kenya, by the China Road and Bridge Corp. Photo: Xinhua/Pan Siwei via Getty Images

Latin America and Latinos

China <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans to send government agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ft.com/content/a5815e66-a91b-11e9-984c-fac8325aaa04" data-vars-content-id="420a636a-f95a-499e-a298-e57bc9fb145a" data-vars-headline="Big Brother hitches a ride on China&#x27;s Belt and Road" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ft.com/content/a5815e66-a91b-11e9-984c-fac8325aaa04" target="_blank">plans to send government agents</a> to monitor projects along its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), potentially extending the Chinese Communist Party&#x27;s arm deeper into participating countries.The big picture: Corruption has been damaging Chinese President Xi Jinping&#x27;s signature foreign policy initiative. He now wants to deploy abroad the same Orwellian-sounding Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that has helped carry out his domestic anti-corruption campaign.

President Trump's executive order and the Commerce Department’s “Entity List” create new challenges for Huawei’s 5G wireless technology in the U.S. But in the meantime, the Chinese telecom giant is racing ahead under the world’s seas.

Why it matters: Globally, about 380 submarine cables carry the vast majority of international data, from cloud computing to text messaging. These cables will only become more important with the arrival of 5G and other services that will increase the speed and volume of data being transferred.

Where it stands: The underseas cable market is changing with the entrance of new players.

A decade ago, Chinese companies were involved with just a handful of cables, almost exclusively in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Now China wants to dominate the global market. Huawei is building or improving nearly 100 submarine cables around the world.

At the same time, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and other leading content providers are investing in their own underseas cable projects.

Between the lines: China’s digital silk road is where two of Xi Jinping’s signature  policies meet:

Made in China 2025 is aggressively growing high-tech industries with state subsidies and ambitious targets, including capturing 60% of the global market for fiber optic communications.

The Belt and Road Initiative is an avenue for Chinese firms to expand into foreign markets and reach these targets, backed by a promised trillion dollars of infrastructure spending.

Flashback: History cautions that today’s commercial activities carry strategic stakes as well. In World War I, Britain was best positioned to maintain global communications among its forces and to monitor and disrupt enemy messages thanks to its network of cables.

The bottom line: So far, U.S. actions are focused on limiting Huawei’s access to Western markets. But to shape tomorrow’s communications networks, it would also have to compete in developing and emerging markets — especially in Asia and Africa, where 90% of global population growth by 2050 is expected.

Trump may stop Huawei in U.S., but the underseas cable race continues

Approximately 380 submarine cables carry the vast majority of international data.

floating dock with workers installing underseas cable

Workers laying cable in the Baltic Sea. Photo: Jens Köhler/ullstein bild via Getty Images

Fiber-optic communications

President Trump&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="executive order" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.axios.com_trump-2Dhuawei-2Dban-2Dexecutive-2Dorder-2Deb86bc1f-2D8365-2D465d-2D92d8-2Db0dfc9ad8dc4.html-3Futm-5Fsource-3Dtwitter-26utm-5Fmedium-3Dsocial-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Dorganic-26utm-5Fcontent-3D1100&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=aLHsw4H0lEr5xJ7IM0GOpL56BLLw9ZChbp6JfwcA-SY&amp;s=YTUDRWP7Ch3v6hmBAWcnL85Geud1IlrYk6eqRcY3S_8&amp;e=" data-vars-content-id="e37e93ca-95a1-49ba-bb24-902db682dd26" data-vars-headline="Trump may stop Huawei in U.S., but the underseas cable race continues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.axios.com_trump-2Dhuawei-2Dban-2Dexecutive-2Dorder-2Deb86bc1f-2D8365-2D465d-2D92d8-2Db0dfc9ad8dc4.html-3Futm-5Fsource-3Dtwitter-26utm-5Fmedium-3Dsocial-26utm-5Fcampaign-3Dorganic-26utm-5Fcontent-3D1100&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=aLHsw4H0lEr5xJ7IM0GOpL56BLLw9ZChbp6JfwcA-SY&amp;s=YTUDRWP7Ch3v6hmBAWcnL85Geud1IlrYk6eqRcY3S_8&amp;e=" target="_blank">executive order</a> and the Commerce Department’s “<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Entity List" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-huaweitech/chinas-huawei-70-affiliates-placed-on-us-trade-blacklist-idUSKCN1SL2W4" data-vars-content-id="e37e93ca-95a1-49ba-bb24-902db682dd26" data-vars-headline="Trump may stop Huawei in U.S., but the underseas cable race continues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-huaweitech/chinas-huawei-70-affiliates-placed-on-us-trade-blacklist-idUSKCN1SL2W4" target="_blank">Entity List</a>” create new challenges for Huawei’s 5G wireless technology in the U.S. But in the meantime, the Chinese telecom giant is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="racing ahead" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.wsj.com_articles_u-2Ds-2Dtakes-2Don-2Dchinas-2Dhuawei-2Din-2Dundersea-2Dbattle-2Dover-2Dthe-2Dglobal-2Dinternet-2Dgrid-2D11552407466&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=aLHsw4H0lEr5xJ7IM0GOpL56BLLw9ZChbp6JfwcA-SY&amp;s=Oa1goVfye1QsWQkVB7vN6MmnBOxU60--_Dc6fWJeKAE&amp;e=" data-vars-content-id="e37e93ca-95a1-49ba-bb24-902db682dd26" data-vars-headline="Trump may stop Huawei in U.S., but the underseas cable race continues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.wsj.com_articles_u-2Ds-2Dtakes-2Don-2Dchinas-2Dhuawei-2Din-2Dundersea-2Dbattle-2Dover-2Dthe-2Dglobal-2Dinternet-2Dgrid-2D11552407466&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=aLHsw4H0lEr5xJ7IM0GOpL56BLLw9ZChbp6JfwcA-SY&amp;s=Oa1goVfye1QsWQkVB7vN6MmnBOxU60--_Dc6fWJeKAE&amp;e=" target="_blank">racing ahead</a> under the world’s seas.Why it matters: Globally, about 380 submarine cables carry the vast majority of international data, from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cloud computing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/10/technology/internet-cables-oceans.html" data-vars-content-id="e37e93ca-95a1-49ba-bb24-902db682dd26" data-vars-headline="Trump may stop Huawei in U.S., but the underseas cable race continues" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/10/technology/internet-cables-oceans.html" target="_blank">cloud computing</a> to text messaging. These cables will only become more important with the arrival of 5G and other services that will increase the speed and volume of data being transferred.

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Economy & Business

On Thursday Chinese President Xi Jinping will welcome leaders from 37 countries and delegates from over 150 countries at the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing — an opportunity to promote the initiative's successes and address issues raised by its critics.

The big picture: High-profile projects in Sri Lanka,  Malaysia, Montenegro and elsewhere have undercut the Belt and Road Initiative's promise to deliver "win-win" outcomes, appearing to benefit China at the expense of its partners. Xi will be aiming to repair the damage these scandals have done to the BRI brand.

Where it stands: China's partners and outside observers have raised concerns around the BRI's strategic aims, as well as about corruption, debt sustainability, environmental impacts and local benefits.

A draft communique includes new language that underscores the importance of manageable debt loads and "green development."

Chinese officials are considering steps to improve project selection and assert greater control of the BRI, including adopting criteria for BRI projects. There has been no definition for what qualifies as a BRI project, allowing interest groups within and outside China to attach their agendas to the BRI.

Beijing also wants to attract more partners to finance BRI projects, helping it share the burden for backing projects as well as the reputational hit when things go wrong.

Yes, but: Real changes will involve difficult costs, mostly for China.

Ensuring that projects deliver more local benefits — by hiring more local workers, for example — means hiring fewer Chinese workers.

Bringing in outside partners could mean less control over project specifics.

Increasing transparency will make it harder to favor certain firms and funnel money to friends in high places.

The bottom line: China's promises for a revamped BRI will require further monitoring and scrutiny. While recent statements from Chinese officials are encouraging, better outcomes will require not just symbolic documents and politically expedient promises but also greater transparency and stricter enforcement.

Go deeper: Read the CSIS Global Infrastructure Task Force's BRI report, "The Higher Road."

Belt and Road Forum a chance for Xi to address initiative's critics

Concerns have been raised around corruption, debt sustainability and environmental impacts.

nighttime view of Belt and Road Forum venue in Beijing

The Sunrise East Kempinski Hotel in Beijing, where the Belt and Road Forum is being held April 25–27. Photo: Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei via Getty Images

On Thursday Chinese President Xi Jinping will welcome leaders from 37 countries and delegates from over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="150 countries" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.beltandroadforum.org_n100_2019_0419_c26-2D1125.html&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=vs5m2nTw2L8Ev47EyOD0lWVlrCr9nDC7Y4U0DKJNPcg&amp;s=pmQvANFLBZ0WTc6rUc0ZHli0ByGtaRBHqjP3t2HkEsw&amp;e=" data-vars-content-id="faa85b98-bf65-434b-bcd2-7577fa2b04bf" data-vars-headline="Belt and Road Forum a chance for Xi to address initiative&#x27;s critics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.beltandroadforum.org_n100_2019_0419_c26-2D1125.html&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=vs5m2nTw2L8Ev47EyOD0lWVlrCr9nDC7Y4U0DKJNPcg&amp;s=pmQvANFLBZ0WTc6rUc0ZHli0ByGtaRBHqjP3t2HkEsw&amp;e=" target="_blank">150 countries</a> at the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing — an opportunity to promote the initiative&#x27;s successes and address issues raised by its critics.The big picture: High-profile projects in<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Sri Lanka" data-vars-click-url="https://www.csis.org/analysis/game-loans-how-china-bought-hambantota" data-vars-content-id="faa85b98-bf65-434b-bcd2-7577fa2b04bf" data-vars-headline="Belt and Road Forum a chance for Xi to address initiative&#x27;s critics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/game-loans-how-china-bought-hambantota" target="_blank"> Sri Lanka</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Malaysia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-china-flexes-its-political-muscle-to-expand-power-overseas-11546890449" data-vars-content-id="faa85b98-bf65-434b-bcd2-7577fa2b04bf" data-vars-headline="Belt and Road Forum a chance for Xi to address initiative&#x27;s critics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-china-flexes-its-political-muscle-to-expand-power-overseas-11546890449" target="_blank"> Malaysia</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Montenegro" data-vars-click-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.reuters.com_article_us-2Dchina-2Dsilkroad-2Deurope-2Dmontenegro-2Dinsi_chinese-2Dhighway-2Dto-2Dnowhere-2Dhaunts-2Dmontenegro-2DidUSKBN1K60QX&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=vs5m2nTw2L8Ev47EyOD0lWVlrCr9nDC7Y4U0DKJNPcg&amp;s=nfji-3rESWrOftYv0AjPHs5MlDuuCI0AUyEVQPjPyGw&amp;e=" data-vars-content-id="faa85b98-bf65-434b-bcd2-7577fa2b04bf" data-vars-headline="Belt and Road Forum a chance for Xi to address initiative&#x27;s critics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.reuters.com_article_us-2Dchina-2Dsilkroad-2Deurope-2Dmontenegro-2Dinsi_chinese-2Dhighway-2Dto-2Dnowhere-2Dhaunts-2Dmontenegro-2DidUSKBN1K60QX&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=lTFYvTKl9NjBtWucofDMxg&amp;r=MF8TMHb43cbSHE7Om7KPq_tpkp0XTkE9hLgPzMqvQoA&amp;m=vs5m2nTw2L8Ev47EyOD0lWVlrCr9nDC7Y4U0DKJNPcg&amp;s=nfji-3rESWrOftYv0AjPHs5MlDuuCI0AUyEVQPjPyGw&amp;e=" target="_blank">Montenegro</a> and elsewhere have undercut the Belt and Road Initiative&#x27;s promise to deliver &quot;win-win&quot; outcomes, appearing to benefit China at the expense of its partners. Xi will be aiming to repair the damage these scandals have done to the BRI brand.

Jonathan Hillman

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Belt and Road Forum a chance for Xi to address initiative's critics