What is One Belt, One Road in China?

INTRODUCTION TO ONE BELT, ONE ROAD (OBOR) INITIATIVE

One belt one road, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a project initiated by the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Its objective is to build trade routes between China and the countries in Central Asia, Europe and Indo-Pacific littoral countries. (Littoral countries means situated on the shore of Indian and the Pacific Ocean).

OBOR/ BRI is a network of roads, railways, oil pipelines, power grids, ports and other infrastructural projects meant to connect China to the world.

It was announced in the year 2013 with an objective to rejuvenate the ancient trade routes connecting Asia to Europe. (known as the Silk Road or the Silk Route).

The OBOR initiative has been bifurcated into two parts:

The ‘belt’ refers to the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt‘ which is land based. It will connect China with Central Asia, Eastern and Western Europe.
The ‘road’ refers to the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ which is sea based. It will connect China to South-East Asia, Africa and Central Asia.

Six economic corridors and one maritime route have been proposed under the OBOR:

1. New Eurasian Land Bridge. (connect Western China to Western Russia)

2. China – Mongolia – Russia Corridor (North China to Eastern Russia via Mongolia)

3. China – Central Asia – West Asia Corridor (Western China to Turkey via Central and West Asia

4. China – Indochina Peninsula Corridor (Southern China to Singapore via Indo-China)

5. China – Pakistan Corridor (South Western China to and through Pakistan)

6. Bangladesh – China – India – Myanmar Corridor (Southern China to India via Bangladesh and Myanmar)

7. Maritime Silk Road connecting Coastal China to the Mediterranean via Singapore-Malaysia, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

As we can see, OBOR is an ambitious project and it encompasses almost 65 countries. China has planned around $1 trillion of investment in various infrastructure projects by providing loans to the countries involved at a low cost.

OBJECTIVES OF CHINA BEHIND THIS INITIATIVE

China wants to develop international clout by expanding its influence. It feels isolated as it is not a part of G7 countries. Hence, OBOR will enable China to exert greater regional influence.
The GDP of China has slowed down in the recent years. China expects the OBOR initiative to boost its GDP by boosting trade. China will find new markets for its product.
The Chinese model of growth had been investment led. It has led to excess capacity. This excess capacity will be channelised effectively if China ventures into newer markets for its export.
It will boost Yuan’s usage amongst the countries and strengthen the role of Yuan as an international reserve currency. (Further readings: http://www.caixinglobal.com/2017...)
It will fix regional disparities in China. The Eastern and Southern regions of China have lagged behind in terms of growth. These regions will be now better connected to the world.

CHALLENGES FACED BY CHINA

Some of the countries involved have a very low sovereign credit rating. These countries with low credit-worthiness might not be able to service their debt. This would affect China financially.
Countries in middle-east are unstable and possess a risk to the OBOR initiative.
There might be a political backlash in poor countries if they feel they are being exploited by China. This backlash has already occurred in countries like Srilanka, Myanmar, Africa, when they could not service their debt. The investment made by China in these countries did not generate enough profits. Hence, there might be a problem of poor countries left laden with massive debt.

BENEFITS FOR THE OTHER COUNTRIES INVOLVED

It could bridge the infrastructural deficit in developing countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan
These countries could see a boost in their GDP with increased investment and increased trade.

But, we should not be too optimistic about the success of OBOR as Chinese investments had led to political backlashes in the past. Charges of environmental degradation and labour exploitation were levelled against them.

Also, the loans might be cheap but they come with riders. The countries have to source material from China which results in an increase of cost of borrowing.

Lastly, it is not sure whether the poor countries will be able to benefit from greater trade as they already run a hugeTrade deficit with China.

INDIA’S POSITION

India has boycotted the OBOR initiative due to the following reasons:

China-Pak Economic Corridor(CPEC) passes through the Indian territory (Pak-occupied Kashmir). It trespasses India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
India has a dominance in the Indian Ocean and is worried about the Chinese investment in the Maritime route through the Indian Ocean.
The OBOR initiative lacks transparency.

CONCLUSION

India has much to lose out in terms of economic boost through greater integration with other countries. India also risks isolation as all its neighbouring countries (apart from Bhutan) are a part of this initiative. To mitigate the damage, it should build ties with other countries and increase its spending on infrastructure.

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Related QuestionsMore Answers Below

What does it mean by "One Belt One Road" with respect to China?
What impact will India get because of China's one belt, one road initiative?
Should India support and join OBOR?
What do Europeans think about ‘One belt, one road’?
What are the benefits and risks of "One Belt, One Road" initiative?

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Sreejith Ravi, CEO at Acciva Energy (2015-present)

Answered Apr 2

The Dragon Plan-ONE BELT ONE ROAD.

China’s opportunities to translate economic leverage into political outcomes have never been bigger than today. Although, The Belt and Road initiatives are firmly rooted in imperative of domestic economic development, it is more than just a geo economic strategy to sustain china’s growth and to restructure its economy under globalization. China’s economy is increasingly slowing down benefit from massive infrastructure construction projects and outward foreign direct investment, pushing structural adjustments, economic reforms, industrial upgrading and regional development within china. The looming additional ‘Overcapacity, in turn, stimulate more infrastructure expansion abroad. There is urgent need of special vehicle to push the existing excess capacity in steel in and cement sector outside of china. Its expansion is also intimately aligned with the priorities of large infrastructure – focused, state owned enterprises that seek new ways to maintain the influence.

Importance of Maritime Silk Route:

Shipping Is a Catalyst for the Growth of Real Economies, due to the relatively long chain of shipping industry, the construction of the Maritime Silk Road will drive cooperation in many industries and levels, which will eventually promote the growth of real economies in countries or regions along the Maritime Silk Road .Strengthen the construction of the East Route, China’s traditional cargo-trading channel starting from the East China Sea to the South Pacific, North America, and Latin America, which can break up the marine containment of the U.S. and Japan and protect the important channel of Chinese foreign trade; and consolidate the construction of the West Route.

The West Route is the core channel for Chinese energy resource trade and also the traditional channel of the historical maritime Silk Road. It passes through the South China Sea and can reach countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. Consolidating the construction of the West Route relates directly to the safety of Chinese energy resources and economy.

Developing the construction of the North Route utilizes the Arctic navigation channels. Developing the Arctic Ocean navigation channels will help to connect North America, Russia, and countries in Northern Europe. Meanwhile, it may also enhance the cooperation in Northeast Asia and shorten the distance for importing grains and cereals from North America. Therefore, construction of the North Route has strategic importance for enhancing cooperation between China and Northeast Asian countries as well as for developing polar resources

Attraction NOD- Africa & Europe

The advancement of infrastructural connectivity in Africa, especially in Eastern African countries, will function as an important catalyst for the development of the China-Africa relation under the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative. While advancing infrastructural development, emphasis is attached to the building-up of special economic zones (SEZs) in East African countries that act as “places of exception” along the infrastructural corridors that are becoming important “attraction nods” for Chinese companies that follow Belt and Road Initiative’s promises into the African Region.

The BR indicates Eurasia is the current and future growth arena of china’s rise.Xi administration wants to systematically extend the logic of special governance zones and corridors in order to establish trade and investment links throughout Eurasia.

Financing the Plan

China took the lead to establish the Silk Road Fund Co.,Ltd. to offer investment and financing to projects relating to interconnectivity in countries along the MSR, such as infrastructure,

development of resources, industrial cooperation, and financial cooperation, and so on. In addition, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will also become an important financing channel for construction of infrastructures in Asian countries along the Maritime Silk Road.

The BR comes with a relatively well-defined strategic infrastructure plan to connect Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, making clear the focus is primarily Eurasian. Project financing is planned to come from newly established financial institutions, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with USD 100 billion capital

The Indian point of view

The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement highlighting Delhi’s concerns regarding the BRI. The concerns primarily were the need to “recognize international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality...principles of financial responsibility to avoid... unsustainable debt burden [and] respects sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Picture prior to The Belt and Road

India had to cope with China’s transborder infrastructure projects for more than half a century. Back in the early 1960s,India reacted quite strongly to Beijing’s construction of a friendship highway to Nepal. In the 1970s, it objected to China’s construction of the Karakoram Highway between Xinjiang and Pakistan. In the 1980s, it raised the red flag against reports that China was developing the Cocos Islands of Myanmar for military purposes. China’s “Go West” strategy of the 2000s vastly expanded the scale of the challenge, as China built the Tibet Railway and pushed it to the Nepal border; modernized the Karakoram Highway; unveiled plans for the development of infrastructure between Yunnan andthe Bay of Bengal through Myanmar; and began to develop new ports at Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), and Kyaukphyu (Myanmar).

Perspective of CPEC

From the South Asian perspective at least, the CPEC has emerged as the most visible project of the BR network. The economic corridor begins at Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang province and ends in the port of Gwadar in Pakistan’s Balochistan, building highways, roads, railways, pipelines, ports, and IT parks along the way.

One of the focal points of the project is the development of the port of Gwadar, nabling the movement of Chinese goods from its Western provinces to the Arabian Sea connecting to the Indian Ocean. An often-cited Chinese investment figure for CPEC is 46 billion USD, which has been confirmed by Pakistan but not by Beijing.

Dilemma

India sees the shift in Beijing’s Kashmir positions as a reflection of the deepening strategic partnership between China and Pakistan China in expanding India’s internal and transborder connectivity. India will have to adopt a balanced approach of competition and collaboration to secure its strategic interests while developing its infrastructure needs. Instead of addressing the BR as a single comprehensive initiative, Delhi must address each of its projects for their feasibility, costs, and benefits. While the CPEC and MSR intensify the security dilemma, the BCIM leaves plenty of room to continue and further Sino-Indian competition. Such a differentiated approach could open up considerable space for engaging China positively on regional connectivity.

Collaboration on one project does not mean Delhi will stop competing with China, either individually or jointly with the US and Japan, in bidding for regional infrastructure projects. An approach that focuses on the specificity of each project and is open to both competition and cooperation with Beijing will give greater room to maneuver and also generate possibilities for limiting the intensifying security dilemma with China.

Foot Notes:

· Connectivity and Regional Integration:Prospects for Sino-Indian Cooperation Darshana M. Baruah and C. Raja Mohan

· China’s Rise as Eurasian Power:The Revival of the Silk Road and Its Consequences Maximilian Mayer

· The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the Leading Function of the Shipping Industry Hu Zhang

· china-construction ⋆ The Malaysian Times

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Ritul Mishra, lives in India

Updated May 24 2017 · Author has 82 answers and 287.1k answer views

Originally Answered: What is ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR)?

Originally Answered: Ritul Mishra's answer to Should India support and join OBOR?

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced one of China’s most ambitious foreign policy and economic initiatives at the end of 2013. He called for the building of a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, collectively referred to as One Belt One Road (OBOR).

One Belt One Road (OBOR) is arguably one of the largest development plans in modern history. But is this initiative a merely economic one or geostrategic step by China? Will India get benefit by joining this initiative or not? Let us discuss this initiative in detail.

What is “One Belt, One Road” or OBOR?

One Belt, One Road (OBOR) is China’s much-touted new foreign and economic policy. It is a development strategy to connect China with Central Asia, Europe, and Indo-Pacific littoral countries. This policy has two components:

Belt– The “One Belt” refers to the land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt”. Here Beijing aims to connect the country’s underdeveloped hinterland to Europe through Central Asia.
Road – The “One Road” references the ocean-going “Maritime Silk Road”. It is to connect the fast-growing South East Asian region to China’s southern provinces through ports and railways.

The plan is to connect the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. This will connect Chinese coastline with SE Asia, South Asia, Gulf and East coast of Africa. China will build hard and soft maritime infrastructure. It will include custom co-ordination, the formation of SEZ, new ports, e-commerce, trade liberalisation and policy coordination.

OBOR covers countries throughout the Asian continent from China to the rest of Eurasia. The geographical stretch makes it comparable with Silk Road or Silk Route, an ancient network of trade routes connecting the East and West around 120 BCE to 1450s CE that is famous for the profitable silk (and horses) trade. That is why it is also called as “New Silk Road” initiative.

Objectives of China behind the One Belt One Road

The OBOR strategy is often reported as China’s ambitious push to take a bigger role in global affairs and expand its friend circle.
While China insists that the investment in OBOR is economically motivated and it will bring economic benefits to host countries but the project is multi-prolonged and is intended to serve diplomatic, economic and strategic purposes.
It is also intended to address its domestic needs in economic transformation. The demand for industrial output will increase and thus will revitalise its economy.
This project will build China’s soft power and some analysts call it a China’ Marshall Plan.
This initiative will make Indo-Pacific region to be Sino-centric economic and security region.
It is also an attempt to counter US propaganda that rising China is a threat to world peace. Thus it is to convince that rising China is not a threat rather creates a win-win situation for all.
Maritime Silk Road, and especially Chinese infrastructure investment is implicitly intended to facilitate more frequent People’s Liberation Army Navy deployments in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Citing from the Source: One Belt One Road (OBOR) by China - Should India Join It?

Original Answer: Ritul Mishra's answer to Should India support and join OBOR?

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Himanshu Tripathi, works at Infosys Limited

Updated Jul 3

China's master plans to dominate global trade through one belt one road initiative. There’s a new highway in Pakistan and a new rail terminal in Kazakhstan. A seaport in Sri Lanka recently opened. As well as this bridge in rural Laos. What’s interesting is that they’re all part of one country’s project that spans 3 continents and touches over 60% of the world’s population. If you connect the dots, it’s not hard to see which country that is. This is China's Belt and Road Initiative the most ambitious infrastructure project in modern history that's designed to reroute global trade.

It's how China plans to become the world’s next superpower. It’s 2013 Chinese president, Xi Jinping is giving a speech in Kazakhstan where he mentions the Ancient Silk Road. A network of trade routes that spread goods, ideas, and culture across Europe, the Middle East, and China as far back as 200 BC.

He then says "we should take an innovative approach and jointly build an economic belt along the Silk Road". A month later, Xi is in Indonesia:"The two sides should work together to build a maritime silk road for the 21st century". These two phrases were the first mentions of Xi’s legacy project, the multi-trillion dollar One Belt and One Road Initiative, or BRI.

They’re also the two components of the plan. There’s an overland Economic Belt of 6 corridors that serve as new routes to get goods in and out of China. Like this railroad connecting China to London. And these gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea to China and a high-speed train network in South East Asia. Then there’s the maritime silk road a chain of seaports stretching from the South China Sea to Africa that also directs trade to and from China. The BRI also includes oil refineries, industrial parks, power plants, mines, and fibre-optic networks - all designed to make it easier for the world to trade with China.

So far, over 60 countries have reportedly signed agreements for these projects. And the list is growing, because China promotes it as a win-win for everyone. Take, for example, the BRI’s flagship project: Pakistan. Pause for Pakistan Like many countries in Central and South Asia, Pakistan has a stagnant economy and a corruption problem. It wasn’t a popular place for foreign investment, that is until China came along. In 2001, China offered to build a brand new port in the small fishing town of Gwadar.

Read also: The USA vs China: effects of a trade war.

By 2018, the port, as well as highway and railway networks, became a $62 billion dollar Corridor within the BRI. It’s where the Economic Belt meets the Maritime Silk Road and it seemed to benefit both countries. Pakistan saw its highest GDP growth in 8 years and forged a tight relationship with a major world power. China, on the other hand, secured a new alternative route for goods, especially, oil and gas from the Middle East.

Through projects like these, it also found a way to boost its economy. Chinese construction companies that had fewer opportunities within their own country saw a huge boost from BRI contracts 7 out of the 10 biggest construction firmsin the world are now Chinese. What tips the balance in China’s favour, even more, is a requirement that it be involved in building these projects.

In Pakistan for example, Chinese workers have directly built projects, like this highway here, and a Chinese firm has worked with locals on a railway here in Serbia. China’s involvement is one of its very few demands and that’s set these deals apart so far. See, typically, to get investment from the West, countries have to meet strict ethical standards. But China’s offered billions of dollars mostly in loans with far fewer conditions. So, it’s no surprise the BRI has been a big hit with the less-democratic countries in the region.

China has signed agreements with Authoritarian Governments Militaryregimes and some of the most corrupt countries in the world. It’s even affiliated with, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen, and Iraq; all currently splintered by conflict. Because of China's willingness to loan money to unreliable countries, many experts have called the BRI a risky plan. Eventually, these countries will have to pay China back but corruption and conflict make that payback unlikely.

A recent report found that many countries indebted to China are vulnerable, including 8 that are at high risk of being unable to pay. So why does China keep lending? Because there’s more to the BRI than just economics. In Sri Lanka, China loaned about 1.5 billion dollars for a new deep-water port. It was a key stop on the Maritime Silk Road. But by 2017 it was clear Sri Lanka couldn’t pay back the loan, so instead, they gave China control of the port as part of a 99-yearlease.

China also controls the strategic port in Pakistan - where it has a 40-year lease, It’s pushing for a similar agreement in Myanmar, and it just opened an actual Chinese naval base in Djibouti. These are all signs of what’s called the String of Pearl's theory. It predicts that China is trying to establish a string of naval bases in the Indian Ocean that will allow it to station ships and guard shipping routes that move through the region. So while China’s not getting its money back, its still achieving some very important strategic goals.

China’s growing influence challenges the status of the US, which has been the world loan super-power for the last several decades. Isolation is trending in the US meaning it’s investing less and therefore losing influence around the world. The BRI is China's way of leveraging power to become a global leader. By building relationships and taking control of global trade, China is well on its way.

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Shipra Mishra, studied at Career Security Ensemble

Answered Dec 31 2017

One belt one road is a Chinese ambitious project which focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa with China. It emphasizes both on land as well as maritime routes.

History

From before the Tang Dynasty until European colonisation, Chinese skills and ceramics traversed this vital 'silk route’ which connected China with the polities if S-E Asia and beyond into India, the middle East and Europe. This made China the greatest Maritime nation in the world facilitating the economic success of several Chinese dynasties.

By incorporating the historically significant imagery of the ancient Maritime silk route within its OBOR strategy, China is attempting to revive its Maritime glory and reassert itself as a powerful middle Kingdom that is once again central to global trade and international relations.

What is OBOR?

Unveiled in 2013, the project has two components

The Silk Road Economic Belt (SERB)— it focuses on bringing together China, central Asia, Russia Europe linking China with the Persian gulf and the Mediterranean sea and also connecting China with SE Asia, south Asia and the Indian ocean.
The 21st century Maritime Silk Route (MSR) — it is designed to run from China's coast to Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one route and from China's coast through South China Sea to the South Pacific in the other route.

The initiative is geographically structured along 6 corridors —

New Eurasian Land Bridge
China Mongolia Russia Corridor
China-Central Asia-West Asia Corridor
China-Indonesia Peninsular Corridor
China-Myanmar-Bangladesh-India Corridor
China-Pakistan Corridor
Maritime Silk Road

Objectives of OBOR

The program is an estimated $5 trillion infrastructure spending spree that would include 60 plus countries.

It is all about

Building infrastructure and connectivity across the countries.
Constructing roads, bridges, gas pipelines, ports, railways, power plants.
It expects to bridge the infrastructure gap and thus accelerate economic growth across the Asia Pacific area and Central and Eastern Europe.

OBOR is financially aided by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Silk Road Fund.

Members of OBOR

As of the meeting in Beijing in 2017, president Xi Jinping announced that nearly 70 countries and international organisations have signed up for the mega infrastructure project. The next gathering is scheduled in 2019.

India and the OBOR

India hasn't agreed to be a part of the OBOR due to following reasons —

The main reason being the CPEC, which is a part of the OBOR. China's increasing favours to Pakistan to woo it directly indicates increasing influence of China over POK, thus creating sovereignty issues in India.
OBOR is anticipated as a cover for establishing the 'String of Pearls’.
The Maritime network has the capacity to dramatically reduce Indian authority throughout South Asia and Indian Ocean, which is its core influence.

With Nepal officially inking the OBOR deal with China in May 2017, India is now the only South Asian country left not to be involved in this ambitious project. ( Though Bhutan, which has no diplomatic ties with China, is also not a part of it)

Chinese foreign policy experts have noted that Nepal's inclusion in OBOR may force India to join the initiative or face exclusion(citing good bilateral ties between India and Nepal).

Objections/controversies

The OBOR is perceived as China's ambition to seek strategically confident position in global arena.

The deep water ports built as part of the 21st century MSR is though as a way to enable the Chinese navy to militarily secure its sea lanes of communication.
Countries in S-E Asia believes that building large scale infrastructural networks is a discrete way for China to increase its strategic footprint in the region.
The road and rail corridors proposed as a part of the OBOR initiative could be used as a potential future conflict to quickly mobilise and transport troops.
Also owing to the large population of it, China's economy relies heavily on manufacturing exports. So, it is a way to ensure good and energy security of the nation as well.

However the reason for Asian and Eastern European countries to join the OBOR initiative is because it seeks to assure infrastructure-driven economic growth.

PS : in mid-2016, its English name was officially changed to the Belt and Road Initiative, due to misinterpretation of the term one.

Source : the world’s leading open access website for students and scholars of international politics , Wikipedia , the Indian express, the Hindu.

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Vijay Varsh, B.E Government College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, India, MAM Matriculation Higher Secondary School,Mettur (...

Answered Dec 3 2017

OBOR

India’s position regarding OBOR

India is opposed to Chinese One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through the Indian territory.

Because it's connectivity undermine the sovereignty of India and so refused to attend first summit in May 2017.

What is OBOR?

Developed by Chinese President Xi Jinping One Belt, One Road (OBOR) 2013 is China’s ambicious new foreign and economic policy.

It is a development strategy to connect China with Central Asia, Europe, and Indo-Pacific countries.

Geographical stretch

It is comparable with an ancient network of Silk Road or Silk trade routes connecting the East and Western countries.

The route is famous for the profitable silk and horses trade. That is why it is also called as New Silk Road initiative

Has two components:

1.One Belt

a.Means land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt”.

b. To connect the china's underdeveloped hinterland to Europe through Central Asia.

2.One Road

a. Means ocean-based“Maritime Silk Road”.

b. It is to connect the fast-growing South East Asian region to China’s southern provinces.

c.Developments like custom co-ordination, the formation of SEZ, new ports, e-commerce, trade liberalisation etc.,

Objectives of China

1. Bigger role in global affairs by expanding its friends circle.

2. It will change Indo-Pacific region to Sino-centric economic and security region.

3. It will facilitate the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA) deployments in the Indian Ocean.

4. Initially by Providing economic aid to the host countries and in a long run controlling its diplomatic and strategic moves.

5. As an attempt to counter US propaganda by merely convincing that rising China is not a threat rather creates a win-win situation for all.

Implications on India

As a part of OBOR china develops China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

CPEC is expected to connect Kashgar in (Xinjiang province) China’s far west with the Port of Gwadar (Baluchistan province) through the network of highways, railways, and pipelines.

The route of CPEC passes through POK which touches the sovereignity of India and makes China an indirect stakeholder in Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan.

Geostrategic move of china

1. Development in Western China to supress the sepratist movement in these areas.

2. Promote growth in Pakistan, encourage Pakistan army to support peace efforts in Afghanistan.

3.Energy security is the major concern for China and oil pipelines through Pakistan would cut about 16,000 kilometers from the distance traveled by goods traded between China and the Middle East.

4. Without passing through Strait of Malacca, which could be blocked by US or India in case of hostilities break out in this region.

Advantages of joining OBOR

1.India can't stop its neighbours from joining OBOR.

2. So whether India joins OBOR initiative or not, the project will take place.

3. India may become isolated in this region since all of its neighbours (except Bhutan) have joined OBOR.

4.Win-Win situation for India

* India protecting Chinese interests in the Indian Ocean

* China securing India’s interest in its water.

5. Key initiatives of OBOR

* Regional transport, energy security, and blue economy which will be helpful for India.

6.OBOR project India will get access to more business in an environment which promote friendly reforms.

7.Countries like Russia and others in SCO wants

* Indian to participation in OBOR as a counter to China.

8. China may gain cultural hegemony in the region which may prove counter-productive to India.

Disadvantages of joining OBOR

1.Lack of transparency

2.String of pearl policy against India

3.Increased Interest over North East region.

But India has already refused to join this initiative due to geostrategic and geopolitical angle attached to this project. Instead, India has started initiatives like

* **Project Mausam**

* **SagarMala**

* **Chabahar Port**

* **Naval Ports:** India is developing naval ports in Indian Ocean regions like at Madagascar, Seychelles, and Mauritius.

Hope this helps please write your comments......!!!

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Chayan Poddar, MA Development Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (2020)

Answered May 7 · Author has 51 answers and 23k answer views

The ancient Silk Road was the crux of trading network that connected ancient civilizations. Roman, Greek, Arab and Indian merchants, among others, worked their way along the route. Goods, such as coveted Chinese silk, were traded, alongside culture, technologies and philosophies.

China, the second largest economy in the world, in nominal terms and the largest economy in PPP terms, now looks to the future while seeking to resurrect past glories with its Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and the Maritime Silk Road (MSR), together known as the One Belt and One Road Initiative (OBOR) or the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). More than sixty countries and international organizations have signed up for the infrastructure project.

From Russia in the north to Myanmar in the south, and across to western Europe, the land - based BRI covers a vast expanse of the Earth. The accompanying Maritime Silk Road will include Singapore and ports along the Indian Ocean, including in east Africa, and Oceania.

The Chinese premier Xi Jinping initially mooted the idea of SREB and twenty first century MSR during his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia in September and October, 2013, respectively. Subsequently, the two projects together came to be known as ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) Initiative. The concept was rechristened as 'Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) when opposition surfaced to the idea of one nation dictating the existence of ’one belt, one road’ in a globalized world in which ‘many belts and many roads’ exist. Greater clarity was provided on the idea at the Belt Road Forum (BRF) organized in Beijing in mid-May, 2017.

According to Chinese authorities, more than a hundred countries participated in the forum, many of them at Heads of state/government level. India was the only major country that did not attend. In his address on May 14, President Xi called BRI as the project of the century to benefit people all across the world - ancient silk routes opened windows of friendly engagement among nations and embodied the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit; BRI will promote friendship, shared development, peace, harmony and a better future for all countries.

BRI, Xi declared, is a new model of win-win cooperation and would make economic globalization, open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. By constantly hearkening back to the history of East - West exchange, China is striving to propagate a narrative of a globalization in which China had a central and ostensibly benign role. Xi Jinping professes to rekindle the same old ‘Silk Road Spirit’.

BRI spans some sixty five countries in Asia, Africa and Europe covering seventy percent of the world population, three-quarters of its energy resources, a quarter of goods and services, and twenty eight percent of global GDP ($21 trillion).

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Digamber Rana, studied at Acharya Narendra Dev College -Gobindpuri Kalkaji, New Delhi - 110 019

Updated Oct 23, 2016 · Author has 65 answers and 87.1k answer views

ONE BELT - ONE ROAD

Belt and road is bifurcated into two routes :Silk Road Economic Belt (overland) and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (sea) , also known as one belt one road ( abbreviated OBOR ) , one road one belt ( abbreviated OROB) is a strategic road proposition propounded by supreme leader of China , Xi Jinping , in 2013 September .

This is the proposed route ,the main aim is connectivity and corporation of people’s republic of China with Eurasia , Middle East , Africa via the landlocked Central Asia ( Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan etc) and littoral south east Asia nations .

XI’AN is the most significant city because the one road one belt will originate from here , which'll connect the China-Europe via Kazakhstan , Turkmenistan , Russia Turkey etc through Silk Road Economic Belt . And the other route is 21st Century Maritime Silk Road which prospects to connect China with Europe via South China Sea , suit canal , Bay of Bengal , Arabian Sea . The prodigious project tends to encompass 50–60 countries .

The latter pic is similar to former one but with more details . It's conspicuous that blue line is the sea route , black line indicate the road infrastructure , red and green betoken gas and oil pipelines respectively .

This extravagant project is made up of

•highways and expressways - They target to connect the inimical terrains of Central Asia like Karakoram , Himalayas etc .

•overland rail routes -This is done to fasten the import and export ,that too on a comparatively cheaper way .

•ports - China on its own making ports in various places like Gwadar port , Chittagong and hambantota port etc .

•Gas pipeline -The Central Asia is inundated with gas and China is eying on it by making pipelines , so that China and other countries can get gas .

• Other infrastructure - They're innumerable infrastructure project yet to be unveiled which aim to connect .

These are the basics part of OROB which China is solely providing .

This is another image with lots of details. You'll see a dotted black line that represents the railway track , one line which has gone to connect kazak , Uzbek , turkey , Spain , Warsaw , Moscow and Germany the other one connects mayanmar and Bangladesh . You can see the green line which denotes the pipeline which is connecting Russia to Europe , mayanmar - Bangladesh . Secondly , Ports are being constructed or undergirded by China in Gwadar (Pakistan) , sitwe( mayanmar) and Chittagong ( Bangladesh) ,this is all done to burgeon 21st century maritime silk route .

Major trains running already from China

• Duisberg , Germany

• Madrid , Spain

• Tehran , Iran .

These trains are highly efficacious , earlier on ship the journey used to take 34–36 days to read Madrid and Duisberg now the journey is wrapped up in closer to 2 weeks . Cost efficient the second reason . Besides , they send there Chinese gadgets through these trains which aims to flood European market with Chinese indigenous material .

OFFICIAL AIM OF CHINA

• Historical Heritage - China wanted to rejuvenate their ancient silk route .

• cultural rejuvenation - This'll increase the import- export of cultural goods . People to people talk will be commonplace then .

•Trade and economic cooperation

• Standardized and linked trade facilities - This means that there'll be Standardized rail and ship routes . For example train tracks in China broad gauze one and in kazakhistan its meter gauze , so do you think China can go to Russia through kzakstan ? No !! . This is why there'll be a Standardized and linked trade facilities .

• Financial integration - China is trying to replicate what's in Europe : European Union .

FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CHINA

• Asian infrastructure investment bank

• China development bank

• Silk Road funds

• Deals with partner nations .

REASON TO CULMINATE OROB are as follows -

•Energy needs

• manufacturing boom of China is unsustainable

• Integration of economy

•Enter in the new and untapped undeveloped region of Asia and Africa .

• fix up the regional disparities of China . Eastern and southern region lagging behind

• Global dominance .

From India’s point of view , they're still skeptical about OROB due to some reasons like precise details are sketchy , security reason in Kashmir , Indias dominance in Indian Ocean , string pearl , CPEC .

What is string pearl ?

You'll see the red spots , they're the ports constructed or undergirded by China . Defence experts call it a string of pearls as its kinda necklace which can be threatening to India , if ever China -India engage in war , China will definitely use their commercial ports to deploy their navy , submarines etc . China with ease can cut off India from oceans .

What is CPEC ?

Digamber Rana's answer to How will CPEC affect India, Pakistan & China?

Lots of negativity , Lets talk about positive of what'll happen if India. Joins the OROB -

• prodigious economy boost

• Integration with Eurasia

• It'll definitely meet infrastructure demand .

• Indias trust build up with China . ( though it's not happening in foreseeable future )

ENCUMBERANCE CHINA’s Way -

• South China Sea dispute

Countries like Philippines , Vietnam , Brunei etc are claiming for their gas reserves . China is aggressively gravitating on the path to claim on gas reserves .

•Senakaku island dispute with Japan

There is an interminable issue between China and Japan on this island .

•India

India is the most important link in this OROB . Have a look on map you'll see India is right in the middle and both routes , Silk economic road route and maritime Silk Road , passes through India . It's tad problematic for China if they miss out india .

•Cultural difference

• Different state of economy .

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Gary Sands, Lived in Shanghai 2006-2012, lives in Vietnam, written several articles on China

Answered May 19, 2017 · Author has 1k answers and 512.8k answer views

Originally Answered: What is ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR)?

OBOR is also called the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to invest in transport and logistic infrastructure across the ancient Silk Roads, recreating the old trade routes between Europe and China with modern ports, high-speed rail, highways and pipelines.

OBOR is the brainchild of Chinese President Xi Jinping (though the idea has been around for decades) who recently hosted a summit, held outside the Chinese capital Beijing, to celebrate the launch of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure vision. It brought together 30 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, who expressed hope the project would promote growth and a new world order.

"It is our hope that via the Belt and Road initiative, we will unleash new economic forces for global growth, build new platforms for global development, and rebalance economic globalization,” Xi told summit attendees on May 15.

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Manfred Kramer, works at Information Technology

Answered Apr 16, 2015 · Author has 3.1k answers and 4.4m answer views

Originally Answered: How do we think about “one belt, one road”?

One Belt, One Road
"One belt, one road" is a development strategy started by the Chinese government in 2013. It refers to the New Silk Road Economic Belt, which will link China with Europe through Central and Western Asia, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which will connect China with Southeast Asian countries, Africa and Europe." (Caixin online)
I don't know how "we think". You've actually posed this question in a bit too general a way. It should rather be "How do YOU think about China's
"one belt one road". THIS phrasing would tell people that this "one belt, one road" is something that pertains to a strategy that the current government of China is pursuing. You can assume that not too many people know about that...
I think that this strategy might be quite useful for China's policy to expand its influence. If that is in itself a good thing I cannot properly estimate at this time. China could become a positive factor in many ways. Time will tell if this is going to be the case...

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Lin Xieyi, researching in world commerce

Answered Apr 23, 2016 · Author has 675 answers and 6.9m answer views

The One Belt One Road (OBOR) plan is a massive, evolving patchwork of diplomacy, infrastructure projects, free-trade areas and agreements funded by the new Chinese-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The idea was first floated by China's President Xi in late 2013, it seeks to weave together some 60 of China's trading partners in a huge economic zone, the contemporary equivalent of the Silk Road trade routes that linked Asia and the Mediterranean in ancient times. At the same time it aims to give Chinese Infrastructure companies a channel to secure international business. The AIIB has already attracted 57 founding member countries and about US$100 billion in funding. Even with this new source of funds, it is going to be hard to meet huge infrastructure needs of the Asia-Pacific and African regions in the next decade.

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Siddhartha Yadav, works at Indian Institute of Technology Varanasi

Answered Jun 12, 2015

Originally Answered: How do we think about “one belt, one road”?

"ONE BELT,ONE ROAD" is a plan of China to get access to central asia's oil and gas resources and to develop its trade by having multiple routes by both sea and land. It will help developing countries like India,Bangladesh,Sri Lanka,Indonesia by having more access to the trade. OBOR tackles the usual trade route that is created by USA which benefits only few countries like singapore. China is also claiming more parts of the south China Sea and Indian Ocean which created certain tension about trade routes of usual USA.

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Anil Kumar, Software Engineer

Answered Mar 14, 2017

It is the development strategy , unvieled by xi jinping in september and october 2013 in announcements revealing SREB and MSR.

-> One belt one road is an iniative proposed by china to connect the china with eurasia ,so how do they connect one is through SREB (Silk road economic belt) Through road transport, and through MSR(Maritime silk road) through water ways.

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Sara Ying, Lived in China for awhile

Answered May 24, 2017 · Author has 140 answers and 690k answer views

Originally Answered: What is One Belt One Road?

The One Belt One Road plan is definitely a bit crazy, in both good and bad ways.

For those who might not have heard, China is investing billions of dollars in foreign countries in return for the empty promises of other nations. This initiative is certainly something to be admired. Having only recently taken the lead on the global stage, China serves as a good example for developing nations in Africa and Southeast Asia.

However you look at it economically though, I think it’s important to also consider the impact of One Belt One Road on a person-to-person level. Many Chinese are now moving overseas for these higher paying jobs to support their families. Similar to the new movement of Chinese students to foreign universities, this migration is splitting up families across the nation. Having had personal experience with these things, I may have a bit more biased view, although I do hope that these initiatives will one day pay off for the Chinese nation.

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Greg Blandino, works at Beijing, China

Answered Mar 29, 2016 · Author has 1.6k answers and 2.3m answer views

In a nutshell, it's an attempt to make overland transport economical in the face of overweening maritime superiority of the Anglo power structure.

Since the early-20th century, the pendulum has been swinging back in favor of the traditional arrangement of maritime transport being cheaper and faster than overland transport after the disruption of the railroad in the 19th century. Supercontainer ships are getting larger and larger, giving maritime trade a cost-boost due to scale advantages.

For China, being dependent on maritime trade put's it at a geographical disadvantage to it's near-peer rival, the US. At any time the US could conceivably blockade China. Unlike the USSR before the mid-80's, China does not pursue an autarkic strategy and is thus dependent on trade.

The "one belt one road" initiative seeks to change that geographical advantage to China's favor by exploiting it's position on the Eurasian landmass as opposed to the US's position on the North American island. If it can unify the economy and trade routes of Eurasia to be independent from maritime power, American and British preeminence on the sea fades to insignificance.

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Radhe Shyam Sharma

Answered Jun 18, 2018

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ONE BELT, ONE ROAD IN CHINA.

WHAT IS IT?

One belt one road popularly known as the Belt and Road Initiative is project which was started by the current Chinese president Xi Jingping. The major objective behind this project was to create trade routes among China and the other countries in Central Asia, Europe and Indo-pacific countries.

For more information please check out this in-dept article on one belt, one road

Everything you need to know about One Belt, One Road in China. - SuttaNews

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Haris Lee, B.Sc. Investing & Real Estate Investing, University of Saskatchewan (2007)

Answered May 27, 2017

In nutshell. It is a world game changer infrastructure connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe.

It will consist of Belt = Physical Road and Maritime Silk Road = Shipping lanes

For more info and better reading experience you can check on this link One Belt One Road Initiative

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Jun Lin, works at Strategic Fooyou Agency (2000-present)

Answered Jun 21, 2018 · Author has 73 answers and 112.2k answer views

Some things are interesting, and India has always claimed that it does not support the road. Their prime minister did not attend the meeting. But India has already participated in bri. India, borrowing a lot of money from Asia Investment Bank to build power plants. The Asian investment bank is the obor fund

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Kaman Baveja, Knows quite a lot about Current Affairs and events!

Answered Jun 9, 2018

It’s an initiative by China with the aim to capture the world market by developing land, marine infrastructure. This infra will ultimately connect China to other countries and thus boosting the China’s dominance in the world market and in turn providing the participating countries with employment opportunities.

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Alfred W Croucher, has lived and worked in China since 1978. His post-graduate thesis was on GPCR.

Answered Mar 28, 2016 · Author has 2.5k answers and 3.5m answer views

The One Belt, One Road project is designed to create a massive new global infrastructure along the old continental and maritime Silk Roads, in which all roads lead to Beijing. And those roads, rail lines, pipelines sea lines, ports and harbors are all built and controlled by China and are designed to link every country along the way to China, facilitating trade, commerce, communication and influence. In short a new Eurasian Pax Sinica to eclipse any to date.

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CHEN Dalun (陳達侖), Chinese national.

Answered Oct 17, 2016 · Author has 109 answers and 238.5k answer views

Originally Answered: How do you think of one belt one road policy?

Now that the eastern coast part of China is quite rich, this policy can help develop Xinjiang and other inland provinces. The cost of transporting goods to mid-Asia and even further to Europe can be reduced.

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Dave Lee

Answered Jun 29, 2018 · Author has 52 answers and 6k answer views

“All roads lead to Beijing” is the revised “All roads lead to Rome”. This “One belt one road” is to create an Empire. Have all trade lead to China. It will be damaging to all economics of the world.

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