Will China's Belt and Road Initiative Fail?

China's Belt and Road Initiative turns 10 years old this year. Launched by Xi Jinping in 2013 as a way to "promote infrastructure construction and connectivity, align national policies and development strategies, deepen practical cooperation, promote coordinated and interconnected development, and achieve common prosperity,” many analysts think that the BRI is on the brink of collapse. Plagued with allegations of creating debt traps, aiding corrupt governments, and causing ecological damage, there are many who are suspicious and disapproving of the new Silk Road. But China insists that its plans are for the good of the global economy, and is a crucial tool in fighting poverty.Will the BRI be able to survive the post-pandemic global economic slowdown? Or is China's flagship globalist policy a vital lifeline for developing and emerging countries that have otherwise been overlooked by Western nations?Substack: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod Intro: 00:00What is the Belt and Road?: 03:00China's view on BRI: 06:22World Bank analysis: 11:03Western/anti-BRI views: 14:27BRI in Tajikistan: 20:30 BRI in Nigeria: 22:25Labour and security: 26:10BRI in Vietnam: 26:45BRI in Ghana: 28:16BRI as a debt trap?: 30:15BRI post-lockdown: 32:56Outro: 36:46Support the showSign up for Buzzsprout to launch your podcasting journey: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=162442Subscribe to the Sinobabble Newsletter: https://sinobabble.substack.com/Support Sinobabble on Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Sinobabblepod