One Belt- One Road

15.05.2017
The Platform for China's New Foreign Policy

Obviously, the idea of ​​a new Silk Road is the basis for the PRC's foreign policy in the Eurasian space. Cheap labor, combined with huge financial resources and the completion of the renovation of almost all major infrastructure projects inside China, force Beijing to actively and accurately work in the countries of Central Asia.

In this respect, cooperation with Pakistan is quite indicative, where, because of the Chinese investments, the country goes through a political, social and economic transformation. The countries of the former Soviet space in Asia are also necessary for the expansion of Chinese capabilities and transport routes towards Europe.

Previously, Western experts called China's cooperation with the countries of the Middle East and South Asia to create infrastructure in the Indian Ocean a "String of Pearls" Now the seaports and military presence in ocean gives China the opportunity to control the sea route from Africa to its coast. In addition, China finances the construction of the Kra channel in Thailand, which will shorten the track and add an alternative route (now all cargo from Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, including oil, flows through the Malacca Strait).

Russia’s role

At the joint SCO and BRICS summit in July 2015, the leaders of Russia and China agreed to combine the projects of the Eurasian Economic Union and One Belt - One Road. In addition, the Northern Sea Route is also envisaged as an element of a new global infrastructure.

It was stated that now all Russian transport routes are being modernized, which will qualitatively improve throughput. With the convergence of the two projects - China to the south and Russia to the north - both countries will receive significant preferences in global trade.

This visit was also used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with the leaders of other states who arrived at the forum.

USA as a spectator

It should be mentioned that American neocons and globalists have repeatedly tried to drive a wedge between the cooperation of Russia and China. The US traditionally used the stick and carrot method - from the G2 project to the latest anti-Chinese attacks associated with cyber espionage, for which the Chinese authorities were blamed, and the need for trade protectionism.

On the eve of the US presidential election, Beijing feared that Washington would try to reach an agreement with Moscow, which would be directed against China. While the US did not succeed in preventing active cooperation between Russia and China, they are trying to influence the situation directly in the countries of Central Asia, especially in Afghanistan.

Voluntary outsider

India did not send its delegation to the summit "One Belt - One Road". Other facts - the refusal to hold a SAARC summit in 2016, provocations against Pakistan, a decrease in the purchase of Iranian oil, and the intensification of cooperation with the United States and Israel, indicate that New Delhi can act as proxy for the interests of an external actor, most likely Washington.