On the tenth anniversary of China’s launch of what is now known as the Belt and Road the British Empire is sulking about its success and worrying about how to counter it. In a recent article, The London Economist worries about the success of the Belt and Road Initiative. “In many ways the BRI has lived up to the hype,” they lament. “More than 150 countries, accounting for almost 75% of the world’s population and more than half of its GDP, have signed on to the scheme.”
“China has doled out hundreds of billions of dollars in loans and grants for railways, roads, and other infrastructure that might otherwise have gone unfunded... Much of this has been good: many countries badly need better roads.”
And China is using the BRI to “remake the rules-based order,” complains the London periodical. “Recipients of its largesse face no Western-style fussing about human rights or corruption. Ports and power stations appear, clearly labeled as Chinese-backed projects. What, locals wonder, do preachy Westerners offer that compares?”
Good question! The best answer they can come up with is Biden’s call at the G20 for the World Bank and IMF to do more for poor countries, and to reflect on the G7’s 2022 plan for $600 billion in infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries. Don’t hold your breath!
The Economist says the West has to stop being stingy. Not for the good of the hundreds of millions of people living in poverty, but “as an investment in the rules-based order—or, if it sells better, part of a campaign to counter China.”
The thought of collaboration with China or other Global Majority nations to work together on infrastructure and development doesn’t even cross their minds. That’s because any development they would support would only be for the purposes of restraining China’s influence.
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor … and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing,” wrote Paul to the Corinthians. In the case of the British, they don’t want to profit the poor either!
