Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Blues: Powering BRI Research Back on Track to Avoid Choppy Seas

Abstract

This piece examines and critiques the massive literature on China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It details how research currently seems stuck on the road to nowhere. In addition, it identifies a number of the potholes that collective research endeavors are hitting such as that they are poorly synchronized. It also stresses that lines of analysis are proliferating rather than optimizing, with studies broadening in thematic coverage, rather than becoming deeper. It points out that BRI participants are regularly related to the role of a bit player in many analyses and research often is disconnected from other literatures. Among other things, this article recommends analysts focus on the Maritime Silk Road Initiative (MSRI) or Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) in specific regions or countries. It also argues for a research core that focuses on the implementation issue (i.e., the issue of MSRI and SREB project implementation), project effects (i.e., the economic and political costs and benefits of projects), and the translation issue (i.e., the domestic and foreign policy effects of projects) and does work that goes beyond the usual suspects. On a related note, research need to identify, more precisely, participants and projects, undertake causal analysis, and take into account countervailing factors. Furthermore, studies need to make more extensive use of the Chinese foreign policy literature. Moreover, works examining subjects like soft power need to improve variable conceptualization and operationalization and deliver more nuanced analyses. Finally, studies, especially by area specialists, should take the area, not the China, perspective.

China’s Hunt for Fuel Through Bri in the Middle East

“…China's consumption of energy is projected to exceed the demands of the US and may reach 18 Mb on a daily basis by 2035 (Zha & Michal, 2015). Xi Jinping advocated for an "energy revolution" to decrease the speed of expansion in energy utilization as being a part of China's "new normal" strategy of development which tolerating the slower aggregate economic growth (Blanchard, 2021). China's foreign investments have drastically enhanced in the region of the Middle East during the 21 st century, particularly in the fields of the development of infrastructures, project management of natural resources, and energy production (Garlick, 2020).…”

“…China is an emergent power capable of counterbalancing the hegemonic plans of the US and its unipolar existence, with a long history of trading through the ancient Silk Road with the Middle East, while having no history of imperial supremacy in the regional framework (Manochehr & James, 2013). The traditional security and foreign policy strategy of China in the Middle East is based on the notion of nonintervention in the domestic affairs of other states (Blanchard, 2021), which would surely have an increasing effect on the Middle Eastern diplomacy of Beijing, leading China for taking a more active role in the economic and political arenas of the region (Guang, 2008).…”

“…The dragon (China) has probably to nest for decades in the Middle East through BRI for the pursuit of its strategic objectives in the regional framework (Blanchard, 2021). China is using soft power leverage in the Middle Eastern region (Zhiqun, 2009).…”

“…China will be capable of playing the increasingly active role of the regional framework through BRI to ensure its energy security (Blanchard, 2021). Dragon's foothold in the region of the Middle East has gradually developed to the regional energy interests because China's dependence on the Middle Eastern energy resources is growing (Ehteshami, 2018).…”

“…Chinese companies have pursued equity shares in overseas oil ventures with the expectation of having better leverage over oil flows and probably to lessen the disruption of energy supplies (Besada & Salam, 2017). The three oil corporations of China employed to come across its interests regarding energy security are namely the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the China Petrochemicals Corporation (Sinopec), and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) (Michal, 2016) The "One Belt, One Road" plan by Xi Jinping shows that Chinese enterprises would be welcomed in the economic markets of the Middle East, especially in the upstream oil industry (Blanchard, 2021), based on which Qatar, the world's largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has recently established its strategic relationship with China for its participation into the "Silk Road Economic Belt." Since the 1970s, Kuwait has commercial associations with Beijing, as well as China, has also invested about $600 million in Oman in the fields of petrochemicals, oil, and development of infrastructure for transportation of oil (Besada & Salam, 2017).…”