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The Emperor's New Road: China and the Project of the Century
China’s Belt and Road Initiative is the world’s most ambitious and misunderstood geoeconomic vision. To carry out President Xi Jinping’s flagship foreign-policy effort, China promises to spend over one trillion dollars for new ports, railways, fiber-optic cables, power plants, and other connections. The plan touches more than one hundred and thirty countries and has expanded into the Arctic, cyberspace, and even outer space. Beijing says that it is promoting global development, but Washington warns that it is charting a path to global dominance.
Taking readers on a journey to China’s projects in Asia, Europe, and Africa, Jonathan E. Hillman reveals how this grand vision is unfolding. As China pushes beyond its borders and deep into dangerous territory, it is repeating the mistakes of the great powers that came before it, Hillman argues. If China succeeds, it will remake the world and place itself at the center of everything. But Xi may be overreaching: all roads do not yet lead to Beijing.
“A reality check on Beijing’s global infrastructure project.”—Peter Neville-Hadley, South China Morning Post
"For all the hype and hand-wringing over how the [Belt and Road] could usher in the Chinese century, Hillman’s engaging mix of high-level analysis and fieldwork in more than a dozen countries paints a much more nuanced picture."—Keith Johnson, Foreign Policy
Taking readers on a journey to China’s projects in Asia, Europe, and Africa, Jonathan E. Hillman reveals how this grand vision is unfolding. As China pushes beyond its borders and deep into dangerous territory, it is repeating the mistakes of the great powers that came before it, Hillman argues. If China succeeds, it will remake the world and place itself at the center of everything. But Xi may be overreaching: all roads do not yet lead to Beijing.
“A reality check on Beijing’s global infrastructure project.”—Peter Neville-Hadley, South China Morning Post
"For all the hype and hand-wringing over how the [Belt and Road] could usher in the Chinese century, Hillman’s engaging mix of high-level analysis and fieldwork in more than a dozen countries paints a much more nuanced picture."—Keith Johnson, Foreign Policy
304 pages, Hardcover
Published September 29, 2020
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January 12, 2021
This is an excellent history and analysis of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in which it is trying to link all of Asia with Europe and Africa. This staggeringly ambitious initiative has attracted many smaller countries. The author, Jonathan E. Hillman, is a fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a prominent centrist U.S. think tank that was started at Georgetown University.
The BRI has brought Chinese funds to support roads, railroads, ports, and, most successfully, cables, to numerous countries. Of course there are strings attached.
Hillman covers projects in many countries, from Southeast Asia to East Africa to Eastern Europe. I hadn't known that the BRI had reached the latter, supporting a railroad from Belgrade to Budapest. The formerly Communist countries were initially the European nations most eager to join the BRI and have captured the bulk of its European investment, though Italy, Switzerland, and other West European countries have also signed on.
Perhaps the most problematic project is the Hambantura port China built in Sri Lanka, which already had a thriving port in Colombo. The new port is generally considered an expensive failure. When it lost money, China took it over.
As Hillman states, improving existing transportation systems is often more likely to be productive than building splashy new ones, but politicians everywhere can't resist the lure of crowing over a new project. They will probably be out of office when it costs much more than expected and if it fails.
Although the projects are billed as creating local jobs, the responsible, good-paying jobs are generally held by the Chinese.
Of course the Western powers' ventures in Asia and Africa have been devastating and are still problematic. But the Chinese are also engaged in neo-colonialism, even though many of the projects are begun by Chinese corporations rather than state organs -- although there can be only a fine line of distinction between those entities.
I found this books extremely informative.
The BRI has brought Chinese funds to support roads, railroads, ports, and, most successfully, cables, to numerous countries. Of course there are strings attached.
Hillman covers projects in many countries, from Southeast Asia to East Africa to Eastern Europe. I hadn't known that the BRI had reached the latter, supporting a railroad from Belgrade to Budapest. The formerly Communist countries were initially the European nations most eager to join the BRI and have captured the bulk of its European investment, though Italy, Switzerland, and other West European countries have also signed on.
Perhaps the most problematic project is the Hambantura port China built in Sri Lanka, which already had a thriving port in Colombo. The new port is generally considered an expensive failure. When it lost money, China took it over.
As Hillman states, improving existing transportation systems is often more likely to be productive than building splashy new ones, but politicians everywhere can't resist the lure of crowing over a new project. They will probably be out of office when it costs much more than expected and if it fails.
Although the projects are billed as creating local jobs, the responsible, good-paying jobs are generally held by the Chinese.
Of course the Western powers' ventures in Asia and Africa have been devastating and are still problematic. But the Chinese are also engaged in neo-colonialism, even though many of the projects are begun by Chinese corporations rather than state organs -- although there can be only a fine line of distinction between those entities.
I found this books extremely informative.
Read
October 8, 2021Hillman offers an interesting exploration of the Belt and Road Initiative. Hillman is an International Relations specialists, and it shows throughout the book. In terms of genre, this book is difficult to place. It is part scholarly treatise, part general history, part travelogue of his trips to areas important to the BRI.
His scholarship on issues outside China was stronger than the contextualization that he did on the BRI in China. He did discuss the history of rail in China, but it was a bit limited. Also, all indications are that he does not speak Chinese, which limits some parts of his research.
Hillman is at his best when he is exploring the BRI in the world beyond China. And that is the bulk of the book. Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Russia, the Balkans, Ethiopia, the chapters exploring the specific places and how the BRI looks on the ground are the best parts of this book.
His scholarship on issues outside China was stronger than the contextualization that he did on the BRI in China. He did discuss the history of rail in China, but it was a bit limited. Also, all indications are that he does not speak Chinese, which limits some parts of his research.
Hillman is at his best when he is exploring the BRI in the world beyond China. And that is the bulk of the book. Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Russia, the Balkans, Ethiopia, the chapters exploring the specific places and how the BRI looks on the ground are the best parts of this book.
December 8, 2020
An excellent overview of China’s Belt and Road Initiative from an American perspective. It did have its biases, but was a well written and fairly comprehensive read. Focuses on the impact of BRI in Central Asia, South Asia, and East Africa
September 30, 2021
Big takeaways from this book. One, Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not necessarily about to create a perfectly connected Asian land-based economy, a lot of the projects look good on paper but end up being scrapped, underfunded, underused, or don’t contribute to assisting the economic growth or connectivity of participating countries. Two, the BRI is not just a debt trap to create a series of 99 year lease military installations like what happened in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka case was not a project intentionally planned to be too costly to force the Sri Lankan government to lease the port to China to establish a Naval Base. Technically, the port is not a Naval Base. Third, China fundamentally has three factors spurring these projects: a massive construction industry which requires big projects, a few large communications logistics companies willing to work where American companies seemingly do not show interest (East Africa in particular), and a massive international financing arm that makes all these projects possible for the countries who find them attractive.
Read
August 25, 2022I did not find this book as interesting as I had hoped:
Many countries / regions are discussed separately and the 'overall BRI-picture' (described from a China perspective...) seems to be missing.
The author seems to prefer to criticize China instead of explaining the BRI-initiative and ambition.
For example, the 6 BRI economic corridors - which seem a major concept in this initiative - are not explicitly listed and explained.
Many countries / regions are discussed separately and the 'overall BRI-picture' (described from a China perspective...) seems to be missing.
The author seems to prefer to criticize China instead of explaining the BRI-initiative and ambition.
For example, the 6 BRI economic corridors - which seem a major concept in this initiative - are not explicitly listed and explained.
September 20, 2020
Good historical facts missing the whole picture
Great book on facts, but each fact taken out of context. Nonetheless, a good historical overview of some mega projects globally over the last 150 years makes it for an interesting read.
Great book on facts, but each fact taken out of context. Nonetheless, a good historical overview of some mega projects globally over the last 150 years makes it for an interesting read.
February 19, 2023
I wrote this review with the book almost done, and for sure I will finish it. On one hand, it is informative, on the other hand, the tone of the narrative is let's say "toxic" toward the BRI project, and the author doesn't hide it, or at least that's my perception.
There are many things in the book that could be dissected as to why they were portrayed in a certain way (although we can always go back to the author's clear dislike of PRC - that's why I have problems with certain "facts" he is stating about areas (regions) I don't have direct knowledge of or didn't check more details, but there are some certain lies (or they might seem as in the time of his exploration) - like of Belgrade - Budapest rail.
It is interesting how much he devoted attention to Pakistan province, the area where many serious sources say the collective west supports armed local insurrections.
Also, the major thing that can't be an oversight is that EU (and other similar) investments are conditioned by rule of law, etc., etc. actually, it's the rule of you following their policies, yes, they are controlling more of their assets, but they are another political blackmail leverage.
Also, and this is something very few authors from the west can't avoid is calling themselves an "international community" - a 90's narrative where one superpower and its henchmen took all power and decision-making into their hands. I don't see the difference in this from the age of empires as their colonization was the "spreading of progress" of Christianity. Still, just rebranded, they are better than the vast majority of people who just need to be tough by the west (by force if needed) on what's best for them.
OK, one update after finishing the final few chapters. Conclusions are more or less fair, but disbalance in the narrative during the book, and some red flag comments really disfavor or do the job, depending on what was the aim of the book. Anyway, it should be read by people into Geopolitics, even in bad things you will find things that will provide you with conclusions.
There are many things in the book that could be dissected as to why they were portrayed in a certain way (although we can always go back to the author's clear dislike of PRC - that's why I have problems with certain "facts" he is stating about areas (regions) I don't have direct knowledge of or didn't check more details, but there are some certain lies (or they might seem as in the time of his exploration) - like of Belgrade - Budapest rail.
It is interesting how much he devoted attention to Pakistan province, the area where many serious sources say the collective west supports armed local insurrections.
Also, the major thing that can't be an oversight is that EU (and other similar) investments are conditioned by rule of law, etc., etc. actually, it's the rule of you following their policies, yes, they are controlling more of their assets, but they are another political blackmail leverage.
Also, and this is something very few authors from the west can't avoid is calling themselves an "international community" - a 90's narrative where one superpower and its henchmen took all power and decision-making into their hands. I don't see the difference in this from the age of empires as their colonization was the "spreading of progress" of Christianity. Still, just rebranded, they are better than the vast majority of people who just need to be tough by the west (by force if needed) on what's best for them.
OK, one update after finishing the final few chapters. Conclusions are more or less fair, but disbalance in the narrative during the book, and some red flag comments really disfavor or do the job, depending on what was the aim of the book. Anyway, it should be read by people into Geopolitics, even in bad things you will find things that will provide you with conclusions.
May 7, 2025
This was a well documented and written book about China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Despite being written in 2020, it is still very relevant today and really provide a reality check on what is really going on with the BRI. Hillman does an amazing job in giving a comprehensive overview in a short book. With a clear and simple language, he covers the key regions targeted by the BRI and most important projects, providing their context, current state and situate them also in broader relationships that China maintains with those regions. The book is divided in regions, and each chapter covers one or some countries tied by similar BRI projects, and explore the implications of each one: Europe, Central Asia and Russia, Africa and South-East Asia.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book are the parallels that Hillman draws with similar foreign enterprises by great powers in the past to extend their sphere of influence. When talking about the Hungary- Serbia railway, it recalled the struggle of powers for railway projects in the Ottaman empire between Russia, Austria-Hungary, and other European countries. In Southeast Asia, it recalls the Japanese investment projects of the 70-80s in the region, which followed a similar blueprint as China: loans for projects that will contract mainly Japanese enterprises and expertise for infrastructure projects, hoping to unlock new economic demand in the region for further Japanese products and investments. Hillman also draw an interesting parallel between China's technological expertise in internet cables and railway and the similar project of Great Britain in its colonies with Railway and telegraph lines.
A flaw for me was the lack of additional details about the challenges that the BRI represents for more traditional lending institutions supporting economic development. For example, one key issue omitted from the book is the concurrence of repayment by debt-ridden countries to its multiple lenders which include China and more conventional lenders such as the World Bank. Difficult how much should be lent to those countries when the amount of other debts from China are unknown to traditional lenders, and who should be paid first when unsolvable.
My key take aways are those below:
- China mostly used its BRI to negotiate and strike bilateral deals, even when under a cover of multilateralism.
- The lack of transparency and politically driven projects often leads them to be not economically viable, making it more difficult for recipient countries to pay their loans to China.
- However, this is not a debt-trap diplomacy from China: failure of those projects to be viable hurt the credibility of BRI, lead to suspicions, and China recuperate only failing projects.
- The BRI is not either well coordinated: most of the projects are not integrated and fail to complement each other. They are often redundant or trying to answer a non-existing need.
- Those projects are not often viable: they are mostly political projects without proper assessments of the need and economic viability of it. Such assessment is rarely properly done given the lack of transparency and political payout that they generate.
- Those projects, once started, are difficult to stop. The sunken cost and the loss of political credibility play such a role that the failing projects often persist and even receive further reinvestment in them.
- As a result, the BRI is not well coordinated: by being mostly bilateral, plagued with incomplete or non-viable set of projects, distorted by individual political will of recipient countries, it makes it difficult to see a coherent and complementary set of infrastructure projects through the BRI.
- This makes the idea that China intentionally pursues debt-trap diplomacy approach unlikely: the lack of viability of those projects generates very few benefits, even when China gains ownership of those projects abroad such as the port of Hambantoa. It creates political controversies, leave China with failed projects and likely an overall economic loss.
- However, those projects still help China to gain further technological expertise and know-how, stimulate demands for its enterprises, and increase its footprint abroad. This in return lead also to better security control and surveillance, particularly in communication infrastructure projects where China can easily create backdoor to access and monitor data exchange through its Huawei-led projects in foreign countries.
- It reinforces its global influence by tying politicians and regions to its wallet, and through its increase presence across the world. The increase presence of Chinese ports and railways and infrastructure managed by Chinese enterprises abroad, might complicated things if a conflict with China arise.
- The main question by the author however is its sustainability. Indeed, if most of those projects are not viable, it is difficult to say for how long this can be carried out. The authors examples of other Great Powers enterprises show this: Japan lost decades, or the role of the British telegraph lines in facilitating its control over vast territories but also enabling organized resistance through communications.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book are the parallels that Hillman draws with similar foreign enterprises by great powers in the past to extend their sphere of influence. When talking about the Hungary- Serbia railway, it recalled the struggle of powers for railway projects in the Ottaman empire between Russia, Austria-Hungary, and other European countries. In Southeast Asia, it recalls the Japanese investment projects of the 70-80s in the region, which followed a similar blueprint as China: loans for projects that will contract mainly Japanese enterprises and expertise for infrastructure projects, hoping to unlock new economic demand in the region for further Japanese products and investments. Hillman also draw an interesting parallel between China's technological expertise in internet cables and railway and the similar project of Great Britain in its colonies with Railway and telegraph lines.
A flaw for me was the lack of additional details about the challenges that the BRI represents for more traditional lending institutions supporting economic development. For example, one key issue omitted from the book is the concurrence of repayment by debt-ridden countries to its multiple lenders which include China and more conventional lenders such as the World Bank. Difficult how much should be lent to those countries when the amount of other debts from China are unknown to traditional lenders, and who should be paid first when unsolvable.
My key take aways are those below:
- China mostly used its BRI to negotiate and strike bilateral deals, even when under a cover of multilateralism.
- The lack of transparency and politically driven projects often leads them to be not economically viable, making it more difficult for recipient countries to pay their loans to China.
- However, this is not a debt-trap diplomacy from China: failure of those projects to be viable hurt the credibility of BRI, lead to suspicions, and China recuperate only failing projects.
- The BRI is not either well coordinated: most of the projects are not integrated and fail to complement each other. They are often redundant or trying to answer a non-existing need.
- Those projects are not often viable: they are mostly political projects without proper assessments of the need and economic viability of it. Such assessment is rarely properly done given the lack of transparency and political payout that they generate.
- Those projects, once started, are difficult to stop. The sunken cost and the loss of political credibility play such a role that the failing projects often persist and even receive further reinvestment in them.
- As a result, the BRI is not well coordinated: by being mostly bilateral, plagued with incomplete or non-viable set of projects, distorted by individual political will of recipient countries, it makes it difficult to see a coherent and complementary set of infrastructure projects through the BRI.
- This makes the idea that China intentionally pursues debt-trap diplomacy approach unlikely: the lack of viability of those projects generates very few benefits, even when China gains ownership of those projects abroad such as the port of Hambantoa. It creates political controversies, leave China with failed projects and likely an overall economic loss.
- However, those projects still help China to gain further technological expertise and know-how, stimulate demands for its enterprises, and increase its footprint abroad. This in return lead also to better security control and surveillance, particularly in communication infrastructure projects where China can easily create backdoor to access and monitor data exchange through its Huawei-led projects in foreign countries.
- It reinforces its global influence by tying politicians and regions to its wallet, and through its increase presence across the world. The increase presence of Chinese ports and railways and infrastructure managed by Chinese enterprises abroad, might complicated things if a conflict with China arise.
- The main question by the author however is its sustainability. Indeed, if most of those projects are not viable, it is difficult to say for how long this can be carried out. The authors examples of other Great Powers enterprises show this: Japan lost decades, or the role of the British telegraph lines in facilitating its control over vast territories but also enabling organized resistance through communications.
May 17, 2022
Rob Griffords China road book is way better!
September 23, 2022
Its highlighted Xi's vision Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications to the World.
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 : The Emperor's New Road
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 : Jonathan E. Hillman
Jonathan,a Senior fellow at Center for Strategic and international Studies(𝑪𝑺𝑰𝑺), is director of the Reconnecting Asia Project, one of the most extensive Databases tracking China's Belt and Road initiative.
He also Author of an another Upcoming Book "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒌 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅"
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 : Oct 2020
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: International relations/Non-fictional
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.7/5
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Coming over to review of this Book. Its been divided in 4 Parts and 10 Chapters.Total 213 Pages.
⭐ PART- 1 (𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸)
◾ Chapter-1 (𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲)
This Chapter explains 14 May 2017 event.The 1st BRI ceremony forum Where Xi's put his Project infront of 130 countries and explained his Project is essential for World's developing Countries.
◾ Chapter-2 (𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬)
In this Chapter author of the book pointed toward three mega project of mid 19th Century.Suez Canal, Railroads in America North to South and Telegram by Britishers.These Projects transformed the World.Let these countries follows their imperial pursuits abroad.
⭐ PART- 2 (𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲)
◾ Chapter-3 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬)
This Chapter explains About central Asia dynamics for BRI.Kazakhstan and Western China Corridor Khorgos and Project details.Overall impact of Project on Central Asia and Chinese growing ambition in Region.The only hurdle is Russia and Caspian sea to Europe By land.
◾ Chapter-4 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫)
This Chapter shed light on Russia and China Corridor (Blagoveshchensk-Heihe).Their Project Work speed and details.Writer visited that place and went through Tight scrutiny from Russian side.China side is developed and Russian's slow phase of work.Project technical feasibility according to Terrain and Population.
◾ Chapter-5 (𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞)
This Chapter deals with China focus on European Markets.She is eager to enter Eastern Europe through its Projects.That includes feasibility of Belgrade-Budapest railway built by China.and successful project Port Piraeus of Greece.Their Political capital and debt trap by China with his State owned Companies.For experience and Case study writer travelled in that train from Belgrade to Budapest.
⭐ PART- 3 (𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮)
◾ Chapter-6 (𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥)
This Chapter deals with South east Asia its historical Perspective and on going Project in Indonesia (Jakarta-Bundung railway) through BRI Prism.Chinese companies attained bidding and do Construction on unknown terms.Then Malaysia East Costal railway new terms been negotiated with China under new PM Mahitar Mohammed.Thailand,Vietnam,Laos and Mayanmar role in BRI as close to Yunnan Province of China.
◾ Chapter-7 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐞)
If Afghanistan is graveyard of empires then Pakistan is black hole of foreign aid.CPEC and its repercussions.Being flagship Project of BRI,its feasibility Study with according to Pakistan environment.Gwadar was offered to USA by Butto as military base in Nixon's reign.
◾ Chapter-8 (𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐬)
This Chapter explains Sri Lanka Hambantota Port being victim of debt trap.Hambantota is hometown of Rajapaksa.RajaPaksa enforce that Project for his hometown without basic feasibility for Political gain.How Hambantota is important for China to keep on eye world busiest sea lane.
⭐ PART- 4 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱)
◾ Chapter-9 (𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞)
This Chapter explains China's military presence in Gulf of aden. World busiest Sea lane for Ship's.Djibouti is point of submarine cables convergence almost 320 fibre cables.Connecting Asia with west. And its implications in fifth domain of warfare.Then Case study of Narobai and Mombasa railway Project.
◾ Chapter-10 (𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬)
This Chapter is actually conclusion.It highlights the repercussions for China on domestic and international front if China fails in BRI. How it is important for China to engage with World military might and World 2nd largest Economy.China ambition will kept on growing till its global domination.
♦️ 𝑴𝒚 𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 ♦️
This Book is essential for all those who follows Politics and International relations.BRI is important for China as for Pakistan being Part of CPEC. #Recommended......
#Thanks
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 : The Emperor's New Road
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 : Jonathan E. Hillman
Jonathan,a Senior fellow at Center for Strategic and international Studies(𝑪𝑺𝑰𝑺), is director of the Reconnecting Asia Project, one of the most extensive Databases tracking China's Belt and Road initiative.
He also Author of an another Upcoming Book "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒌 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅"
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 : Oct 2020
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: International relations/Non-fictional
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.7/5
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Coming over to review of this Book. Its been divided in 4 Parts and 10 Chapters.Total 213 Pages.
⭐ PART- 1 (𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸)
◾ Chapter-1 (𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲)
This Chapter explains 14 May 2017 event.The 1st BRI ceremony forum Where Xi's put his Project infront of 130 countries and explained his Project is essential for World's developing Countries.
◾ Chapter-2 (𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬)
In this Chapter author of the book pointed toward three mega project of mid 19th Century.Suez Canal, Railroads in America North to South and Telegram by Britishers.These Projects transformed the World.Let these countries follows their imperial pursuits abroad.
⭐ PART- 2 (𝗧𝗼 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲)
◾ Chapter-3 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬)
This Chapter explains About central Asia dynamics for BRI.Kazakhstan and Western China Corridor Khorgos and Project details.Overall impact of Project on Central Asia and Chinese growing ambition in Region.The only hurdle is Russia and Caspian sea to Europe By land.
◾ Chapter-4 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫)
This Chapter shed light on Russia and China Corridor (Blagoveshchensk-Heihe).Their Project Work speed and details.Writer visited that place and went through Tight scrutiny from Russian side.China side is developed and Russian's slow phase of work.Project technical feasibility according to Terrain and Population.
◾ Chapter-5 (𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞)
This Chapter deals with China focus on European Markets.She is eager to enter Eastern Europe through its Projects.That includes feasibility of Belgrade-Budapest railway built by China.and successful project Port Piraeus of Greece.Their Political capital and debt trap by China with his State owned Companies.For experience and Case study writer travelled in that train from Belgrade to Budapest.
⭐ PART- 3 (𝗧𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮)
◾ Chapter-6 (𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥)
This Chapter deals with South east Asia its historical Perspective and on going Project in Indonesia (Jakarta-Bundung railway) through BRI Prism.Chinese companies attained bidding and do Construction on unknown terms.Then Malaysia East Costal railway new terms been negotiated with China under new PM Mahitar Mohammed.Thailand,Vietnam,Laos and Mayanmar role in BRI as close to Yunnan Province of China.
◾ Chapter-7 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐞)
If Afghanistan is graveyard of empires then Pakistan is black hole of foreign aid.CPEC and its repercussions.Being flagship Project of BRI,its feasibility Study with according to Pakistan environment.Gwadar was offered to USA by Butto as military base in Nixon's reign.
◾ Chapter-8 (𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐬)
This Chapter explains Sri Lanka Hambantota Port being victim of debt trap.Hambantota is hometown of Rajapaksa.RajaPaksa enforce that Project for his hometown without basic feasibility for Political gain.How Hambantota is important for China to keep on eye world busiest sea lane.
⭐ PART- 4 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱)
◾ Chapter-9 (𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞)
This Chapter explains China's military presence in Gulf of aden. World busiest Sea lane for Ship's.Djibouti is point of submarine cables convergence almost 320 fibre cables.Connecting Asia with west. And its implications in fifth domain of warfare.Then Case study of Narobai and Mombasa railway Project.
◾ Chapter-10 (𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬)
This Chapter is actually conclusion.It highlights the repercussions for China on domestic and international front if China fails in BRI. How it is important for China to engage with World military might and World 2nd largest Economy.China ambition will kept on growing till its global domination.
♦️ 𝑴𝒚 𝑽𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 ♦️
This Book is essential for all those who follows Politics and International relations.BRI is important for China as for Pakistan being Part of CPEC. #Recommended......
#Thanks
October 28, 2023
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is Chinese premier, Xi Jinping's, signature foreign policy project. It aims to spend a trillion dollars in infrastructure projects around the world. Hillman believes that this project is an imperialist project following the mold of Britain, France and other colonial powers. From extensive travel he points to the financial failures of many of the BRI projects due to ineffective feasibility studies, the pursuit of political rather than economic objectives, lower lending standards, and the inability of the recipient nations to afford the debt that comes with the projects.
The shortfall of this book is the difficulty in grasping an overall sense of the objective of the BRI. And perhaps that's not the fault of the author, but of the (deliberately) nebulous nature of the initiative. Hillman also fails to explore alternative arrangements for developing nations who are unable to raise capital for crucial infrastructure projects. He explains how some nations dangle projects in front of China, Japan and Western countries thus forcing them to compete. But for many countries, Chinese financing becomes the only option. Certainly, the way to wooing developing nations from China should be long-term developmental support that does not require painful fiscal strictures or expensive commercial loans.
To his credit though, the debt crisis in Sri Lanka, Zambia, Ghana, and other developing countries has got both China and those nations to rethink. China is significantly cutting back on lending and adopting more stringent methods to evaluate potential projects. In that regard this book, which came out in 2022, has been prescient.
The shortfall of this book is the difficulty in grasping an overall sense of the objective of the BRI. And perhaps that's not the fault of the author, but of the (deliberately) nebulous nature of the initiative. Hillman also fails to explore alternative arrangements for developing nations who are unable to raise capital for crucial infrastructure projects. He explains how some nations dangle projects in front of China, Japan and Western countries thus forcing them to compete. But for many countries, Chinese financing becomes the only option. Certainly, the way to wooing developing nations from China should be long-term developmental support that does not require painful fiscal strictures or expensive commercial loans.
To his credit though, the debt crisis in Sri Lanka, Zambia, Ghana, and other developing countries has got both China and those nations to rethink. China is significantly cutting back on lending and adopting more stringent methods to evaluate potential projects. In that regard this book, which came out in 2022, has been prescient.
October 19, 2020
Hillman's examination of China's economic activity in Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and East Asia is interesting, but does not cover much new ground for readers who have been following China's Belt and Road program for the past few year. It will be particularly interesting for students and readers with a general interest in China's economic activity, and for those readers the book is very good. Hillman offers a nuanced perspective that highlights the competing interests in China's economic expansion. At one level China's investment abroad is in pursuit of cold national security interests, but at other levels domestic politics in the developing countries have taken advantage of Chinese aid, companies in China have jumped on the bandwagon of OBOR, and projects have been mismanaged at all levels.
May 21, 2021
This one took a while to read, but it was worth it. Really a guided tour of China's infrastructure investments around its borders: from Russia (with love), to the South Asia, Eastern Europe, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan. The bulk of those projects fly under the banner of "The Belt And Road Initiative".
We learn that it's a geopolitics game, a new brand of imperialism. Less deadly because more people are watching, but also more subtly devastating as debt ramps up for receiving countries. The Sri Lankan story is particularly heartbreaking: Hambantota Port was eventually taken over by China, local workers were fired despite fierce opposition by trade unions.
I appreciated all the rummaging done by the author to raise suspicion on corruption, or just plain incompetence. Come for the update on the new rising global superpower, stay for the speculation of military strategy!
We learn that it's a geopolitics game, a new brand of imperialism. Less deadly because more people are watching, but also more subtly devastating as debt ramps up for receiving countries. The Sri Lankan story is particularly heartbreaking: Hambantota Port was eventually taken over by China, local workers were fired despite fierce opposition by trade unions.
I appreciated all the rummaging done by the author to raise suspicion on corruption, or just plain incompetence. Come for the update on the new rising global superpower, stay for the speculation of military strategy!
February 17, 2023
I’d give this a 3.5 out of 5. I walk away with a perspective that China has been rushing into infrastructure deals with many countries without really firming up plans or knowing the full details…except that their state-owned Chinese companies and labor must do the work. This often leads to deals being re-negotiated, projects being accepted that are unnecessary, projects stalling out, and lending rates much higher than market rates. This nuanced approach paints China in a more positive light than I personally have. Rather than having a devious strategy to overtake the US, it turns China into a good guy…trying to make friends by agreeing to whatever projects the countries want, figuring out the plans and details along the way. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle.
December 3, 2020
Excellent writing and analysis based on first hand reporting with historical and political context from across the key nodes of China’s BRI. Both balanced and cautionary and particularly informative around the shaky economic foundations of the enterprise without playing to the knee-jerk sinophobes so desperate for a new cold-war. HIllman’s book provides us with a timely and much more nuanced view of evolving global power and economic dynamics exactly when the need for a fresh consideration of these is so urgently needed.
February 24, 2024
An excellent survey of how Xi's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is going so far, corridor by corridor. After just 215 pages, the reader understands a lot more about the scope of BRI, how complicated and complex the implementations are, the geopolitical ramifications for a host nation of welcoming BRI, and how Xi and the CCP use the BRI (or the hope the BRI offers) for economic and political gain. I felt like I was enjoying a Robert Kaplan book, but with more detailed information from an author dedicated to one subject: China. Hat tip to Ken W. for the recommendation.
November 26, 2020
This is a superb, comprehensive examination of the BRI, especially for readers who may not have known much about it beforehand. You can imagine how writing a book about subject material that spans continents could quickly get out of hand, but Hillman does well to keep sections short and concise while also getting at why it all matters. Highly recommended to anyone curious about where China, and by extension much of the world, is headed in the years to come.
February 14, 2021
An interesting dive into China’s recent path towards shaping economic influence through the Belt and Road initiative.
The book is written in both an anecdotal and research style by using the author’s own experiences alongside his clear understanding of the topic through whatever study or background he comes from.
I enjoyed it but nothing stood out as worth re-reading. Perhaps the ending chapter on East Africa, which I currently have a vested interest in.
Worth a read.
The book is written in both an anecdotal and research style by using the author’s own experiences alongside his clear understanding of the topic through whatever study or background he comes from.
I enjoyed it but nothing stood out as worth re-reading. Perhaps the ending chapter on East Africa, which I currently have a vested interest in.
Worth a read.
May 21, 2023
Very good overview of China's Belt & Road Initiative. Provides a helpful historical backdrop based on Western colonialism before investigating select countries influenced by the initiative, e.g., Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Well researched. Best single source on the topic I have found to date.
December 10, 2021
Balanced account of BRI. A mixed bag for China and partner counties. Partially a dubious PR/Marketing scheme to keep China laborers busy with risky, low quality, questionable projects in developing countries, with potential to grow China’s influence, economic reach.
October 6, 2024
A guide to concern trolling China for the American state department.
October 27, 2023
Unfocused.
April 29, 2021
Hillman's book is an incisive look at the overarching realities of emperor Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in both hosting countries and China itself. For this book Hillman invested his own time traveling to actual sites where BRI projects are being implemented so he could attempt to provide first hand perspectives on each. Throughout Hillman considers the sometimes mythical aspirations of BRI projects and contrasts them with what their reality in the actual countries looks like. For almost every project discussed he provides a global historical perspective and considers the potential financial, strategic, and political implications of each one. During his entire discussion he relies on a plethora of reputable sources to provide his historical contexts, potential reasons for concern, and occasionally relevant personal insights. Hillman does an admirable job of taking an incredibly massive and wide-ranging project and crafting it into a readable thought-provoking format, yet still manages to avoid taking a polarized stance. No matter what the BRI will have overarching implications globally and this book provides a wonderful way to learn about its history, context, and potential implications.
December 15, 2020
רעיון נחמד ביצוע כושל. ג'ונתן הילמן כתב ספר על פרויקט דרך המשי החדשה של סין, והצליח לבלבל את הקוראים עוד יותר. האם באמת צריך לחפור על ההיסטוריה של יחסי ארה"ב-פקיסטן בשנות ה-50 כדי להעביר את הנקודה? כלום צריך הקורא הסבר מעמיק לגבי כל פגישה אי פעם שקיים פוטין עם צ'י? האם הספר נועד לספק לקורא מידע קונקרטי לגבי פרויקט כלכלי-פוליטי סיני, או לספר לנו על תסכולם של שליטי מצריים מפרויקט תעלת סואץ לאורך השנים? ביצעתי דילוגים אינספור במהלך קריאת הספר. דומה שאין פואנטה כי הסופר עצמו לא מצליח להגיע אליה. לא, פרויקט דרך המשי החדשה איננו מאורגן כפי שהמערב רואה אותו, איננו מתוכנן ומוגדר בצורה קוהרנטית ולסין אין את יכולת הארגון שהמערב לעיתים מפנטז שיש לה. נקודה זו, לפחות נותרת ברורה. אבל מה כן? הילמן משבח את התכנון הסיני לעיתים ופעמים אחרות מציין שחיתות ובעיות ארגון. האם הסינים ממציאים את הפרויקט ככל שהוא מתקדם או שכן יש פה יד מכוונת? הילמן מתקשה לענות על השאלה. אולי היה עדיף שלא יכתוב כל כך הרבה עמודים אם הוא לא יודע.
פרק 8 בספר בולט לחיוב. הסיפור של נמל סרי לנקה הוא סיפור נוסף שראוי לספר לכל מי שסומך על ממשלה בפרויקטים יקרים וגרנדיוזים.
פרק 8 בספר בולט לחיוב. הסיפור של נמל סרי לנקה הוא סיפור נוסף שראוי לספר לכל מי שסומך על ממשלה בפרויקטים יקרים וגרנדיוזים.
Read
June 28, 2021An in-depth and hands-on analysis of the BRI project of China - Its purpose, Implications on the world stage, Various players and their strategies etc. Nicely portrayed.
Many anecdotes are given like crossing the Caspian sea, Crossing the China - Russian border etc. which make it very interesting to read.
It gives the historical perspective like China is now adapting the same strategy which Japan adapted to East Asia earlier.
The various puzzle pieces are nicely tied together - For example, We can see the similarities of China's control over Srilankan Port, Mombasa Port, Gawadar Port of Pakistan, Djibouti etc.
And the sad part is how these poor countries like Srilanka, Pakistan, Azarbaijan, Kenya etc. are willingly surrendering their national interest to china for short term benefits with or without corruption.
And the author concludes that the China may not be able to fully succeed in their new Imperial strategy to control.
Many anecdotes are given like crossing the Caspian sea, Crossing the China - Russian border etc. which make it very interesting to read.
It gives the historical perspective like China is now adapting the same strategy which Japan adapted to East Asia earlier.
The various puzzle pieces are nicely tied together - For example, We can see the similarities of China's control over Srilankan Port, Mombasa Port, Gawadar Port of Pakistan, Djibouti etc.
And the sad part is how these poor countries like Srilanka, Pakistan, Azarbaijan, Kenya etc. are willingly surrendering their national interest to china for short term benefits with or without corruption.
And the author concludes that the China may not be able to fully succeed in their new Imperial strategy to control.
January 11, 2022
The quality of the this book shines through; however, there is much here, like in most books on foreign policy, that is missing. Inherent biases, are noticeable- policy exists for the purpose to exert influence, and control. This differ's from some recent books (Seb Falk), that I have read- a historian. From the perspective of the interpretation of sources, and the choices, it is still not quite up to that standard. This book is also a bit lacking in the broad strokes, perhaps this is due, to my lack of understanding in this area, since I am a bit of a neophyte.
March 31, 2021
Evaluating the successes, failures and flaws of a monumental project like the BRI requires us to not only comprehend the broader overarching implications but to also dissect the environments of countries within the BRI’s corridors
That is what this book does - successfully too. The author tells it like a good story packing the historical and geopolitical into an enjoyable read.
That is what this book does - successfully too. The author tells it like a good story packing the historical and geopolitical into an enjoyable read.
February 11, 2025
4.5 stars
Great overview of China's BRI and likely the most up to date book option. Hillman does a great job if addressing not only China's responsibility, but the agency of beneficiary governments in "debt diplomacy". Furthermore, he does well to mention the challenge China faces in managing this project of the century in coming years.
Great overview of China's BRI and likely the most up to date book option. Hillman does a great job if addressing not only China's responsibility, but the agency of beneficiary governments in "debt diplomacy". Furthermore, he does well to mention the challenge China faces in managing this project of the century in coming years.
Want to read
November 22, 2020Saw author interviewed on PBS 11/22/2020
July 11, 2022
A very enjoyable, interesting, and level-headed analysis of China’s BRI and aid financing
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