Joel Wuthnow

Chinese Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative Joel Wuthnow

Chinese officials have downplayed the security dimensions of Xi Jinping's signature foreign policy initiative-the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, Chinese strategists have extensively analyzed three major issues: strategic benefits the BRI can provide for China, key security risks and challenges, and ways to reduce those risks. This study surveys their views and comments on implications for U. S. strategy. Key findings include: The main strategic benefits of the BRI include bolstering regional stability, improving China's energy security, and amassing influence in Eurasia; Implementing BRI projects could be frustrated by domestic and regional instability, nontraditional security threats, and strategic balancing from other major powers; China will have to marshal military, intelligence, diplomatic, and economic tools to counter perceived threats to the BRI's long-term viability; U. S. strategy should seek to check China's geopolitical ambitions while advancing mutually beneficial cooperation where possible.