Italy has announced its formal withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative after joining the China-centered infrastructure and investment project in 2019.
The timing of the announcement that Rome won’t renew its BRI commitment is notable. It came only a day before the EU-China summit, which kicks off on Thursday. The summit will likely be more contentious than usual, with European leaders expected to push China on the treatment of EU firms amid discussions ...
Day: October 5, 2023
China, India Push Emissions Higher as COP28 Struggles with Fossil Fuels
Planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions grew by 1.1% this year, largely driven by an economic resurgence in China, India, and the aviation industry, according to projections by the Global Carbon Budget. The news comes as disputes around how to deal with carbon emissions ...
Belt and Road Initiative at 10: Milestones and Concerns Across Southeast Asia
China held its third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in October, with leaders from Southeast Asia in attendance to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At the opening ceremony, the Chinese president Xi Jinping posed with ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Awkward Timing as Italy Withdraws from BRI
India Plans Air Defense Buildup in Confronting China
India is planning to spend up to $36 billion in the next seven years to improve its air defenses as part of ongoing hostilities with China and Pakistan, according to the head of its air force. Air Chief Marshall Vivek Ram Chaudhari outlined India’s defense planning at the Indian ...
Resupply Mission, Boat Accident Notch Up Tensions in South China Sea
The Philippines successfully carried out a resupply mission to a military outpost in the South China Sea despite Chinese efforts. A statement by the Philippine National Security Council accused Chinese boats of trying to “block, harass, and interfere” with the mission. The statement
China’s Space Plans Play Into India-Pakistan Tensions on Earth
If China’s upcoming mission to the moon succeeds, it will become the first country to collect samples from the dark side of the moon. China’s National Space Administration said planning for the Chang’e-6 mission is going smoothly. The mission will be notable for ...
Afghanistan Pursues Chinese Investment
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is using his presence at the China-led Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation in Tibet to meet bilaterally with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In the newest indication of growing ties between Kabul and Beijing, they
Backgrounder: The Fine Print of China’s No-Coal Pledge
In 2021, China’s President Xi Jinping announced that China would stop funding and building coal-fired power plants overseas. After the announcement, Chinese companies canceled about forty coal power projects. However, a similar number are still in limbo. If built, they would produce 245 ...
Cambodia Must Step Up its Energy Game Beyond Chinese-Backed Hydropower
Chinese hydropower dams have helped Cambodia maintain its much-needed electricity supply. But relying on hydroelectric power alone is not enough and has proved to be dangerous for local people and their surroundings. Achieving true energy security for Cambodia could mean that it must consider temporary difficult options, ...