How Asia Fell Out of Love With China’s Belt and Road Initiative

[Kyle Sun]

Looks like we are doing the damn right thing.

 

[Menthol]

For Maldives, I wonder why they need modern infrastructure?

Because they mostly depend on tourism. The more backwater you are, the more exotic you are!

Maldives is not Malaysia, Pakistan, Vietnam, etc.

 

[Tshering22]

Listen pal, the Americans are reeling. China has worked hard and wants to exert influence. China doesn't wage illegal wars or steal resources of other nations through force. China has indeed a different model which is based on diplmacy. America is a dirty jealous scumbag nation that wants the whole pie. It doesn't want to share wealth and resources. That is simply not possible. Too bad for America.

Whether you like or not, America must face change. The world is a changed place where other powers are emerging. Deal with it.

I am not pointing at the Chinese. They want to have a development model and do business like any smart business entity.

My point is idiotic fools in the subcontinent where politicians are famous for ego driven decisions rather than practical ones. Maldives, SL, Nepal and to a large extent, your own home country (much to the denial of your fellow countrymen), Chinese investments have gone into white elephant projects in the hometowns or constituencies of politicians (SL, Maldives, Nepal) or has ended up almost sidelining everything of local interest (your case).

OBOR may not be conducive for us, but it was IK who wanted a proper assessment of money being invested into different projects.

There is a reason why he is asked to review projects and cut out the needless ones which doesn't benefit Pakistan. $46 billion loan from one country is disastrous. That too only for one mega project, without having a proper feasibility study at micro-levels.

No assessment agency was seen being involved into such mega projects. For example:

• What is the transit revenue opportunities from OBOR for different provincial governments of Pakistan?
• What is the monetization plan for the roads through tolls/levies etc for the commercial vehicles?
• How does Pakistan incentivize the use of OBOR? Is there a phase-wise plan for tax holidays for companies exporting to China using OBOR?
• How exactly would traders benefit, especially those who are located around OBOR roads, corridors, areas etc?
• Recovery vs loans vs long-term project management

There are so many considerations which are not addressed.

Forget that I am an Indian saying this; think as a Pakistani about this.

 

[hiseen]

Long time， I haven't heard Mr. VV mention a TPP . What happened to it?

 

[UKBengali]

LOL Bloomberg. Jealous 'Murica has been checkmated.

Pakistan and China are going to work together and certainly build bases to break American and Indian influence. Not only that, now Russia, Iran and Turkey among others are also going to join this party. America can scream and shout all day long. It won't make an iota of difference.

America wants confrontation. America got confrontation.

Dude, Turkey hates China over their treatment of Uyghur. Have you not seen the exchanges between Turks and Chinese on this very forum?
Iran seriously mistrusts the Russians as they have betrayed them too many times.

Russia and China is a marriage of convenience and that will disintegrate some day, probably when China becomes so strong(2025-2030) that the Russians really become scared that they will take back the Far East that Russia captured in the 19th Century from China.

 

[Arulmozhi Varman]

BRI should be tweaked to let all companies fight for tenders. Basically the new program is self defeating for the host country and Chinese: Rules- Use Chinese money, Use Chinese companies, Use Chinese labour, use host country land and let them pay the debt. If there was competitive bidding, the countries can save 20% of the total cost of the project. That's where the Chinese come in. Invest in projects where no country or company will invest in. Cos the money will sink and will be no returns.

All Chinese projects in Asia have no returns. Poor feasibility, high interest rate, preference for Chinese companies have led to resentment. Which country in right mind will agree to invest in Hambantota port, airport and stadium? Pakistanis are learning the hard way. Until unless the BRI is tweaked it will be a failure.

 

[Kaniska]

Stop being an American poodle. We understand that you have some differences with China, but don't pretend like America is your savior. Always remember what the Americans did to your nation and your people. No amount of American money should make you forget that.

Neither you should be a a blind supporter of China too...No one here taking side...And honestly, I do not blame China here....They are good business man..The good part of their strategy is that they do not hide their business interest in the name of human right, democracy and all these manipulative words while doing business with their customers...But...if China is just another country, then we would not have complained, rather China is aspiring to be a global leader that creates an expectation from small countries to not to make them a pawn in their dream to make profit out of anything...
Otherwise, it is the nations that borrowed loan from China should be blamed rather than blaming the bank who is providing loan....

 

[zectech]

zionist bloomberg

They should stick with their 1 million or 6 million in concentration camps being oppressed and exterminated fake news.

The zionists' main war is not with NK or IRIR but with China. Because trump and alex jones are the yes slaves of Netanyahu.

Alex Jones was for years yelling at Amerikans that the 'Chinese Islamic Saudi Arabian Globalist New World Order' was out to get them and take away their guns.

Donald Trump told Alex Jones, “Your reputation is amazing. I will not let you down.”

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/06/alex-jones-megyn-kelly-donald-trump/

 

[Nein]

Dude, Turkey hates China over their treatment of Uyghur. Have you not seen the exchanges between Turks and Chinese on this very forum?
Iran seriously mistrusts the Russians as they have betrayed them too many times.

Russia and China is a marriage of convenience and that will disintegrate some day, probably when China becomes so strong(2025-2030) that the Russians really become scared that they will take back the Far East that Russia captured in the 19th Century from China.

Mainly the Uygur issue where the Turks and Chinese have been clashing. There has been other threads where they talked properly with each other to be honest if you exclude Xinjiang/East Turkestan of course.

 

[zectech]

Dude, Turkey hates China over their treatment of Uyghur. Have you not seen the exchanges between Turks and Chinese on this very forum?
Iran seriously mistrusts the Russians as they have betrayed them too many times.

Russia and China is a marriage of convenience and that will disintegrate some day, probably when China becomes so strong(2025-2030) that the Russians really become scared that they will take back the Far East that Russia captured in the 19th Century from China.

Putin has been a zionist and a lying traitor from day one.

 

[nature is]

BRI should be tweaked to let all companies fight for tenders. Basically the new program is self defeating for the host country and Chinese: Rules- Use Chinese money, Use Chinese companies, Use Chinese labour, use host country land and let them pay the debt. If there was competitive bidding, the countries can save 20% of the total cost of the project. That's where the Chinese come in. Invest in projects where no country or company will invest in. Cos the money will sink and will be no returns.

All Chinese projects in Asia have no returns. Poor feasibility, high interest rate, preference for Chinese companies have led to resentment. Which country in right mind will agree to invest in Hambantota port, airport and stadium? Pakistanis are learning the hard way. Until unless the BRI is tweaked it will be a failure.

Unless you fund your own project, country that provides the loan gets most contracts. That's how the business world operates.

Blow to Make in India, Japanese companies grab all key bullet train contracts
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/654492/big-blow-make-india-japanese.html

 

[Arulmozhi Varman]

Unless you fund your own project, country that provides the loan gets most contracts. That's how the business world operates.

Blow to Make in India, Japanese companies grab all key bullet train contracts
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/654492/big-blow-make-india-japanese.html

The example is apple and oranges. India doesnt have infra or tech for Bullet trains project and hence from steel to coaches have to come from Japan. And the Japanese are investing cos they have done feasability studies and have termed the project viable and hence they are proceeding. The problem is not chinese companies doing the project alone, but bribing officials and doing project that are deemed inessential or do not have financial viability and trapping the country in debt.

Will you care to show us the feasibility report for Hambantota airport and port?

 

[nature is]

The example is apple and oranges. India doesnt have infra or tech for Bullet trains project and hence from steel to coaches have to come from Japan. And the Japanese are investing cos they have done feasability studies and have termed the project viable and hence they are proceeding. The problem is not chinese companies doing the project alone, but bribing officials and doing project that are deemed inessential or do not have financial viability and trapping the country in debt.

Will you care to show us the feasibility report for Hambantota airport and port?

High tech isn't required to make the cabin and interior. Even technical parts can be co-manufactured locally in India if Japanese want to. But no, it's all going to Japanese firms coz Japan is funding it. You can deny as you wish.

"Still, several Indian officials said it was by and large accepted that Indian companies would not have a major part to play in the bullet train project. Japan will get major leeway because the bullet train is largely funded by a 50-year loan provided by its government, said a close aide of Modi, who spoke on condition of anonymity."

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/654492/big-blow-make-india-japanese.html


Despite the debt trap and bribery propaganda, 65 countries signed up for OBOR. Great success!

 

[Arulmozhi Varman]

High tech isn't required to make the cabin and interior. Even technical parts can be co-manufactured locally in India if Japanese want to. But no, it's all going to Japanese firms coz Japan is funding it. You can deny as you wish.

"Still, several Indian officials said it was by and large accepted that Indian companies would not have a major part to play in the bullet train project. Japan will get major leeway because the bullet train is largely funded by a 50-year loan provided by its government, said a close aide of Modi, who spoke on condition of anonymity."

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/654492/big-blow-make-india-japanese.html


Despite the debt trap and bribery propaganda, 65 countries signed up for OBOR. Great success!

Pls pray tell me how making the cabin and interior in India for a few sets of Bullet trains and then transporting to Japan for finishing will be viable? Sense aside which company in India will come forward to create an infrastructure for a few train sets? And lets say if one company does create infra what will it do after this project? As other projects are planned to be done by China, Germany etc. So that company needs to invest in infra again cos tech for other country platform is different.

The highlighted part affirms Indian companies doesnt have the requisite experience or infra to create the system. I would be surprised even if signalling systems will be given to Indian firms for this project. Indian companies will be doing one thing only. Laying pillars and bridges, stations etc for this project. Other than that, steel, trainsets and training will come from Japan and we need it. And importantly Indian labour for this project.

Secondly the loan agreement with Japan. I will spell it out. No payment for first 20 years. After that it supposed to be paid in 30 years with 0.1% interest. Effectively 50 years loan at 00.1% per annum. Care to show which Chinese project in Sri lanka or Pakistan had this liberal loan interest? The Chinese loans to Pakistan has 18% interest with soverign guarantee.

I am still waiting for feasibility report for Hambantota howeever.

 

[Mage]

People learn...

Not many are interested in leasing their important places to China like Pakistan or Sri-Lanka. Or like How China leased Hong Kong to Brits.

Anyway best thing is to stay in it verbally without committing anything to it.