US Aims to Revive Projects in Central Asia, Asia-Pacific to Counter OBOR

[Flash_Ninja]

In case of OBOR, China is the investor while in case of IPEC there would be multiple investors US, Japan, India, South Korea etc.

China needs OBOR to boost its economy back into competitiveness, this proposed corridor is not really necessary to the economies of any of those countries. Will they really be willing to pool together $150 billion or so for the project? The US and Japan are the only economies capable of matching China, and I really can't see them putting a lot of money towards this.

Also, is there any International (non-Indian) media outlets that confirm the participation of those countries?

 

[SorryNotSorry]

And the last time i heard of was that Modi came to China with a begging bowl for 20 billions, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...st-xi-for-talks-to-bolster-india-s-china-ties
so it all come down to one BIG question as always="where the hell does the money came from" in order to fulfill their ambitious dreams? from the sky LOL?

1. What you mentioned doesn't constitute begging.
2. More importantly- Don't use words like "begging bowl" and "China" in the same sentence- you will offend a lot of PDF members.

 

[StraightShooter]

China needs OBOR to boost its economy back into competitiveness, this proposed corridor is not really necessary to the economies of any of those countries. Will they really be willing to pool together $150 billion or so for the project? The US and Japan are the only economies capable of matching China, and I really can't see them putting a lot of money towards this.

Also, is there any International (non-Indian) media outlets that confirm the participation of those countries?

The main driver for OBOR is to put Chinese idle assets to use. The Chinese approach has always been "If you build it, they will come". This is how China ended up with so many ghost towns with in their country. The jury is still out on OBOR but the experience from Sri Lanka shows that Chinese investments or loans turned out to be a curse than a boon.

With regards to IPEC you could refer to the below. The plan is to integrate BIMSTEC (South Asia) with ASEAN (South East Asia). IMT (India, Myanmar, Thailand) corridor is already in progress and is planned to be extended all the way to Vietnam.

http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KZQ1.pdf

Dhaka eager to join India-Myanmar-Thailand highway

• Tribune Desk
• Published at 09:22 PM October 15, 2016

The IMT trilateral highway will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar and likely to be completed by 2020
Bangladesh ‘wants to join’ India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway to boost regional connectivity for greater economic gains, according to a BBC report.

The IMT trilateral highway is a highway under construction that will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar and likely to be completed by 2020.

The ambitious three-nation highway that will connect India with Thailand through Myanmar is a central plank of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East policy, which seeks to boost trade and connectivity with Southeast Asia.

The road is expected to boost trade and commerce in the Asean-India Free Trade Area, as well as with the rest of Southeast Asia. There is a plan for extending the highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

At this moment, discussions are going on to include Bangladesh in the planned tri-nation highway through Bimstec.

The BBC Bangla report claimed that ahead of the Bimstec Outreach meeting, Bangladesh has conveyed that its one of the key aims at the outreach meeting will be to get connected with Thailand and South East Asia by building road connectivity through Myanmar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for Goa on Sunday morning to attend the Bimstec Outreach Summit which the host country India considers as a ‘significant’ event.

The theme of the Summit is ‘A partnership in Opportunities’ and the Outreach Summit is being organised on the sidelines of BRICS Summit that began on Saturday.

During the visit, the premier will have an important bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/busines...ka-eager-join-india-myanmar-thailand-highway/

 

[MultaniGuy]

The main driver for OBOR is to put Chinese idle assets to use. The Chinese approach has always been "If you build it, they will come". This is how China ended up with so many ghost towns with in their country. The jury is still out on OBOR but the experience from Sri Lanka shows that Chinese investments or loans turned out to be a curse than a boon.

With regards to IPEC you could refer to the below. The plan is to integrate BIMSTEC (South Asia) with ASEAN (South East Asia). IMT (India, Myanmar, Thailand) corridor is already in progress and is planned to be extended all the way to Vietnam.

http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KZQ1.pdf

Dhaka eager to join India-Myanmar-Thailand highway

• Tribune Desk
• Published at 09:22 PM October 15, 2016

The IMT trilateral highway will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar and likely to be completed by 2020
Bangladesh ‘wants to join’ India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway to boost regional connectivity for greater economic gains, according to a BBC report.

The IMT trilateral highway is a highway under construction that will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar and likely to be completed by 2020.

The ambitious three-nation highway that will connect India with Thailand through Myanmar is a central plank of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East policy, which seeks to boost trade and connectivity with Southeast Asia.

The road is expected to boost trade and commerce in the Asean-India Free Trade Area, as well as with the rest of Southeast Asia. There is a plan for extending the highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

At this moment, discussions are going on to include Bangladesh in the planned tri-nation highway through Bimstec.

The BBC Bangla report claimed that ahead of the Bimstec Outreach meeting, Bangladesh has conveyed that its one of the key aims at the outreach meeting will be to get connected with Thailand and South East Asia by building road connectivity through Myanmar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for Goa on Sunday morning to attend the Bimstec Outreach Summit which the host country India considers as a ‘significant’ event.

The theme of the Summit is ‘A partnership in Opportunities’ and the Outreach Summit is being organised on the sidelines of BRICS Summit that began on Saturday.

During the visit, the premier will have an important bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/busines...ka-eager-join-india-myanmar-thailand-highway/

PLease dont spam the forum with your nonsense.

India is jealous of CPEC. CPEC will be a great success story.

 

[Flash_Ninja]

The main driver for OBOR is to put Chinese idle assets to use. The Chinese approach has always been "If you build it, they will come".

No, the old routes China used for export were inefficient and slow, the creation of OBOR not only significantly cuts transport time, but also fosters economic activities in member countries that can trickle back to China. For instance the CPEC route links directly into China's Western provinces, which not only give them a quick route to the sea, but also the ability to significantly increase trade between Pakistan and the Western provinces.

This is how China ended up with so many ghost towns with in their country.

Thats a myth, most of those media reports were done while cities were still under construction. If you look at those cities today then you'll see they actually have very large residential populations.

The jury is still out on OBOR but the experience from Sri Lanka shows that Chinese investments or loans turned out to be a curse than a boon.

Sri Lankas problems aren't with OBOR, its with the fact that they took large commercial loans to fund those projects, and through a mixture of poor planning, and widespread corruption, greatly mismanaged the project. Like I said, a significant chunk of OBOR is through direct investment, so the port project is not representative of the overall project.

That being said, the Sri Lankans are still optimistic about the Hambantota Port and still want to be a part of OBOR, even though it cost them in loans it wasnt exactly a bad deal considering the potential they now have.

https://newsin.asia/obor-significant-sri-lanka-says-central-bank-governor/

With regards to IPEC you could refer to the below. The plan is to integrate BIMSTEC (South Asia) with ASEAN (South East Asia). IMT (India, Myanmar, Thailand) corridor is already in progress and is planned to be extended all the way to Vietnam.

http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KZQ1.pdf

Wait, what? you are expecting the US to fund most of IPEC yet in that document it states:

"USAID in collaboration with the State Department— which funded this activity with its centrally managed funds for
advancing regional cooperation in South Asia — will implement a 2-year, $1.86 million activity"

Unless they missed out a few zeros, that's nowhere near the amount needed

Dhaka eager to join India-Myanmar-Thailand highway

• Tribune Desk
• Published at 09:22 PM October 15, 2016

The IMT trilateral highway will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar and likely to be completed by 2020
Bangladesh ‘wants to join’ India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) trilateral highway to boost regional connectivity for greater economic gains, according to a BBC report.

The IMT trilateral highway is a highway under construction that will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar and likely to be completed by 2020.

The ambitious three-nation highway that will connect India with Thailand through Myanmar is a central plank of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East policy, which seeks to boost trade and connectivity with Southeast Asia.

The road is expected to boost trade and commerce in the Asean-India Free Trade Area, as well as with the rest of Southeast Asia. There is a plan for extending the highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

At this moment, discussions are going on to include Bangladesh in the planned tri-nation highway through Bimstec.

The BBC Bangla report claimed that ahead of the Bimstec Outreach meeting, Bangladesh has conveyed that its one of the key aims at the outreach meeting will be to get connected with Thailand and South East Asia by building road connectivity through Myanmar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for Goa on Sunday morning to attend the Bimstec Outreach Summit which the host country India considers as a ‘significant’ event.

The theme of the Summit is ‘A partnership in Opportunities’ and the Outreach Summit is being organised on the sidelines of BRICS Summit that began on Saturday.

During the visit, the premier will have an important bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/busines...ka-eager-join-india-myanmar-thailand-highway/

Is this highway part of IPEC? it was created back in 2002, so its obviously a separate project.

Also, I asked for a source on those nations (US, Japan, South Korea), confirming their involvement in the project.

 

[StraightShooter]

No, the old routes China used for export were inefficient and slow, the creation of OBOR not only significantly cuts transport time, but also fosters economic activities in member countries that can trickle back to China. For instance the CPEC route links directly into China's Western provinces, which not only give them a quick route to the sea, but also the ability to significantly increase trade between Pakistan and the Western provinces.

The most profitable and shortest route for China would be through Myanmar as it is closer to the developed eastern part of China. Why would anyone wants to drive all through wilderness of Western China?

Thats a myth, most of those media reports were done while cities were still under construction. If you look at those cities today then you'll see they actually have very large residential populations.

May be they are getting occupied now but the point is generally one calculates the ROI or finds potential customer before venturing into Business opportunity but in case of China they have so much free cash they are forced to spend on projects even if there is nothing concrete as in the worst case these projects add to their GDP and create some employment for Chinese construction workers.

Sri Lankas problems aren't with OBOR, its with the fact that they took large commercial loans to fund those projects, and through a mixture of poor planning, and widespread corruption, greatly mismanaged the project. Like I said, a significant chunk of OBOR is through direct investment, so the port project is not representative of the overall project.

That being said, the Sri Lankans are still optimistic about the Hambantota Port and still want to be a part of OBOR, even though it cost them in loans it wasnt exactly a bad deal considering the potential they now have.

https://newsin.asia/obor-significant-sri-lanka-says-central-bank-governor/

All those huge loans were taken as part of OBOR which is resulting in Sri Lanka offering 99 year lease to China as the venture is not able to sustain the payback of the loans.

Clashes erupt as Sri Lankans protest China port deal
Updated 7 Jan 2017, 6:47am

PHOTO: Government supporters, armed with clubs, first attacked protesters organised by the opposition. (AP: Eranga Jayawardena)
MAP: Sri LankaPHOTO: Villagers and monks are demanding their residential and farmlands be spared. (AP: Eranga Jayawardena)
A court had issued a restraining order on the protest, saying it could lead to unrest.

China invested over $1.65 billion in the port in what some analysts call its "string of pearls" strategy in countries surrounding its rival India.

Although the project has seen losses since 2010, Sri Lanka's Government, at first critical of the enterprise, approached China seeking help to make it viable.

Sri Lankan MP D V Chanaka, one of the protest organisers, said he feared the port area would become a "Chinese colony".

"We are against leasing the lands where people live and do their farming, while there are identified lands for an industrial zone," Mr Chanaka said.

"When you give away such a vast area of land, you can't stop the area from becoming a Chinese colony."

After the lease expires, it can be negotiated for another 99 years, according to the framework agreement for which terms are still being negotiated.

The Government also has proposed to lease 6,070 hectares in Hambantota district and adjoining Moneragala district for the industrial zone.

Agreement necessary to free country from debt: PM
Reverend Magama Mahanama, from a group calling itself the Monks' Organisation to Protect National Assets, said the clergy, following an ancient tradition, would issue a decree to the Government to stop the leasing.

Historically, kings in predominantly Buddhist Sri Lanka are said to have abided by decrees issued by Buddhist monks.

"It's a way of conveying the message that the monks are not for it," Mr Mahanama said.

"Ninety-nine years means at least two generations. When they [the Chinese] take root here, what's the guarantee that we will have it back? There is a major threat of cultural erosion and demographic change."

Mr Wickremesinghe, speaking to reporters earlier this week, said the partnership arrangement was necessary to free the country from the debt incurred to build the port.

He blamed the debt on former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose government was friendly to Beijing.

Mr Wickremesinghe said the industrial zone was necessary to make the port and the nearby Chinese-financed airport, also running at a heavy loss, viable.

"The port can't be taken away," he said, adding that his country's former British colonial rulers did not take away the Trincomalee harbor or the Colombo port.

AP

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-07/sri-lankans-protest-china-port-deal/8168110

Wait, what? you are expecting the US to fund most of IPEC yet in that document it states:

"USAID in collaboration with the State Department— which funded this activity with its centrally managed funds for
advancing regional cooperation in South Asia — will implement a 2-year, $1.86 million activity"

Unless they missed out a few zeros, that's nowhere near the amount needed

Is this highway part of IPEC? it was created back in 2002, so its obviously a separate project.

Also, I asked for a source on those nations (US, Japan, South Korea), confirming their involvement in the project.

India has been moving forward with or without other countries in case Chabahar and IMT (India-Myanmar-Thailand) and its extension CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam). Now, Japan joining Chabahar and US pushing IPEC is just a bonus.

 

[Flash_Ninja]

The most profitable and shortest route for China would be through Myanmar as it is closer to the developed eastern part of China. Why would anyone wants to drive all through wilderness of Western China?

The point is not to make their Eastern regions go over by land, its to promote trade to and from Europe, the Middle East, and Pakistan, into their Western and Central regions. The point of building all these highways and railways is to create a more efficient and profitable route for those provinces, as the sea route is both expensive and time consuming.

May be they are getting occupied now but the point is generally one calculates the ROI or finds potential customer before venturing into Business opportunity but in case of China they have so much free cash they are forced to spend on projects even if there is nothing concrete as in the worst case these projects add to their GDP and create some employment for Chinese construction workers.

They are getting their ROI, they are getting workers and companies to set up in these resource rich economic zones, where these cities are set up.

Even if they are paying their workers to build meaningless projects, its not necessarily a bad thing as stable wages and inflation, is far better for maintaining an economy, than letting the free market take over which would probably lead to lay-offs, scaling back, and removing long term goals.

All those huge loans were taken as part of OBOR which is resulting in Sri Lanka offering 99 year lease to China as the venture is not able to sustain the payback of the loans.

Clashes erupt as Sri Lankans protest China port deal
Updated 7 Jan 2017, 6:47am

PHOTO: Government supporters, armed with clubs, first attacked protesters organised by the opposition. (AP: Eranga Jayawardena)
MAP: Sri LankaPHOTO: Villagers and monks are demanding their residential and farmlands be spared. (AP: Eranga Jayawardena)
A court had issued a restraining order on the protest, saying it could lead to unrest.

China invested over $1.65 billion in the port in what some analysts call its "string of pearls" strategy in countries surrounding its rival India.

Although the project has seen losses since 2010, Sri Lanka's Government, at first critical of the enterprise, approached China seeking help to make it viable.

Sri Lankan MP D V Chanaka, one of the protest organisers, said he feared the port area would become a "Chinese colony".

"We are against leasing the lands where people live and do their farming, while there are identified lands for an industrial zone," Mr Chanaka said.

"When you give away such a vast area of land, you can't stop the area from becoming a Chinese colony."

After the lease expires, it can be negotiated for another 99 years, according to the framework agreement for which terms are still being negotiated.

The Government also has proposed to lease 6,070 hectares in Hambantota district and adjoining Moneragala district for the industrial zone.

Agreement necessary to free country from debt: PM
Reverend Magama Mahanama, from a group calling itself the Monks' Organisation to Protect National Assets, said the clergy, following an ancient tradition, would issue a decree to the Government to stop the leasing.

Historically, kings in predominantly Buddhist Sri Lanka are said to have abided by decrees issued by Buddhist monks.

"It's a way of conveying the message that the monks are not for it," Mr Mahanama said.

"Ninety-nine years means at least two generations. When they [the Chinese] take root here, what's the guarantee that we will have it back? There is a major threat of cultural erosion and demographic change."

Mr Wickremesinghe, speaking to reporters earlier this week, said the partnership arrangement was necessary to free the country from the debt incurred to build the port.

He blamed the debt on former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, whose government was friendly to Beijing.

Mr Wickremesinghe said the industrial zone was necessary to make the port and the nearby Chinese-financed airport, also running at a heavy loss, viable.

"The port can't be taken away," he said, adding that his country's former British colonial rulers did not take away the Trincomalee harbor or the Colombo port.

AP

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-07/sri-lankans-protest-china-port-deal/8168110

The Sri Lankan government and their Central Bank are still enthusiastic about joining OBOR, are they morons or are these monks possessing a magical vision of Sri Lanka being a Chinese colony?

I'd put my faith in the experienced people in charge rather than a small group of protestors.

India has been moving forward with or without other countries in case Chabahar and IMT (India-Myanmar-Thailand) and its extension CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam). Now, Japan joining Chabahar and US pushing IPEC is just a bonus.

Those are separate projects though, I asked for a source on US, Japan, South Korea, confirming their involvement in this IPEC project. Even that US document, which is not even a government one, recommends that the US implement $1.86 million over 2 years, which is nowhere near the scale that is required to match OBOR.

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

Age old adage... put money were your mouth is!

The US is day too late and a dollar too short...

How many trillions the US needs for its own crumbling infrastructure?

Japan doesn't have the money.... it needs to come out of its eternal recession first...plus scale of infrastructure building is a different game all together... Japanse do possess great tech in other sectors!

Australia...well...well... what can it bring to the table...

And then we have india as a state.... what can it possibily bring to the table..in scope and scale???

Regardless, whether this 'counter' or containment strategy works or not... competition is a great thing...

Pak wins either way... and if Pak wins China wins... remember Sino-Pak is win-win paradigm.

Goes without saying...if China wins Pak wins...

Let the Game begin.. may the best man win!

 

[MultaniGuy]

Age old adage... put money were your mouth is!

The US is day too late and a dollar too short...

How many trillions the US needs for its own crumbling infrastructure?

Japan doesn't have the money.... it needs to come out of its eternal recession first...plus scale of infrastructure building is a different game all together... Japanse do possess great tech in other sectors!

Australia...well...well... what can it bring to the table...

And then we have india as a state.... what can it possibily bring to the table..in scope and scale???

Regardless, whether this 'counter' or containment strategy works or not... competition is a great thing...

Pak wins either way... and if Pak wins China wins... remember Sino-Pak is win-win paradigm.

Goes without saying...if China wins Pak wins...

Let the Game begin.. may the best man win!

I agree with your analysis 100%.

 

[Jlaw]

India, Myanmar and the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor
BY TRIDIVESH SINGH MAINI

SEP 10, 2016
FacebookTwitterLinkedInFlipboardDigg

China’s ambitious One Belt One Road project is drawing a lot of attention due to its scale as well as strategic implications. What is often overlooked is efforts being made by other countries in the context of enhancing connectivity within Asia, Japan’s Partnership for Quality Infrastructure (PQI) may not appear to be as grand as the OBOR, but it has the ability to create not just top class infrastructure, but also enhance the level of connectivity within Asia.

Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor: Role of US, India and Myanmar

The US has also been seeking to enhance connectivity between South Asia with South East Asia and beyond, through the Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor (IPEC). The project complements India’s Act East Policy, and also its desire to play a role in the Indo-Pacific. In 2015, a release by the State Department clearly highlights IPEC as an important priority for the US. Says the statement, "Complementing India’s Enhanced Look East Policy, the United States envisions an Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor that can help bridge South and Southeast Asia – where the Indian and Pacific Oceans converge and where trade has thrived for centuries’.

While the US and India are key stakeholders, other members include Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal. The US has also recently asked Sri Lanka to become part of this project

Myanmar, India’s bridge to South East Asia is a key player within this project. India and Myanmar have had a number of high level interactions with Indian Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj visited Myanmar, this was followed by Myanmar President Htin Kyaw visit to New Delhi. Amongst the key issues, there was an emphasis on accelerating the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, and upgradation of key sections of the highway. During the ASEAN Summit at Laos, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the emphasis his government is laying on robust connectivity between India and ASEAN. Significantly, the PM proposed the setting up of a Joint Task Force on connectivity to work on extension of India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Aung San Suu Kyi US visit

While during the upcoming visit of Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to the US, the focus is likely to be on the lifting of sanctions and key challenges which Myanmar is facing.The economic reforms being undertaken are also likely to be discussed and the US President is likely to encourage enhanced trade relations with the outside world as well as connectivity. A number of US investors are keen to invest in Myanmar, and they could benefit through Myanmar’s integration with other markets in South East Asia as well as South Asia. While IPEC may not find specific mention during their meeting the project seems to be high on the US agenda.

Only recently, Neha Desai Biswal Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs while commenting on the US role in IPEC stated:

“We see ourselves as a convener and a partner. We can help identify projects that have multiplier effects, bring all stakeholders to the table, support and catalyse the early stages of development, and provide the necessary technical support to make sure it gets done right,”

Role of India and US

All stakeholders need to play an important role. India needs to focus not just on land connectivity with Myanmar, but seamless connectivity within India itself. India needs to accord higher priority to stong maritime connectivity between Southern India and South East Asia, this can complement the current efforts to connect North Eastern India with Myanmar. Apart from physical connectivity, India also needs to integrate with the larger Asia-Pacific region by becoming part of APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation). The US needs to back India’s membership a number of other countries like Australia have strongly backed the same.

For any substantial progress, the stakeholders will also have to decide the appropriate forum for IPEC. While Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh have been working jointly in BIMSTEC, it is doubtful whether this would be appropriate. A forum bereft of infighting is needed for ensuring that IPEC is successful.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while India-US and other countries in ASEAN may have found common ground in the strategic sphere, there is no clarity with regard to enhanced connectivity and integration. 'The US and other key stakeholders in IPEC should not get distracted by OBOR. The thrust should be on accelerating connectivity between South Asia and South East Asia through a pragmatic vision and efficient implementation.India and Myanmar which would benefit significantly from IPEC would be advised to take the lead.

http://moderndiplomacy.eu/index.php...the-indo-pacific-economic-corridor&Itemid=869

September 2016? You that desperate to post crap ?

 

[StraightShooter]

The point is not to make their Eastern regions go over by land, its to promote trade to and from Europe, the Middle East, and Pakistan, into their Western and Central regions. The point of building all these highways and railways is to create a more efficient and profitable route for those provinces, as the sea route is both expensive and time consuming.

The is huge split even between Mandarin speaking north eastern Chinese and Cantonese speaking south eastern Chinese and you think Tibetan and Turkic speaking people in the western China would have a say and would be part of the growth story? All roads lead to eastern China.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

And, Trump will make China pay for it!!!

And, to connect CA they need to have their own connections via Pak!!! So, it's like another CPEC!!! Won't be there any empty room left in Pak???

 

[Flash_Ninja]

The is huge split even between Mandarin speaking north eastern Chinese and Cantonese speaking south eastern Chinese and you think Tibetan and Turkic speaking people in the western China would have a say and would be part of the growth story? All roads lead to eastern China.

Eastern China already has access to sea ports. Western and Central regions either must go through the air, or an inefficient journey over land. Thats why all these roads and railways are being constructed.

 

[maximuswarrior]

LOL America and India on the losing side of the spectrum. America lost the day it threatened Pakistan with terror strikes. An admission of defeat.

 

[StraightShooter]

Eastern China already has access to sea ports. Western and Central regions either must go through the air, or an inefficient journey over land. Thats why all these roads and railways are being constructed.

Eastern ports can reach Americas but not Europe, Middle-east and Africa.

Western regions of China need to build something before they can trade. The OBOR route through Myanmar is the most efficient and profitable one for China as it directly links to the Manufacturing centers in the eastern part of China. OBOR route through Pakistan (CPEC) is just a back up (insurance) for China should the route through Myanmar gets blocked for whatever reason.