China is a South Asian country, sharing borders with 14 countries including India. Its significance lies in its rise in the region and hegemonic influence over smaller countries through loans and the Belt and Road Initiative. China and India have fought a major war in the 60s and have disputes over the Aksai Chin and LAC, and tensions over the Indo-Pacific.
China – for they are writing out the checks – as much as recipient countries will continuously monitor the financial success of BRI projects, make course corrections and improvements. For a small country, a few billion dollars may be a geopolitical price China is willing to pay, to buy influence and support. However, something like CPEC, about $ 60 billion, must be beneficial for both China and Pakistan. One wishes India could see OBOR in a more neutral light, consider joining at an appropriate time.