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Thursday, December 11, 2025
TopicBelt and Road Initiative

Topic: Belt and Road Initiative

Chinese provinces built big-ticket infra on debt. Now a $23-tn crisis threatens to derail Xi’s BRI

Economic troubles have left Chinese provincial governments on a sticky wicket, leading to the slowdown of the country's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

No investment in Russia, dip in Pakistan, pivot to Saudi — China’s BRI takes a turn

Beijing's spending & investment abroad through Belt and Road Initiative has dipped by 11.77% in first half of 2022, Chinese govt data shows. Saudi Arabia became biggest recipient.

Chinese research vessel Yuan Wang 5 has ‘slowed down’ but still en route Sri Lankan port

Yuan Wang 5 is currently 599 nautical miles away from Hambantota, having been at sea for 35 hours since departing the Chinese port of Taicang, according to latest data.

China’s failing white elephant projects in Sri Lanka have lessons for India

Five years after it acquired Hambantota, China is learning cash has bought neither profit nor power in Sri Lanka.

G7 infra plan a lifeline developing nations can’t ignore but first crack this code, like BRI

Silk roads are getting bumpier but Beijing will maximise its pursuit of global leadership as long as it perceives that Washington seeks to deny it any.

India lost the first mover advantage but there’s benefit to gain from Indo-Pacific forum

India's centrality in the Indo-Pacific trade architecture should have made New Delhi launch IPEF much before US President Joe Biden did. It can still be a rule maker.

Beijing’s Afghanistan gamble: Can emerging China-Taliban-Pakistan triangle deliver peace?

China should support an inclusive process in Afghanistan. The alternative would be either a permanent black security hole or an Islamist dystopia on China’s doorsteps.

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka bets big on $14 bn China-backed Port City, wants reluctant India to invest

China has invested $1.4 billion in the strategically located project. But the Rajapaksa govt wants India to invest in the potential metropolis, which is Sri Lanka's first SEZ.

China wants to tame Internet algorithms. It’s all about national security

Chinascope — The Week Behind The Wall is everything you need to know about what’s happening in China this week.

China expanding influence in UN via increased funding, placing key officials: Think-tank study

UN agencies led by China are linked to domestic agendas like the BRI, Make in China 2025 and the rise of Chinese companies, Mumbai-based think-tank Gateway House's study says.

On Camera

IndiGo cancellations made TV news do the unexpected — question the Modi government

Republic TV was the harshest of them all: “The (civil aviation) minister has done a bad job,” said prime time anchor Arnab Goswami.

IndiGo’s profits dipped, most airlines sunk into losses last fiscal even as flier numbers soared

Despite growing passenger volume, 11 out of 14 carriers reported losses in 2023-24. IndiGo recorded profit of Rs 8,167 crore, which reduced to Rs 7.253 crore in 2024-25.

Dubai Tejas crash revives focus on advanced, fully automated safety systems

Dubai airshow crash & pilot death have rekindled concerns over pilot safety, and need for smarter automated systems that can step in when G-forces, temporary loss of consciousness hit the pilot.

Asim Munir & Pakistan’s Failed Marshal Doctrine

None of Pakistan’s PMs has lasted 5 years. That the current PM has given Asim Munir 5 years shows that of all military dictatorships history has seen, Pakistan’s is most creative.