Belt and Road Initiative

Talat Ayesha Wizarat

Description

Belt and Road Initiative: Emerging World Order is an attempt to analyses President Xi Jinping’s concept of connectivity and cooperation. I have tried to examine the future of BRI. There can be no economic and political development without the availability of modern infrastructure. In this context development of digital technology assumes importance. BRI is spread over land and the maritime zone. The two components are inter related. BRI should not be viewed only as a set of trade routes; it is much more than that. The economic corridors will create interdependence and promote cooperation. While BRI is envisaged as a system which could lead to peace and prosperity among states. However, there are some threats which cannot be ignored. Members of BRI will have to devise a strategy to meet future challenges without getting involved in wars.

Sujets

• Karakoram Highway
• Economics
• Business
• Route du Karakorum
• Infrastructure

Informations

• Publié par: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Date de parution: 02 mai 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781543773736
• Langue: English

Extrait

BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE
EMERGING WORLD ORDER





TALAT AYESHA WIZARAT







Copyright © 2023 by Talat Ayesha Wizarat.

ISBN:
Softcover
978-1-5437-7372-9
eBook
978-1-5437-7373-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.











www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore














Dedicated to the loving memory of
my parents Begum Aisha Wizarat
and Major (Dr) Wizarat ullah khan
who have been a source of
inspiration and pride
for me.



CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Preface

Chapter 1 Trade Routes Old And New: Historical And Geostrategic Dimensions
Chapter 2 Belt And Road Initiative: The Silk Road Economic Belt
Chapter 3 China – Pakistan Economic Corridor: Connectivity And Cooperation
Chapter 4 Karakoram: Highway To Heaven
Chapter 5 Special Economic Zones Under Cpec Challenges And Opportunities
Chapter 6 Gwadar: Emerging Economic Nerve Centre Of Pakistan
Chapter 7 Modern Maritime Silk Road: Geopolitical Realities In A Changing World

Conclusion



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To pursue any activity particularly academic endeavour one needs mental stimulation which comes from reading, discussion and debate. Another source of motivation is provided by the family whose love and care is indispensable.
I have been lucky to enjoy both sources of motivation. In January 2021 my teaching contract ended, I was a bit disappointed. At this stage my daughters Hira Khan and Namra Khan advised me to focus on writing my book, which I had always dreamt of doing but could not due to teaching responsibility. I am very grateful to them and my son-in-law Jahanzeb Khalid for their support and care. My husband Lt. Col (Retd) Mohammad Tahir has also been very supportive. My siblings Dr Shahida Wizarat, Ms Zakia Wizarat Mrs Yasmin Arshad and Mr Nusrat ullah khan have also been a source motivation. Dr Shahida guided me throughout publication process and Zakia was helpful in editing the volume. My nephew and Research Assistant Asad U.Khan provided full support to me. My neice Kanza believes that people who provide emotional support are as important as others so thanks Kanza Khan and nephew Basharat U.Khan. My nephews Ali Arshad and Talha Arshad also deserve my gratitude. Another person who was supportive is Siraj Ahmed Sabki who joined me as house help but proved to be useful in taking care of my research documents and typing work.
I would also like to thank the scholars who invited me to their seminars, foreign and Pakistani scholars and experts who gave me the opportunity to interview them. Mr Naveed Hassan Khan Ex-Education Attaché Pakistan Embassy Beijing, China also deserves special mention for his help and support. My countless number of friends living all along the Karakoram Highway and Gwadar also deserve my thanks and gratitude. The library staff of all the centres of learning I visited also deserve special thanks for helping me.



PREFACE
As a child I used to hear tales about life on the Silk Road in ancient times. Like all stories these were romanticised versions of reality, they presented exciting and highly stimulating scenarios. Many years later I decided to visit the area in order to interact with people living in the region. It is a well-known fact that some companions of the prophet (peace be upon him) left Arabia after his death, they went all the way to China to learn special skills for which China was famous and to preach the new religion.
When President Xi Jinping presented Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 it aroused immediate interest of countries in Asia and Africa. Many European states also watched the situation with interest. US was a bit apprehensive looking upon this as an emerging challenge. Many people including scholars consider BRI to be part of China’s efforts to revive the Silk Road. In reality BRI is going to be much more than a set of trade routes. The concept of ‘economic corridor’ is far more multi-dimensional. These inter-connected economic corridors will be provided with modern infrastructure, industrial centres and agricultural ventures.
BRI is designed to promote academic cooperation between universities of member countries. Training of young faculty and development of academic programmes in keeping with needs of the society is also planned. In some regions of the world water management and storage of this scarce asset is dire need of the society. In other cases some other aspect could be more important. The main idea is to promote cooperation and learn from each other.
The idea of creating Digital Silk Road (DSR) is rather new. Work has already begun on this project, it is expected to provide better means of communication between member states. Modernisation of communication systems is crucial for military security, promotion of trade and poverty alleviation. Industrial ventures would lead to creation of jobs and other benefits. Creation of Special Economic Zones and Industrial Parks would create environment conducive for industrial development. China is planning to transfer some of its industries to overseas locations, this could open up opportunities for some developing states.
The Chinese model of development is gradually becoming popular among Asian and African countries. The factors behind this growing interest are being explored as the Chinese have done little to project their model of development. The most important reason appears to be China’s spectacular rise right before our eyes. It broke the cycle of poverty and joined the ranks of developed states. According to a World Bank report China has pulled 800 million people out of grinding poverty. In 1981 poverty afflicted 88 percent of the population but in 2015 it had come down to 0.7 percent. This is no small achievement; it offers hope to poverty-stricken people all over the third world. Chinese model has an appeal for developing states, but they should not lose sight of the fact that there is no substitute for hard work, honesty effective planning and efficient management.
My book ‘Belt and Road Initiative: Emerging World Order’ is designed to understand the importance of this venture. If BRI succeeds in creating a new pattern of economic and political interaction between developed states and the third world, it will result in the emergence of a new world order. Before making an attempt to define the various dimensions of the emerging world order we must discuss the existing world order in some detail.
The present world order was imposed by the victor nations after the end of World War II. Although the colonial era was drawing to an end the states aspiring for independence lacked a strong voice. The bipolar system tilted in favour of Western states led by the US. The UN was heavily influenced by the developed states particularly the US that also controlled the IMF, World Bank and other instruments of economic power. Even after the process of decolonisation was completed in the political realm, the economic relationship between ex-colonies and colonial powers remained intact. There are innumerable examples of this but two appear to be more significant.
1. France imposed a special tax on fourteen of its ex-African colonies on the pretext of having developed their infrastructure. They are also required to keep their surplus foreign currency funds and gold reserves in French banks. All this in spite of the fact that lack of infrastructure has been the main hurdle in their development.
2. The terms of trade offered to developing states (ex-colonies) are extremely adverse as their exports are based on raw materials. They import manufactured goods from developed states (ex-colonial powers). The cost of manufactured goods is much higher and constantly on the rise. There is a net transfer of resources from developing to developed states, leading to prosperity in the West and increasing poverty in Africa and Asia. This suits the developed states and they have no interest in changing the pattern.
The bipolar system was transformed into unipolar with the breakup of Soviet Union. This was seen as a ‘triumph’ of capitalism. US took full advantage of this, using its military-industrial complex to occupy various countries, in order to establish direct control over the natural resources of these states. The US imposed regimes of its choice on target states like Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan, murdering national leaders and pushing these states into severe turmoil.
According to an article appearing in Express Tribune on 28 th February 2022 US has been involved in 102 wars which is 81 percent of all armed conflicts between 1945 and 2001. The US has 750 military bases spread over the entire globe whereas UK has 145, Russia 36 and China only 5.
Alex Ward has stated that the US lost many wars and failed to win an even larger number of conflicts in recent times. Wards analysis of reasons which have