By David Grammig

May 6, 2015

"Fifty-one agreements were signed by China and Pakistan during President Xi's April visit, kick-starting the "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) project a mere two years after the plan was first announced. Details of the project change as frequently as the total number of countries involved in China's ambitious approach to make the ancient Silk Road fit for the 21st century. Geopolitical calculations are as much a reason for this 2-trillion-dollar project as economic ones. The OBOR project represents one of China's new overarching foreign policy goals, and it demonstrates a willingness and ability to challenge old power structures, especially in Central Asia and the Middle East.

While China strengthens its claim in the South China Sea by creating artificial islands to host military bases, to the west it expands its sphere of influence by opting for a different strategy - the power of money. What seemingly worked well in the past on the less wooed African continent will now be extended into its western neighborhood. The Silk Road, or OBOR project, aims at creating an enormous economic bloc and fostering trade, cultural exchange, political collaboration, and military cooperation among its members - under Chinese domination. An obvious competitor against Russia's Eurasian Union and India's Act East and Connect Central Asia initiatives, the OBOR project has many Central Asian and Middle Eastern states justifiably worried of being caught up in a race for dominance in the region, producing somewhat cautious reactions to China's big plans. Yet, some countries in the region - even those torn by sectarian conflict - may still be inclined to step into a new age due to China's vast investments and its associated desire to protect its economic engagements."

Read more:
http://www.eurasiareview.com/05052015-china-the-new-peacemaker-in-the-middle-east-analysis/

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