China Counters New York Times Charges that New Silk Road Is Geopolitics
Tuesday, at a press conference, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry debunked the claims of the New York Times that the New Silk Road initiative is causing “geopolitical” strains among Asian countries.
Last Saturday, the New York Times ran an article castigating the intentions behind China’s launching the Belt and Road Initiative, with the headline, “China Plans a New Silk Road, but Trade Partners Are Wary.” Monday, the Washington Post followed with article in a similar vein, focusing on China’s increased cooperation with Kazakhstan, muscling out Russia.
A reporter at the press conference noted, “An article published in the New York Times said that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is causing geopolitical strains, with some countries increasingly worried about becoming too dependent on China.”
The Foreign Ministry spokesman replied:
“The Belt and Road Initiative will elevate the level of connectivity between the Eurasian continent and other continents, help inland countries diversify their corridors for economic growth, energy transportation and trade, enable countries along the Belt and Road to create demands and jobs, and drive the overall recovery of the world economy, which benefits all countries around the world.
“The Belt and Road Initiative is an open and inclusive initiative for regional cooperation. It is not a tool for geopolitics. China has no geopolitical motives that seek the so-called sphere of influence, and will not impose its will on others. The Chinese side will continue to adhere to the principle of jointly building the initiative through consultation to meet the interests of all and deepen practical cooperation in various fields with countries along the Belt and Road so as to achieve win-win results.”