Eyck Freymann, "One Belt One Road: Chinese Power Meets the World" (Harvard UP, 2020)
Aug 25, 2024
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Eyck Freymann, a DPhil Candidate in China Studies at the University of Oxford, dissects China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, the largest infrastructure project in history. He reveals how OBOR is more than merely a series of investments; it's intertwined with Xi Jinping's vision of restoring China's global dominance. Freymann debunks myths surrounding the project, arguing that it's neither a monolithic scheme nor a debt trap for recipient nations. He highlights the growing allure of OBOR and contrasts it with U.S. development strategies, emphasizing the need for a strategic response to China's expanding influence.
Eyck Freymann highlights that OBOR is not just an economic initiative but a strategic tool for China’s geopolitical ambitions.
The perception that OBOR functions as a debt trap oversimplifies complex local politics and economic realities in recipient countries.
Xi Jinping's leadership intertwines national identity with OBOR, reflecting a revival of China's historical power dynamics on the global stage.
Deep dives
Journey to Understanding One Belt One Road
The initiative known as One Belt One Road (OBOR) began as a concept aimed at reviving historical trade routes through infrastructure investments in various countries. Initially, it was embraced as a way for China to project its influence and share its developmental model, particularly in countries that had limited access to traditional funding sources. Over the years, it has received mixed publicity in Western media, often framed as a debt trap. However, the reality is more complex, as it incorporates local politics, economic interests, and broader geopolitical strategies that reveal deeper motivations behind China's engagements.
The Complexity of Chinese Infrastructure Projects
Chinese infrastructure projects under OBOR are designed not only as economic ventures but as significant tools of statecraft. They often involve state-owned enterprises that use favorable financing terms to secure contracts, leading recipient countries to take on substantial debts. As illustrated by the Hambantota port deal in Sri Lanka, projects can become politically charged when they fail to meet expectations, leading to adverse consequences for local governments. This dynamic shows that the projects pivot not just on financial success but also on maintaining political relationships and leveraging strategic partnerships.
Revisiting the Narrative of Debt Diplomacy
The narrative of China as a 'predatory lender' has gained traction in various Western political discourses, creating a simplified view of its broader intentions with OBOR. Critics often cite examples like Sri Lanka to illustrate this point, but such cases often oversimplify the intricate realities of local governance and agency. For many recipient countries, engaging with China can provide immediate economic benefits, creating a complex relationship that does not always reflect the anticipated outcomes of such projects. Instead of seeing these countries solely as victims, it is essential to acknowledge their proactive roles and varied motivations for participating in these initiatives.
The Role of Xi Jinping in OBOR's Evolution
Xi Jinping's personal leadership style significantly influences the direction and branding of OBOR, merging it with national identity and historical narratives. His framing of OBOR is seen not merely as an economic endeavor but as a revival of China's past imperial glory, connecting the initiative to traditional concepts of power. This top-down approach allows for a flexible interpretation of OBOR, enabling various local actors within China to associate their own agendas and projects with it. The interaction between this centralized vision and bottom-up execution creates a unique and often chaotic landscape where different sectors align themselves with Xi's goals while pursuing their interests.
Strategic Responses to OBOR
In addressing the challenge posed by OBOR, Washington must navigate a multifaceted landscape influenced by geopolitical realities and domestic responses. While there is an ongoing debate about whether to see OBOR as a major threat or as an opportunity for cooperation, the best approach might require a nuanced balance between competition and collaboration. The United States could seek to offer alternative investment opportunities in developing nations, leveraging its strengths in transparency and due diligence to counter China's rapid deployment of projects. This strategy involves utilizing OBOR as a platform for collaborative efforts on issues like climate change, positioning it as a constructive force rather than a polarizing one.
China’s One Belt One Road policy, or OBOR, represents the largest infrastructure program in history. Yet little is known about it with any certainty. How can something so large be so bewildering?
In One Belt One Road: Chinese Power Meets the World(Harvard East Asian Monographs, 2020), Eyck Freymann, a DPhil Candidate in China Studies at the University of Oxford, explores the nature, function, and purposes of OBOR. Drawing on primary documents in five languages, interviews with senior officials, and on-the-ground case studies in Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Greece, Freymann sifts through the purposeful ambiguity of the Chinese Communist Party and unravels a series of popular myths about OBOR.
He finds that OBOR is not controlled by a monolithic state apparatus; that recipient nations do not consider OBOR a debt trap; and that appeal of OBOR is growing, not shrinking.
Ultimately, Freymann argues that the infrastructure projects are a sideshow to something else: Xi Jinping’s project to restore China’s greatness in world affairs and to solidify his place at the helm of the new Chinese empire.
John Sakellariadis is a 2020-2021 Fulbright US Student Research Grantee. He holds a Master’s degree in public policy from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia and a Bachelor’s degree in History & Literature from Harvard University.
