Belt and Road initiative

The Trump administration plans to increase funding by hundreds of millions of dollars to counter China's global influence, including $175.8 million for undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America. The State Department also considers allocating nearly half a billion additional dollars for programs targeting China's economic and technological activities in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia.

The Trump administration plans to increase funding by hundreds of millions of dollars to counter China's global influence, including $175.8 million for undersea telecommunications cable upgrades in the Caribbean and Central America. The State Department also considers nearly half a billion dollars more for programs across the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia to counter Chinese economic and technological activities.

The Trump administration plans to increase funding by hundreds of millions of dollars to counter China's influence globally, including replacing undersea cables in the Caribbean and Central America with $175.8 million. The State Department is considering nearly half a billion more for programs in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia to address risks posed by China's economic activities.

The Trump administration plans to allocate $175.8 million to replace undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America to counter China's influence. The funding is part of a broader strategy to increase spending on initiatives countering Chinese economic and technological activities, including infrastructure projects and telecommunications investments in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia. The administration cites concerns over China's Belt and Road Initiative and risks to U.S. national security.

Chinese investments in African infrastructure and energy projects reached $33.5 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by energy and metals projects and manufacturers leveraging Africa’s trade access to the US and EU. Ethiopia led with a $14.2 billion Ming Yang Smart Energy project, followed by Egypt’s $12.2 billion and Zambia’s planned 660 MW coal plant.

China is increasing funding for green energy deals through its Belt and Road Initiative as the Iran war reduces oil demand. The initiative is leveraging the growing global interest in renewable energy amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Europe is reevaluating external partnerships due to shifting strategic challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine, Middle East instability, Red Sea insecurity, and supply-chain concerns. The EU faces competition between its Global Gateway initiative and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

China's Belt and Road Initiative has rapidly expanded in Central Asia through new railway and road routes connecting to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. The development reflects growing trade momentum and Central Asia's rising role in continental logistics, with China becoming the region's largest trading partner.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Israeli nationals found in the country will be deported immediately, as authorities investigate allegations that Israelis joined the Network School community in Johor's Forest City. The investigation follows claims that Israeli participants with dual nationality entered Malaysia using non-Israeli passports, violating immigration laws.

The article argues that Cold War 2.0 is already underway and centered on private-sector competition in areas like capital markets, technology, and supply chains. China leverages state-backed investments (e.g., Belt and Road Initiative) to gain strategic advantages, while the West must respond with innovative private capital and free-market solutions to secure economic and national security.

Hungary’s former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó resigned from parliament to join Chinese automaker BYD, drawing criticism for his role in securing government subsidies to the company during his tenure. Szijjártó facilitated BYD’s European factory and headquarters in Hungary, enabling the company to avoid EU import tariffs on electric vehicles.

China has launched a new cross-border freight rail service connecting western China with Turkmenistan as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to strengthen economic ties with Central Asia. Freight routes to Europe avoiding Russia and the Middle East have seen an 80% increase this year, driven by companies seeking to bypass geopolitical risks, including disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz closure and the Iran crisis.

John Lee's visit to Central Asia was well-timed as the region's strategic importance, highlighted in the 2022 book 'Sinostan' by Raffaello Pantucci and Alexandros Petersen, underscores its role in China's Belt and Road Initiative. The book describes Central Asia as China's 'inadvertent empire,' referencing Halford Mackinder's 1904 geopolitical theories.

Two new studies find that China's Belt and Road Initiative has a significant climate impact, with over half of its emissions coming from steel production, primarily in China. The studies emphasize the need for strong regulations and incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Chinese manufacturing.

Japan is accelerating a project focused on energy networks and supply chains, akin to China's Belt and Road Initiative but distinct in its emphasis. The initiative challenges America's waning economic and strategic influence in Asia, a region described as populous, resource-rich, and powerful. The project is a cooperative venture.

Africa's trade with China reached $275 billion in 2024, with China importing critical minerals like chromium, manganese, and lithium essential for electric vehicles and clean energy. However, declining Chinese infrastructure loans and rising debt servicing costs, with some African nations spending over 40% of public revenue on repayments, create fiscal strain. China's recent removal of tariffs on most African nations contrasts with U.S. tariff increases.

Two universities in Hong Kong signed partnership agreements with Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan during a visit by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu. The move aims to deepen academic collaboration and strengthen people-to-people ties between the regions.

China and Kazakhstan agreed to establish a joint grain-trading platform during talks in Astana, with discussions also covering long-term supply contracts, logistics hubs, dry ports, and technology cooperation in storage and processing. The platform is expected to be modeled on China’s state-managed system.

The Quad (U.S., Japan, India, Australia) plans to invest in Fiji's port infrastructure to challenge China's influence over Pacific supply chains. The project aims to provide an alternative to Chinese investments, which critics argue create 'debt-traps' for Pacific island nations. Fiji's strategic location at key shipping lanes makes it a focal point for enhancing regional trade and logistics.

China and Serbia agreed to deepen security and economic cooperation during President Aleksandar Vucic's state visit to Beijing. The joint statement emphasized collaboration in counterterrorism, preventing color revolutions, and enhancing security for major events and the Belt and Road Initiative. Both leaders described their relationship as an 'ironclad friendship.'

Hong Kong is pursuing business opportunities in Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, to strengthen connections between mainland China and the region while expanding its role as a professional services hub for Belt and Road Initiative countries. Analysts suggest this strategic pivot could yield significant economic benefits, though gains may take time to materialize. The initiative is driven partly by geopolitical uncertainty and regional instability in the Middle East.

The article warns of the U.S. risking loss of freedoms through unchecked AI development, comparing it to China's authoritarian use of surveillance technology. It highlights U.S. initiatives like the Stargate Project and AI Action Plan while criticizing China's export of surveillance systems via the Belt and Road Initiative.