In the five years since its unveiling, China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative has undergone dramatic change.

China conceived the BRI as a sprawling network of infrastructure projects, spanning some 70 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa. The whole thing was supposed to be a demonstration of China’s growing global power, and ambition to become the world’s biggest economy. It might still achieve that, but the BRI is currently suffering from serious “mission creep.” Today, the brand encapsulates the Arctic, healthcare, art exhibits, fashion shows, cyberspace and even outer space. At the same time, China risks losing control over the contractors who are carrying out the various projects. Then there’s the question of mounting debt, and how it’s affecting both investors and host countries. Tackling all these issues on this episode is Jonathan E. Hillman, a fellow with the Simon Chair in Political Economy, and director of the Reconnecting Asia Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Just what is China hoping to gain from the BRI? And what might it end up with? Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.

Show notes:

“China’s Belt and Roller Coaster,” an analysis of the BRI by Jonathan Hillman.