Abstract

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a primary priority for the Chinese government, and it is critical to comprehending Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision. This study will examine how the BRI has increased China’s influence from 2013 to 2023, with a particular emphasis on Chinese growth into developing countries as an alternative to challenge US dominance through BRI projects. It will also look at how China has utilized the BRI to change global governance institutions and strengthen its influence inside them. The analysis leads to the conclusion that China plans to extend its influence in nations and in the Asia-Pacific region by developing and regulating infrastructure along the BRI. By outsourcing infrastructure projects to Chinese state–owned firms, China may solve the surplus capacity and unemployment in its sectors. Additionally, China seeks to establish structural power in a multipolar world, enabling it to confront US hegemony and the restrictions on its rise.