Belt And Road Initiative In Chinese Strategic Thoughts' Perspective

Abstract

The origin of modern strategic thoughts can be traced back to classical strategists. There are strategic principles that hold good for all times and all arms, irrespective of changes in situations and circumstances. Similarly, Chinese strategic thoughts have been influenced by its long historical growth from Chinese culture, history, religion and philosophy. Also, after the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC), many strong and influential leaders in China's reform and development have applied their strategic thoughts. Hence, this research has revisited the strategic thoughts of the classical Chinese philosophers such as Confucius, Mencius and Sun Tzu along with the Daoist philosophies. The study also has examined the strategic thoughts of the prominent leaders of modern China like Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since its inception in 2013 has promoted the connectivity embracing the trend towards a multi-polar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity for promotion of orderly and free flow of economic factors, efficiently allocating the resources, and encouraging the states along Belt and Road to achieve policy coordination and cooperation. Thus, the study illustrates the policy priorities of BRI and strategic implications of Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in Eurasia and the adjacent seas and oceans. The study also has dealt with the philosophical objectives of the BRI, along with the study of the financing of the projects through BRI. More importantly, the research has deliberated the Chinese strategic thoughts in BRI. The research has elucidated the construction of Confucian values, Mencius's strategic thoughts, Daoist principles, and Sun Tzu's strategies in the BRI. Moreover, the study has connected Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Thought and Xi Jinping Thought with BRI as well. In conclusion, the study has depicted the strategic implication of the Belt and the Road has been influenced by Chinese strategic thoughts. The Chinese strategic thoughts have given a foundation, base, spirit or state of mind for China's policies, ideas and the leaders, and the study has reflected the connections and creation of foundations by those ideas and values in BRI. The study after analyzing the Chinese strategic thoughts in the BRI also has portrayed the nature and characteristics of the strategic implications of the BRI.