| | Xi’s ambitions, however, cannot be revealed to the outside world, the professor said. When Xi took power in 2012, he urged the country to realize the “Chinese dream.” This meant becoming a “moderately well-off” country by 2021, and then a “strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and modern socialist country” by 2049. Jin explained that Xi’s target is actually to replace the United States as the world’s only superpower by 2049. “[Chinese] Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps on saying [at press briefings] that China loves peace. But no reporters at the press briefings believe this,” Jin said. | | Xi’s ambitions, however, cannot be revealed to the outside world, the professor said. When Xi took power in 2012, he urged the country to realize the “Chinese dream.” This meant becoming a “moderately well-off” country by 2021, and then a “strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and modern socialist country” by 2049. Jin explained that Xi’s target is actually to replace the United States as the world’s only superpower by 2049. “[Chinese] Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps on saying [at press briefings] that China loves peace. But no reporters at the press briefings believe this,” Jin said. |
| | + | The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a massive global investment strategy launched by the CCP in 2013 aimed at bolstering its economic and political influence across [[Asia]], [[Europe]], [[Africa]], and [[South America]]. The project involves investments in infrastructure and natural resource projects in countries. Chinese officials are quite open that the BRI is aimed at creating a Eurasia wide Chinese led bloc to counter the United States. It has been criticized by the U.S. and other countries as an example of “debt trap” diplomacy, that saddles developing countries with unsustainable debt burdens while allowing the regime to expand governance abroad. |
| | + | China has been looking to construct a 120 kilometer mega canal cutting through the Isthmus of Kra, the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula in [[Thailand]]. This will open the [[South China Sea]] to the [[Indian Ocean]], bypassing the Strait of Malacca. What China is eyeing is a canal project in Thailand called the Kra Canal and the Thai leadership seems to be on board. Through this canal China is trying to reduce dependence on the Strait of Malacca. Currently 80 percent of China's oil imports passed through the South China Sea. |