Changes

The basic is idea is rebuilding the ancient [[Silk Route]] between Europe and China through the [[Islam]]ic world, however China is also building a modern [[navy]] and ports to access raw materials from Africa for its manufacturing base.  The [[Chinese Communist Party]]'s loss of free access to the American consumer market to dump cheap manufactured goods, couple with worldwide revulsion stemming from the CCP's [[negligence|criminal negligence]] and mishandling of the [[CCP global pandemic]], has dampened enthusiasm for the project outside of China.  Massive [[unemployment]] inside China resulting from the [[CCP virus]] and imminent trade restrictions due years of [[human rights]] abuses by the [[communist]] regime portend instability for years to come.

The basic is idea is rebuilding the ancient [[Silk Route]] between Europe and China through the [[Islam]]ic world, however China is also building a modern [[navy]] and ports to access raw materials from Africa for its manufacturing base.  The [[Chinese Communist Party]]'s loss of free access to the American consumer market to dump cheap manufactured goods, couple with worldwide revulsion stemming from the CCP's [[negligence|criminal negligence]] and mishandling of the [[CCP global pandemic]], has dampened enthusiasm for the project outside of China.  Massive [[unemployment]] inside China resulting from the [[CCP virus]] and imminent trade restrictions due years of [[human rights]] abuses by the [[communist]] regime portend instability for years to come.

The most notorious Belt and Road project is the Hambantota port in [[Sri Lanka]] that is now Chinese owned after the Sri Lankan government couldn't meet repayments and now hosts Chinese submarines. There are many other projects in [[Europe]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]], and the [[Pacific]]. For instance,

The most notorious Belt and Road project is the Hambantota port in [[Sri Lanka]] that is now Chinese owned after the Sri Lankan government couldn't meet repayments and now hosts Chinese submarines. There are many other projects in [[Europe]], [[Africa]], [[Asia]], and the [[Pacific]]. For instance,

*a hydro dam in [[Ecuador]];

*a hydro dam in [[Ecuador]];

One key element in Communist China's Belt and Road ambitions is building a modern ocean-going navy; prior to 2017 Communist China's military budget was largely funded by its [[trade surplus]] with the United States. American consumers were paying to build a navy to rival its own through the purchase of cheap Chinese manufactured goods and consumer products. American taxpayers then had to meet the challenge of rival military spending by modernization and upgrades of its own defense budget.

One key element in Communist China's Belt and Road ambitions is building a modern ocean-going navy; prior to 2017 Communist China's military budget was largely funded by its [[trade surplus]] with the United States. American consumers were paying to build a navy to rival its own through the purchase of cheap Chinese manufactured goods and consumer products. American taxpayers then had to meet the challenge of rival military spending by modernization and upgrades of its own defense budget.

==Iran==

==Iran==

As China is Iran's largest trading partner, the agreement, in addition to providing Iran with modern technology, would help its economy to grow. China, among other countries, helped Iran with its nuclear development several decades ago and has been regularly championing a return to the [[Iran nuclear deal]] or the JCPOA. For China, Iran is a welcome counterbalance to US influence in the region, as the only large regional power that is not aligned with the US, in addition to having enormous oil and natural gas resources and providing a large market of more than 80 million citizens for Chinese goods. The two countries, despite their marked ideological differences, share an authoritarian, anti-Western outlook, making each attractive to the other. According to a recent report by risk consultancy firm Verisk Maplecroft: "China is pivoting towards more autocratic regimes that represent greater stability for its supply lines than democracies that are, or may become, hostile to Beijing".  China has even helped Iran crack down on dissidents by exporting its digital authoritarianism in the form of surveillance equipment.

As China is Iran's largest trading partner, the agreement, in addition to providing Iran with modern technology, would help its economy to grow. China, among other countries, helped Iran with its nuclear development several decades ago and has been regularly championing a return to the [[Iran nuclear deal]] or the JCPOA. For China, Iran is a welcome counterbalance to US influence in the region, as the only large regional power that is not aligned with the US, in addition to having enormous oil and natural gas resources and providing a large market of more than 80 million citizens for Chinese goods. The two countries, despite their marked ideological differences, share an authoritarian, anti-Western outlook, making each attractive to the other. According to a recent report by risk consultancy firm Verisk Maplecroft: "China is pivoting towards more autocratic regimes that represent greater stability for its supply lines than democracies that are, or may become, hostile to Beijing".  China has even helped Iran crack down on dissidents by exporting its digital authoritarianism in the form of surveillance equipment.

==See also==

==See also==