Latest news with #BeltandRoadInitiative
Memri
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Memri
Chinese Social Media Video on Potential Impact of Iran being Defeated by U.S. and Israel: This Is a Battle China Cannot Afford to Lose
On June 20, 2025, the 'Steel Tooth Brother' account on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu posted a video titled 'If Iran Loses, Will It Have an Impact on China?' In the video, the narrator discussed the critically strategic nature of Iran's location and the importance of the Strait of Hormuz with regard to oil exports, predicting that an Iranian defeat would give the U.S. control over Middle Eastern oil, breathing 'new life' into the U.S. dollar and reshuffling the balance of power in the region. The narrator also said that an Iranian defeat would allow U.S. influence to spread northward and 'entrap' China and Russia, also risking China's Belt and Road Initiative. The narrator suggested that in order to prevent this scenario from unfolding, China must provide Iran with military equipment, use renminbi to settle China-Iran oil transactions, and align closely with Russia on the international stage against the U.S. and Israel. He added: 'This is a battle China cannot afford to lose.'
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
China's Belt and Road shifts focus to Africa with record-breaking investments
Africa received $30.5 billion in construction contracts — up from just $6.1 billion a year ago — and $8.5 billion in direct investments China's transactions with Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) surged to $39 billion in the first half of 2025, outpacing all other regions and reflecting the Asian superpower's global infrastructure foreign policy pivot toward mineral-rich and high-growth potential African states. Countries on the continent received $39 billion in construction and direct investment from Beijing during this period as China looked to secure critical resources and forge new geopolitical alliances amid According to a recent Africa received $30.5 billion in construction contracts — up from just $6.1 billion a year ago — and $8.5 billion in direct investments. The Middle East came in second with $19.4 billion worth of Chinese investment. Nigeria emerged as the top beneficiary, securing $21 billion in construction deals, primarily focused on oil and gas processing infrastructure, followed by Saudi Arabia with $7.2 billion, the United Arab Emirates with $7 billion, Tanzania with $3.6 billion and Indonesia with $2.1 billion. BRI is not merely an economic endeavour 'but a geopolitical instrument, wielding influence through structured dependency', policy analyst Siseko Maposa told the Mail & Guardian. 'China's growth hinges on strategic alliances with mineral-rich states, financing critical infrastructure to establish supply-chain footholds that bolster its manufacturing dominance. The acceleration of BRI reflects countermeasures against global economic volatility, especially as the US and EU shift trade and investment to consolidate their own interests,' Maposa said. Since its launch in 2013, the BRI has reached cumulative engagement of $1.308 trillion across 150 countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China. This includes $775 billion in construction contracts and $533 billion in non-financial direct investments. But the 2025 data shows a shift in both scale and strategy — with Africa emerging as China's biggest investment venture. In the first half of 2025, Chinese energy-related investments reached $42 billion globally — the highest ever recorded in any six-month period, said the report. A significant portion of this went to oil and gas projects in Nigeria, while green energy saw $9.7 billion in new investments in solar, wind and waste-to-energy projects across the continent. Maposa said energy is a determinant to development, which further complicates Africa's development landscape. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G) 'African states still face barriers in attracting sustainable financing. China's model, unlike Western financing, which often comes with rigid conditionalities, offers more flexibility, which makes China a pragmatic partner. But African governments must ensure BRI terms support domestic value chains and promote debt transparency.' The minerals and metals sector saw a similar investment leap, with $24.9 billion in total BRI investment in the first half of 2025 — surpassing the previous annual record. Around $10 billion was channelled into processing infrastructure on the continent — a development that seems to align with local mineral beneficiation. Securing access to the continent requires elevated foreign direct investment and the shift toward value addition is becoming central to African policy, said Lauren Johnson, a senior research fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs. 'African governments have moved in a direction of 'resource nationalism' which requires investors to invest in processing in-country for access to the minerals amid competition with the USA and Europe,' Johnson told the M&G. She said global developments, such as Donald Trump's political resurgence in the US and ongoing tension with the EU, have made finding new growth markets essential for China. 'China has already diversified investments into agriculture, such as soybeans in Angola and Ethiopia,' Johnson said. Maposa argued that, while the BRI serves as China's global infrastructure blueprint, African states should avoid framing it as a binary against Western alternatives like the US-backed Lobito Corridor — a rail project linking Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to facilitate mineral exports. He added that the focus should be on 'financing models that reinforce state sovereignty, interconnectedness and sustainable development, principles enshrined in the right of nations to self-determination'. 'Rather than treating these as adversarial, Africa should leverage their distinct value: the BRI offers scale, whereas Lobito provides specificity,' said Maposa. 'Where BRI diversifies infrastructure, Lobito's mineral-specific investments could model targeted, lower-risk partnerships if governed by African industrial priorities.' As China's footprint expands, concerns have grown about debt sustainability and the potential erosion of sovereignty. But Johnson said these fears need to be contextualised within responsible borrowing frameworks, adding that borrowing must always be for growth-generating investments. 'The core principle is that the rate of growth the investment will generate should be higher than the interest rate on the debt, ' she said. The real test, Johnson added, is how well African countries can align foreign capital with domestic development strategies. 'Equivalently, the race to secure important minerals should prove to African countries which nation is the better investor.' Maposa warned, however, that unless African states negotiate better terms, they risk remaining locked in 'perpetual extraction economies'. 'The race to the bottom is no abstraction,' he said. 'Major powers are actively courting resource-rich African states, often locking them into perpetual extraction economies. These dynamics trap African nations in a developmental paradox. True sustainability demands progression from raw mineral exports to value-added beneficiation, yet the prevailing system incentivises continued dependency on primary commodity production.' Johnson said African governments need to consider each case carefully and look at the opportunities — with both immediate and long-term goals in mind.
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan PM offers condolences to China over deadly floods and landslides
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep condolences to China on Tuesday following a wave of deadly floods and landslides that have killed dozens and displaced thousands across northern regions of the country, including Beijing and Hebei province. The message came as torrential rains overwhelmed parts of northern China, dumping record volumes of water, triggering landslides and forcing mass evacuations. At least 30 people have been killed, according to Chinese state media, with more fatalities feared as rescue operations continue. Beijing and surrounding provinces have witnessed some of their worst flooding in years, with entire villages cut off and widespread infrastructure damage reported. 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and displacement caused by the recent torrential rains and landslides in China,' Sharif said in a statement posted on social media. 'On behalf of the people of Pakistan as well as on my own behalf, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and all those affected.' Sharif noted that Pakistan itself has suffered from extreme weather in recent years and understood the hardship faced by Chinese communities. 'We fully understand and empathize with the hardship that our Chinese brothers and sisters are enduring,' he added. 'We are confident that the resilience and unity of the Chinese people, under the resolute leadership of President Xi Jinping, will see them through this difficult time.' Sharif said the people of Pakistan stood in solidarity with the people of China, adding they were 'bound together through thick and thin, in the spirit of iron clad brotherhood.' China and Pakistan share a longstanding strategic partnership, with close cooperation in defense, infrastructure, and economic development. Beijing has invested tens of billions of dollars in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance regional connectivity.
Mint
a day ago
- Science
- Mint
China blends religion with AI, launches new weather warning system inspired by sea goddess Mazu
China has launched Mazu, an AI-based weather warning system. It is named after the Chinese sea goddess. The AI tool can help developing nations handle natural disasters. The system was revealed at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The name Mazu holds deep meaning, especially along China's coast. Known as the protector of fishermen, her temples still stand in Fujian and Taiwan. In 2009, Mazu beliefs were listed as UNESCO cultural heritage. The initiative is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI. Started in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, it is the world's largest global investment plan. It connects 147 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. Built for global use, Mazu aims to support countries by offering early warnings for extreme weather, according to the South China Morning Post. China's weather body, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), is working with nations like Ethiopia and Pakistan to develop these systems together. Zeng Qin, CMA's director of international cooperation, said, 'Wherever Mazu is seen around the world, it serves as a symbol of our joint response to extreme weather.' Many countries have strong weather warning systems. In the US, the National Weather Service uses powerful computers and radar to give accurate forecasts, especially for hurricanes. In the US, free weather data is given by the NWS and NOAA. Japan leads in earthquake and tsunami alerts. The EU's Copernicus programme uses satellites to track environmental changes and predict weather. However, these systems mostly help their own regions and focus on specific disasters, according to SCMP. They also rely on local supercomputers. India is using artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve weather forecasting. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) now uses AI for better rainfall and cyclone predictions, heatwave alerts and quick warnings for cloudbursts. The Ministry of Earth Sciences has set up a special virtual centre at IITM Pune for AI-based research. Under Mission Mausam and WINDS, over 2 lakh weather stations are feeding real-time data to improve local forecasts. The Central Water Commission is using AI for seven-day flood warnings. AI models are also helping predict monsoons better than older methods.
The Diplomat
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Diplomat
What Is Behind Gwadar's Continued Water Woes?
The thirsty port city is once again fighting for water, with no permanent solution in sight. Nisar Dagar near Pishukan in Pakistan's Gwadar district, which was previously a wetland, is now completely dry due to the ongoing drought. In Gwadar, Pakistan's multimillion-dollar port city, hundreds of women and children have been protesting water shortages since early June. They bring empty buckets and containers to their protest site at the Fish Harbor Road to block one of the routes to Gwadar Port. Temperatures in Gwadar can go as high as 45 degrees Celsius. That doesn't deter them; they keep returning to the streets, protesting, blocking roads and burning tires — all in the hope that someone in power might address the ongoing water crisis. With drought taking over and water levels in dams dropping to historic lows, questions are being raised not just about the current water crisis, but about decades of neglect that have pushed Gwadar to this situation. How will Gwadar's 260,000 people survive without a sustainable and long-term strategy in place? One of Pakistan's most important cities, Gwadar is the gateway to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Already, China has spent around $28 billion on CPEC and some $230 million on Gwadar city, including its water infrastructure. Yet, something as basic as access to water remains an unresolved issue for the people of Gwadar. What Is Behind the Crisis? Gwadar's main source of water is rainfall. But weather patterns have been changing, and like the rest of Pakistan, Balochistan's southern coast, where Gwadar is located, is beginning to suffer the impacts of climate change. Winter downpours that were once common in the region have become a rarity, and when they do arrive, they bring destructive flooding, as was seen in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2022, and 2024. Despite these episodes of heavy rainfall, droughts have also become more frequent and of longer duration. Since 2012, Gwadar has faced acute water shortages not only due to dry spells, but also because authorities have failed to plan and prepare for changing weather patterns. 'This crisis is not merely a result of absolute water scarcity, but a consequence of ineffective water governance, lack of climate change adaptation, and the absence of policies that reflect the realities on the ground,' Pazeer Ahmad, a Gwadar-based researcher and hydrologist, told The Diplomat. 'Solutions such as water conservation, storage, and groundwater recharge are underutilized,' he said. For over two decades, the Ankara Kaur dam was Gwadar's only source of water. As the population grew, so did the number of infrastructure projects like the Gwadar Port and several other projects under CPEC, including roads in and around the city, the East Express Way, a new international airport, and a number of educational institutions. Hence, the Ankara Kaur dam was no longer sufficient to meet Gwadar's needs. Low rainfall and a massive build-up of silt in the 17,000-acre Ankara Kaur reservoir worsened the problem. In 2016, two new dams — Sawad and Shaadi Kaur dams — were completed. Construction of the Sheizank and Shanzani dams followed. Yet all these dams failed to end the water crisis. 'Ankara Kaur dam is completely dry,' Bahram Baloch, a local journalist, told The Diplomat. 'Currently, the Sawad dam is the only one providing water. But its water will last for the next three to four months, before it also completely dries,' he said. There are severe water shortages in Gwadar. 'People receive water once every ten to fifteen days,' said Nabi Buksh Baloch, a resident of Gwadar Old City. He told The Diplomat that households store water in underground tanks. 'Wealthy families have larger or more than one underground tank and use pumps that pull more water. This makes it harder for others to access water,' he said. 'Pipelines linking the Shaadi Kaur dam with Gwadar city have been installed. But these are not supplying water as funds are needed for electricity, pumping, and maintenance of infrastructure. So, a potentially valuable water source remains unused,' Bahram Baloch pointed out. Complicating the issue, water supply is overseen by two departments — the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and Public Health and Engineering (PHE). 'Although water supply has been the PHE's responsibility, of late, the GDA has also gotten involved. They were the ones to install pipeline connections from Sawad to Gwadar City. Both want to control water projects and this could be causing delays,' Nasir Rahim Sohrabi, an activist and president of a local development organization, said. Why Have Desalination Plants Failed? There is the water of the Arabian Sea that Gwadar can draw on. To this end, 11 desalination plants have been set up in Gwadar district, but none currently provides water to the city. 'Although desalination is a viable solution, it is a costly process and needs constant power supply, which the region lacks, Sohrabi told the Diplomat. Many of these plants were set up with Chinese funding. For example, a 1.2 million-gallon-per-day (MGD) desalination plant was installed through CPEC funding at an estimated cost of $12.7 million. Another 5 MGD plant costing $5 billion is under construction. In 2023, China also donated a desalination plant, which it says provides 5,000 tons of potable water per day. New plants are being set up when existing ones are not functional. 'Although such plants may create the impression that the crisis is being taken seriously, each new plant is only a new photo session opportunity for the successive governments,' Nabi Buksh Baloch said. 'Each desalination plant,' he said, 'brings in more funding. That also means more opportunities for those in power to misuse the funds.' The Quick Fix of Trucking in Water Authorities have also tried trucking in water. During droughts in 2012 and 2017, for example, when Gwadar only had pipeline connections with the Ankara Kaur dam, the government paid tanker companies to truck in water from the Meerani dam, located in the neighboring district of Kech, around 150 kilometers from Gwadar city. This was a burden on the government. According to Nabi Buksh Baloch, 'many officials from the PHE and the local administration allegedly pocketed funds meant for water supply. Consequently, many tanker owners went unpaid and they often cut off water supply to residents.' These days, the government is no longer hiring tanker companies for water supply to Gwadar. 'So now when supply is short, those who can afford it buy water from tankers, which costs around $70-$90 per tank, that too for contaminated water, as the trucks source it from nearby ponds,' Nabi Buksh Baloch said. Is Corruption Fueling the Crisis? Corruption is yet another issue. Earlier this month, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Balochistan Assembly pointed out financial irregularities in the functioning of the PHE. This isn't the first time that such corruption has been laid bare. In 2021, the National Accountability Bureau's Balochistan chapter detected corruption to the tune of $4.46 million in one of Gwadar's water desalination projects. In addition to these massive corruption cases, 'residents are often forced to pay a bribe to the 'valve-man' if they want to fill their home tanks. While officers at higher levels benefit from massive funds, the lower staff exploit residents by demanding petty bribes,' said Nabi Buksh Baloch. Can the Crisis be Resolved? Despite several dams being constructed, desalination plants being installed, and billions of rupees being spent on water infrastructure, Gwadar's water woes persist. The water crisis is not the result of water scarcity alone. Failure of effective planning, lack of transparency and accountability, misuse of funds, and lack of climate adaptation measures are also to blame. Larger dams can store more water during rainy seasons. These could help deal with water shortage during droughts. These dams need to be well-connected with the city through pipeline systems. There is also no need for more desalination plants, but it's crucial to make operational the ones already set up. 'Gwadar is not without water resources. It has the Arabian Sea, groundwater reserves in Dasht and Jiwani, and surface water of Sawad and Shadi Kaur dams,' Ahmad said, adding that 'what's lacking is the political will and capacity to manage these resources and climate-resilient planning.'
