Chinese thought is subtle and I am just now waking up to the meaning of the Belt and Road project. It is nothing less than building "caravan seray" in the hostile wasteland peopled by barbarian peoples surrounding China (as they see it). They realized that they cannot depend on trade with Africa without "forts" in the land, entrepots, and secure maritime and land roads to move the merchandise. China decided to open up and has no fear of competition. They realized - like the Japanese before them - that closing in was dangerous and not in their interest. And controlling the main trade routes is a fantastic source of rent and power. Ultimately China will have to build a large navy and air force to protect their entrepots and trade routes, just as England did in the colonial era. Or pay to Americans to keep protecting them, as the Europeans and the Japanese are doing.
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