Category: Silk Road

Marco Polo in reverse: how Italy fits in the New Silk Roads

Italian engineers and Chinese traders are looking to transform Venice into a key hub with an offshore-onshore port system, known as Voops, to rival northern European ports such as Rotterdam By Pepe Escobar The Chinese economy is bound to surpass the 19-nation eurozone before the end of the year. You don’t need to be an analyst … Continue reading Marco Polo in reverse: how Italy fits in the New Silk Roads

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China’s ‘New Silk Roads’ reach Latin America

Beijing is turbo-charging its infrastructure connectivity across the region and the Caribbean By Pepe Escobar A sharp, geoeconomic shift took place last month in Santiago, Chile at the second ministerial meeting of a forum grouping China and the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.  The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, told his audience that … Continue reading China’s ‘New Silk Roads’ reach Latin America

Belt and Road and the battle for global investment standards

By Emanuele Scimia A new battle is taking shape on the world scene. It does not contemplate the use of cannons, warships, bombs or any other weaponry. Neither does it provide for the physical occupation of enemy territories and positions. It actually sees China and the West compete in affirming their respective investment standards around … Continue reading Belt and Road and the battle for global investment standards

‘China’s new Arctic policy is defensive, not offensive’

Maritime expert terms Beijing's polar initiative constructive, others disagree; Chinese sovereign funds seen investing in world's latest emerging market By Doug Tsuruoka China’s State Council issued an Arctic white paper on January 26 outlining Beijing’s policy towards the region and how it intends to participate in developing what is becoming an increasingly important part of the world, … Continue reading ‘China’s new Arctic policy is defensive, not offensive’

A man, a plan, a canal…Thailand?

Ex-top brass appeal to new King Vajiralongkorn to bless building the long-envisioned Kra canal; China is keen to start digging General Saiyud Kerdphol, the military engineer of Thailand’s winning Cold War-era anticommunism campaign, believes now is the time to build the Kra canal – a long-envisioned channel through the country’s southern isthmus that would connect … Continue reading A man, a plan, a canal…Thailand?