ABSTRACT
The BRI offers a strong indication of China’s new-found political-economic strength, as China can rightfully celebrate 40 years of successful reform processes. By offering China’s support for various regional development and integration dynamics, the BRI also contributes to China’s stronger position within different regional settings and in enhancing China’s global position. As such, the question arises as to what extent the BRI represent China’s new grand strategy. After all, a grand strategy embodies an articulated statement of national strategic objectives, a broad statement of strategic action which guides policies in pursuing and implementing those priorities within a rational framework. Such an interpretation will undoubtedly associate the BRI with the lasting debate about China’s rise and the implications that this may have on the existing international system.
