ABSTRACT

This chapter considers how Xi Jinping is forging a new grand strategy to create a Sinocentric network that combines development and security objectives. It analyses Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Chinese grand strategy in a critical context to underline its normative challenge to the status quo. The chapter compare China's new grand strategy with its approach to Europe and the EU, and suggests that Europeans can best address Beijing's overtures by stressing their commitment to the normative goals of multilateralism, transparency, accountability and the rule of law in an open, rule-based global order. BRI is often described as the main project of China's 'neighbourhood diplomacy'. China has been a target of Europe's socialization policy, with the same goals of promoting a market economy, democracy and the rule of law. BRI seeks to leverage China's economic power to address a set of economic, political and security challenges in both domestic and foreign policy.