Brazil gave a blow to China
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
In a big blow to China, Brazil has refused to join its ambitious project BRI (Belt and Road Initiative). With this, Brazil has become the second country of BRICS organization after India, which has refused to be a part of China's BRI project. Celso Amorim, special adviser on international affairs to Brazilian President Lula da Silva, said that 'Brazil will not join China's Belt and Road Initiative and will instead look for alternative ways to cooperate with Chinese investors.'
China's plans ruined
According to media reports, Celso Amorim said that Brazil wants to take its relations with China to a new level, but without signing any contract. This announcement by Brazil is a big blow to the Communist government of China, especially when Chinese President Xi Jinping is going to make an official visit to Brazil on November 20. China was trying to make Jinping's visit to Brazil the main attraction of the state visit, but now Brazil has ruined China's plans by staying out of the project itself.
BRI project was being opposed in Brazil
It is noteworthy that voices were being raised against the BRI project in Brazil itself. Many Brazilian economy and foreign affairs officials had opposed Brazil's involvement in China's billion-dollar BRI project. Officials said that China's involvement in this infrastructure project will not benefit Brazil in the short term and may also damage Brazil's relations with America. Recently, Special Advisor to the Brazilian President Amorim and President's Chief of Staff Rui Costa visited Beijing, where they discussed the BRI project with Chinese officials. According to media reports, both of them returned dissatisfied and unimpressed with the project.
Brazil is the second BRICS member country after India to refuse to join the BRI project.
Before Brazil, a member country of BRICS organization, India has also refused to participate in this project of China. India was the first country to object to this and openly oppose the BRI. Under the BRI project, China is building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This project is passing through Pakistan occupied Kashmir, which India has termed as a violation of sovereignty. Kashmir occupied by Pakistan is a part of India, which is why India had openly criticized this Chinese project.
The US had also appealed to Brazil to review its decision to join the BRI project. On which America had also expressed its displeasure. China had alleged that the US was trying to instigate Brazil and other Latin American countries against China. Before Brazil, Philippines and Italy had also refused to be part of the BRI project. Now only small countries of Africa remain part of China's BRI project.
What is China's Belt and Road Initiative plan and why is it surrounded by controversies?
China launched the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) plan in 2013 with the aim of promoting global connectivity and cooperation. The objective of this plan is to connect China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Gulf countries, Africa and Europe through sea and land routes. Under this, China is helping in developing infrastructure in various countries and building railways, ports, highways and energy infrastructure. With this project, China's economic strength is expected to increase manifold.
However, this plan of China is under question. In fact, critics say that with the help of this scheme, China is trapping many small countries in its debt trap. When these countries are unable to repay their debts, China takes over strategically important assets of those countries or demands political concessions from those countries. India accused China of lack of transparency in its BRI project and said China should respect international norms, rule of law and financial stability.
