Someone watch this and lemme know how much is pure western c o p e.
Seems mostly like cope and a misunderstanding of the BRI project. The cope seems to primarily be a pivot for the ‘debt trap diplomacy’ narrative that has increasingly eroded. While there have been setbacks (many of which have likely been ignited by imperialist influence), the primary problem this guy is looking at as for their purported failing is the concept that China has been making a lot of ‘bad loans’ aka non-profitable loans, and China has been bailing out countries who have taken loans from them and are unable to pay them back, largely due to the recent economic downturn. My primary response to this is that while China would probably prefer that all of their loans had good returns and both parties benefited from the trade, the BRI is part of a broader diplomatic program from China, and they make these bailouts & loans in order to elevate their international presence as both trusted trade partner (in stark contrast to the USA) and diplomatic peacekeeper (see the recent Iran/Saudia talks for an example). Is it possible that these bad loans might cause a shift in policy regarding Loans in the BRI? Sure, however, it’s rather early to say that it’s failing, lol. It is much more likely for one to see policy change as conditions change, and that is only if these loans are seen to be a significant issue by the PRC and not part of the operating cost of the initiative.
What’s funny to me is that US public education teaches us that the Marshall Plan was this altruistic project undertaken by the US to revive a war-torn Europe no strings attached (so long as they join the “democratic” world). In reality, it was blatant US imperialism which all but ensured American influence (both to capture European markets and to contain the Soviets with powerful if subservient allies), but just so happened to be also beneficial to the recipients at the time so it was a “win-win”.
But because Orientalism and Anticommunism are also drilled into our minds at a young age, it never occurs to many Americans that the Chinese (and to a lesser extent the Russians, albeit for the interests of their Bourgeoisie) are engaging in a similar plan with peoples of the Global South. Not even a more critical “analysis” which considers the BRI Chinese Imperialism but one that’s beneficial for all parties involved. It’s just those sneaky red orientals trying to exploit the “dumb non-whites who don’t know any better” (who are choosing the Chinese over the West because reasons), and undermine our undeniably positive influence on the world.
Education system? Marshall plan? We didn’t learn anything about the aftermath of WWII other than the US occupied Japan and Germany and then the Korean War happened next.
