China is located among countries with large populations. Border disputes and historical warfares with neighbors are among its handicaps. Looking at the world a

China is located among countries with large populations. Border disputes and historical warfares with neighbors are among its handicaps. Looking at the world as a grand chess board, the Belt and Road Initiative is a move which China turns this disadvantage into an edge. By promoting trades with neighbors, it gains geopolitical influence, potential integration into the local economies, and friendships with the political classes. To match this, the US needs to further strengthen its ties with the countries in question. Several of which are projected to become some of the largest economies in the world by 2050 [1]. Regardless of the extent that the projection comes true, the regions from East Asia to South Asia, where about half of the world's population live in, clearly have great long-term strategic importance. [1] https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/economy/the-world-in-2050.html https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/economy/the-world-in-2050.h...