One belt, one road, many rules-based orders
![Participants of the Belt and Road international forum, May 2017 Participants of the Belt and Road international forum, May 2017](https://crawford.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/styles/anu_narrow_200_200/public/publication/images/nsc_crawford_anu_edu_au/2017-11/participants_of_the_belt_and_road_international_forum.jpg?itok=qhP3wIrl)
Publisher:
NSC
Year:
2017
Month:
November
Abstract:
Key points:
- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is both a blueprint for a China-centric order in the Indo-Pacific and a means to address internal economic and political challenges.
- China is not yet capable of leading that order, but its desire to do so is increasing.
- Prospects for the long-term success of BRI are uncertain, but it will shift regional economic and strategic relationships.
- Policy flexibility is vital for Australia to successfully navigate the regional changes caused by China’s gamble on BRI.
Policy recommendations:
- Australia should aim to take an important leadership role within the Indo-Pacific in any new regional order.
- Australia should seek to build coalitions of like-minded states around specific issues of mutual interest rather than construct new institutions or organisations.
- Australian policy must be flexible, and prepared, if necessary, to decouple its values from its interests to take advantage of the opportunities that will present.
Publication file:
Regions:
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