China is completing a global ports network for the BRICS economic bloc, and nobody noticed

China's Maritime Silk Road was announced just ten years ago, yet already forms the backbone for the BRICS trading bloc. It is a comprehensive system of world-class, deep-water ports across Global South countries, and most of the ports are fully operational and are re-routing the world's resource flows. China now does more trade with the Belt and Road countries than with the United States, the European Union, and Japan, combined.

Western analysts were long focused on the potential military aspects of the Maritime Silk Road and the benefits that would accrue to the PLA's naval forces. But careful analysis of the individual port projects themselves show that only fourteen of the over one hundred ports can be repurposed for military use.

Even countries that are very friendly with the United States, ironically including some who host large US military bases, have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, will eventually be weighing full membership in the BRICS group of nations, as the economic benefits of the joining the bloc will outweigh their partnerships in the US- and NATO-led security systems.

Resources and links:

Lazard, The Geopolitics of Supply Chains

Washington Post, China has acquired a global network of strategically vital ports

Council for Foreign Relations, Tracking China’s Control of Overseas Ports

Closing scene, Grasslands near Yili, Xinjiang province

[WinstonSmite]

"U.S. the most warlike nation in the history of the world." - Jimmy Carter

[ruskoruskov]

Take my hat off to such a strategy...hope China continues to grow successfully for its people & the world & is as successful in avoiding the war mongering provocation from us in the

[petergreen]

❤Trade over conflict. Cooperation is BETTER than conflict.

[jstlookng]

750 military bases + 1 Space Force and still loosing sleep over what
Nicaragua may do!

[AwakenedOne-qu]

America had its chance, but greed destroyed it

[philippepeltier]

The love for war in the US is on another level... 🥰🥰🥰

[mrblurblur]

With a glass of red wine I toast to China's success and BRICS. 🍷🍷🍷

[silluete]

When all you have is hammer everything looks like nail.

[kindface]

Keep up the good work, Kevin.
Yours is the only China-focused channel that shares sophisticated insights and uncommon perspectives of China's long-term geopolitical strategy. The other China-focused channels are all just embarrassing regurgitation of headlines. Thanks for all the research you put into your videos.

[philpista]

I love the US media, it is such a joke! The only purpose is for entertainment only now a days.

[lauset]

"It's the economy, stupid." .... James Carvel.

[bhtansg]

Another brilliant and curated analysis that shows the depth of Kevin's knowledge of China. Western journalism is rubbish. This here is gold! No bull, no ads. Kevin is not selling us anything. Be good!

[thomasrogers]

KEVIN I AM AN AMERICAN BUSINESS MAN WHO HAVE TRAVELLED GLOBALLY..WE ARE AMERICANS ARE A GUN OBSESSED NATION. WE LOVE AND WORSHIP GUNS. OUR HYPER MILITARISM IS AN EXTENSION OF THIS GUN OBSESSION..WE ARE VIOLENT AT HOME AND ABROAD..THE IDEA OF POWER THROUGH COLLABORATION TRADE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WIN WIN RELATIONSHIP AND DEPLOMACY IS ALIEN TO THE US AMERICANS AND OUR LEADERSHIP. JUST LOOK AT OUR MILITARY SPENDING

[DragonYang]

We are the biggest economy of the world and China is our biggest importer, which lead to our perception that China must depend on us. It was Japan or Germany. But, they did not think they could change the equation because of their sizes. But, China dares to think differently. When BRI was proposed, the West laughed at it and portraited it as debt-trap. Now, China can access larger market than US. But we still live in our delusion that we are the biggest and therefore every country has to follow our rules. It is so amazing that it only took 10 years to make a change in this scale. You have to dream big to be big. But, somehow, our big dream did not work.

[dons]

If you are a thief, you will think everyone else is a thief. Same goes with warmongers! Is it possible that those PORT investments are for ports tied to economic exchanges and not military. It is a no brainer that China wants and needs trade to grow its economy and keep the population employed. Just bc we have 750 military bases all over the world, we are always scared China will do the same. 🙄 Sure, some of those ports have potential for military use, subject to the host country’s approval. So what if China add a few more military bases to the one now, IMHO, they are NOT aiming for 750 to match ours bc it is a moronic waste of money. Whatever that is not good for business, it won’t be front and center to them. The one exception, as everyone knows, is Taiwan. If and when Taiwan goes independent, there will be a war, a continuation of the internal civil war from 1949. Short of that, China is really in no hurry to unite Taiwan, bc it will be bad for business. Of course, we Americans and our allies will keep on pushing that Taiwan independence button to irritate China wish for a 2nd Ukraine. Since that front has been quiet lately, we now instruct BB Marcos to light another fire in the SCS…

[alanccvoo]

How to tell US ..we Chinese are not into Wars, we seen enough hardship and destruction.

[iWantPeace]

The world's biggest bully has forgotten how to work for a living. All she's doing is robbing others' hard earned cash.

[mwezimwezi]

Mr Warmsley, the quality of your analysis keeps you far ahead of the ‘competition’.

[EZ-rszv]

The Belt and Road initiative turns out to have been a brilliant move- China "de-risked" its economy and is now no longer economically handcuffed to the USA. Were it not for the BRI the prosperity and basic livelihood of the Chinese people would be in serious jeopardy from the US.

[johntse]

ports make money directly or indirectly for both the operator and the host country while bases cost money directly as well as indirectly for both the operator and the host country