China could leverage BRI projects to "coerce" nations to deny US forces basing, transit, or operational and logistical support as part of a long-term strategy to reduce America's influence and become the "clear regional hegemon", a top American admiral has warned.
China's massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi Jinping seeks to build rail, maritime and road links from Asia to Europe and Africa in a revival of ancient Silk Road trading routes.
Admiral Philip S Davidson, the nominee for US Pacific Command Commander, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing that China wanted to project power worldwide.
"China's expanding global interests, especially its Belt and Road Initiative-associated projects, have Beijing increasingly looking beyond the region," he said.
"China is expanding its access to foreign ports to pre-position the necessary logistics support required to regularise and sustain deployments in the Indian Ocean region. This larger overseas logistics and basing footprint will enable Beijing to project and sustain military power at greater distances from China," Davidson said.
Noting that he is supportive of any efforts that help developing countries around the region improve the quality of life of their people, Davidson, however, said the predatory nature of many of the loans and initiatives associated with the BRI leads him "to believe that Beijing is using BRI as a mechanism to coerce states into greater access and influence for China."
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