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OPINION AUGUST 13, 2021 | The Indian Eye 12

Build Back Better (B3W) Initiative:

a partnership against

or Beyond China?

Taking into account the complex China factor, B3W must be considered in the context of the

Indo-Pacific narrative and in connection with other regional ventures. Amidst such constraints,

B3W may emerge more as a complement than an alternative to Belt and Road Initiative

JaGannaTh p. panda

he question of China as a
(revolutionary) revision-
Tist actor looms large over
the Indo-Pacific. Building influ-
ence and changing status quo
through infrastructure financ-
ing and connectivity promotion
have been the most critical as-
pects of China’s Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) that Xi Jinping
has been advancing since com-
ing to power in 2013. Debates
over “quality” vs “quantity”
and transparency of the infra-
structure financing have been
at the forefront of global per-
ception vis-à-vis the BRI, both
regionally and globally. China’s Chinese President Xi Jinping and top officials at the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
influence operations and au- Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (ANI)
thoritarian strategic ambit have
substantially grown along with infrastructure needs of low argues that although B3W has tors (particularly technology),
the thinking among the demo- and middle-income countries”. been framed as a competitor to the two initiatives could very
cratic nations about how—and More importantly, this initiative BRI, in reality, such a narrative well operate as complementary
if—Beijing’s BRI operations is seen as a strategic umbrella is derived from a broader US– to each other. Like BRI, B3W
can be balanced out. aimed at building a coalition China great power competition. expects to harvest cross-nation-
Keeping this perspective among low and middle-income In fact, B3W has several distinct al cooperation, cross-continen-
in view, at the 47th Group of countries, led by the US and areas of focus compared to BRI tal connectivity and regional
Seven (G7) meeting—in which other G7 countries. and hence can emerge both as synergy between the countries
Australia, India, South Korea The central question this a complement and a competitor in question while working on
and South Africa were guest issue brief aims to address is: to the BRI. large-scale projects in the de-
participants—the world’s sev- What are the strategic objec- Taking into account the com- veloping world. Nonetheless,
en largest industrial democ- tives guiding this venture and plex China factor, B3W must be B3W is yet to develop from an
racies (United States, United its relevance in a rapidly evolv- considered in the context of the ambitious vision partnership
Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Italy, ing democratic–authoritarian Indo-Pacific narrative and in into a substantial practical ar-
Germany and France) launched divide primarily triggered by connection with other region- rangement. Though no financ-
the US-led Build Back Better a US–China rivalry? Further- al ventures. Amidst such con- ing commitments have been
World (B3W) initiative. Per- more, is it a partnership to bal- straints, B3W may emerge more made, competing with BRI’s
ceived widely as a counter to ance (or counter) China’s BRI as a complement than an alter- approximately US$ 4.2 trillion
China’s BRI, the B3W is essen- or just a partnership among native to BRI. Although they (intended) funding will in itself
tially “an affirmative initiative democracies outside of China’s may be clearly in competition be a mammoth task, especially
for meeting the tremendous unilateral practice? The brief in terms of goals for certain sec- Continued on next page... >>

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