352 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies N. 5 / 2015 SUBREGIONAL INTEGRATION If in the terrain of security China is attempting to create a pan-Asian architecture placing it at the centre of the region, its periphery has been the object of a series of proposals that, despite their apparently economic nature, reveal Beijing’s strategic intentions. From a Chinese perspective, there is a clear link between prosperity and security. In November 2014, Xi again focused on the objective of deepening connectivity between China and the neighbouring economies. On the one hand, he referred to the need “to accelerate the connectivity of its infrastructures”; on the other hand, he again stressed the advisability of setting up “free trade zones to broaden cooperation in exchanges and investments, and build a new economic model of regional integration”.50 Three big projects define this strategy: the “the Silk Road Belt”, (Central Asia); the “Maritime Silk Road for the 21st Century”, that would link China with Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean ; and the economic belt that would link up with Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM), drawing China closer to southern Asia. In support of the three initiatives, Beijing has created a regional bank for the development of infrastructures, proposing a financial scheme for greater cooperation and the implementation of various free trade agreements. The goal is to consolidate this “community of shared destiny”. As we can observe, the various Asian sub regions add together strategically in a two-way direction: continental (crossing Eurasia); and maritime (connecting the Pacific and the Indian Oceans).51 50 XI Jinping. “Let the Sense of Community of Common Destiny Take Deep Root in Neighbouring Countries”. 51 According to the above map published by Xinhua in May 2014 (http://www.xinhuanet.com/ world/newsilkway/index.htm), the Silk Road Economic Belt would start out in Xian (central China) reaching central Asia and northern Iran, continuing across Iraq, Syria and Turkey towards Europa. It would pass through Bulgaria, Rumania, the Czech Republic and Germany heading towards Rotterdam and turning towards Italy where it would join up with the Maritime Silk Route in Venice. This second route would leave Quanzhou (Fujian province) towards the Malacca Strait and the Indian Ocean, crossing the Horn of Africa before turning towards the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee
REVISTA IEEE 5
To see the actual publication please follow the link above