Developing Country
Economy
China’s BRI problem: From builder to debt collector
China has embarked on very rapid and massive overseas lending since 2013, when it launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). But it has now become the world’s largest debt collector for developing countries’ debt repayments. EAI senior research fellow Yu Hong assesses whether China’s shifting role in global lending will undercut the BRI.
Yu Hong
24 Jun 2025
Economy
ASEAN countries could succumb to ‘developed country diseases’ before becoming developed
Before they become developed countries and as their population bonus period runs out, ASEAN countries should work towards increasing total factor productivity, says Japanese academic Sukegawa Seiya.
Sukegawa Seiya
03 Jun 2024
Economy
Ten years of the BRI: Raising China's speaking rights amid geopolitical and debt risks
While China promotes its BRI to developing countries, these countries are often at risk of a poor economy, political instability and other domestic problems. This means that even as China's influence is growing, the final result may be less than ideal, says Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han.
Miao Zong-Han
16 Oct 2023
Economy
China wants to win the world over with the BRI, but something's amiss
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has gone beyond just infrastructure projects to other areas such as digital development, health and green energy. In the face of negative perceptions of China, Beijing has sought to show its commitment to forging a multilateral BRI that would generate benefits for all participating countries and not China alone. But do old habits die hard?
Yu Hong
07 Apr 2022
Economy
Can Biden's new infrastructure plan rival China's BRI?
US President Joe Biden has suggested an alternative to China's BRI - one that is enterprise-led, rather than country-led, bringing together democratic nations to help developing nations to upgrade their infrastructure. How attractive would this option be amid some countries' fears that China is extending its influence through the BRI?
Yu Hong
13 Apr 2021
Politics
Vaccine diplomacy: China and India push ahead to supply vaccines to developing countries
More than three quarters of the vaccinations that have taken place worldwide have been done in just 10 countries that account for almost 60% of global GDP, while 2.5 billion people in almost 130 countries have yet to receive a single dose, according to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO. China and India have since embarked on "vaccine diplomacy" in a bid to despatch vaccines to developing countries. They may have their own goals in doing so, but their timely humanitarian aid for others is exemplary, says Zhu Zhiqun.
Zhiqun Zhu
08 Feb 2021
Economy
The US has never recognised China as a developing country
Despite China identifying itself as a developing country at the WTO, it has been viewed in several quarters as one of the top countries in the world in terms of its economy and national strength. Economics professor Zhu Ying asks: is it any surprise that the US has never recognised China as a developing country?
Zhu Ying
06 Mar 2020