The BRI: China's most recent attempt to greatly increase its political and economic might is the

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was introduced by the Xi Jinping administration in 2013. Building
infrastructural networks, including ports, oil and gas pipelines, railroads, and roadways, is a key
component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). There are two connecting roads that comprise the
project: 1) A land belt including China's neighboring countries; 2) A maritime route linking Chinese ports
with the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and the African coast. One of the project's financial goals is to
advance the utilization of loans made in the area using Chinese currency, or renminbi. Promoting the
renminbi's adoption in specific regions would lessen US influence in the area, lessen China's reliance on
the dollar, and increase China's financial stability because the country's economy would be less affected by
changes in US interest rates. Furthermore, the BRI seeks to increase the export of infrastructure
development by giving Chinese businesses additional agreements. The Belt and Road Initiative is an
attempt to resurrect the Silk Road, a land- and sea-based trading network that spanned from East Asia to
Europe during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). The Chinese government's rescue of it serves as a
discursive device to validate the "regional cooperation community" by linking it to having cultural and
historical origins.

The 16+1: In order to foster business and investment relations and win-win cooperation, China is
working with 16 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. This cooperation is primarily focused on
infrastructure and transportation, sustainable development, financial cooperation between subnational
governments, and cultural exchanges. collaboration. A new avenue for sub-regional collaboration was
made possible by the "16+1 Cooperation," an inventive paradigm. for the strengthening of relations
between China and the nations it has long maintained friendships with. Well, it is furthermore a creative
method to strengthen Sino-European ties and create a new S-S collaborative platform, equipped with traits
of N-S collaboration. China always considers 10-15% to be stolen during the projects.b

The Global Gateway, which was introduced on December 1, 2021, is an effort by the EU to
lower investment demand globally. The EU intends to improve ties between Europe and the rest of the
world through the "Global Gateway" by making significant investments in global infrastructure
development, with a particular focus on nations with low and moderate incomes. The project's funding is
twice as much as Beijing has previously invested in its "New Silk Roads". No design plans! More like a
message to China that the EU can compete with it.

In my opinion, China clearly seeks to increase its presence all over the world. 16+1 and the BRI
are the projects that show the economic strength of China and its desire to become an antagonist of the
USA’s economic dominance. Soft-colonialism policies conducted by China in weaker and poorer countries
give China diplomatic power. China can dictate its policies in the countries under its influence. The New
Silk Road will basically give China unlimited control over the ports and increase its Navy’s power.

Global Gateway strategy will surely be of help for the EU so it can be back on track and compete
with China. Though it might not be the case as the influence of the EU has lowered gradually over the last
15 years. And this downfall comes in handy for China. The EU has the requirements that must be met by
sponsored states and this gives China a head start as China does not have any ethical requirements.

Overall, I highly doubt that the EU’s program will be able to compete with China simply because
there’re too many requirements that are set by the EU and so little countries can meet them.