China's belt and road plan: can the US find an alternative route? | South China Morning Post

The US and its allies are keen to develop an alternative to China's global infrastructure development strategy known as the Belt and Road Initiative but observers say they may struggle to bring it to fruition. US President Joe Biden said in March he had spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about democratic nations developing a rival programme. "I suggested we should have a similar initiative, pulling from the democratic states, helping those communities around the world that need help," he said. China's plan, launched in 2013 and championed by President Xi Jinping , aims to connect Asia, Africa and…