BRI was China's trump card. Now India and its partners strike a blow to out-build it

China's BRI is a smart geopolitical move that has brought it great benefits both in its immediate neighbourhood and in regions like Africa and Central Asia. China offered its undoubtable skills in building infrastructure, combining it with a no-questions-asked approach to political conditions such as democracy and human rights or even economic factors like project viability and financial feasibility. Considering that such conditions were a key factor in Western economic assistance, Beijing's approach helped it garner support from many emerging economies, often referred to as 'Global South'. It resulted in closer economic ties, trade relations, and, most importantly, significant political…