For centuries the Silk Road, stretching across deserts, steppes, and mountains, linked the imperial dynasties of China with Europe. Chinese rulers used the thoroughfares to expand their power and influence deep into Asia. Today a newly assertive Chinese empire-this time, a communist one-is undertaking a gargantuan project to re-create those ancient trade routes and the political and economic clout that came with them. Nicknamed One Belt, One Road, China's plan is to construct roads, railways, ports, and other infrastructure across Asia and beyond to bind its economy more tightly to the rest of the world. The scheme was honored with a prominent place in the country's latest five-year plan, released in late October, and has become a favorite subject of top leaders, who sell it as an international initiative to foster peace and prosperity. The program will "answer the call of our time for regional and global cooperation," President Xi Jinping proclaimed during a speech at the Boao Forum in March.
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