ANALYZING AMERICAN VALUES IN BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE (BRI)

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was initiated by Xi Jinping after being elected become the president of China in 2012. BRI connects Asia, Africa, and Europe based on shared-destiny to create trade routes integrate main centers of economic vitality. This project gives benefit for all participating countries, including provides help for poorer regions. Even China created a financial system that supports this project, namely the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB). China's efforts to expand its influence in the world are similar to US efforts in the 19th century, known as Manifest Destiny. Americans believed that the US is destined to expand the territories westward approaching Pacific Ocean and spreading democracy. This effort is also highly related to their belief that the US is a City upon a Hill. A belief that the US will be a great country that leads other nations in the world. This paper will explore the two American beliefs in the context of China's efforts to increase its economic and military power in the world by reactivating the silk route. The author uses the concept of Tianxia as City upon a Hill and Manifest Destiny in Chinese version in analyzing China's measures to increase its strength on an international level. The author will further analyze how these beliefs being adopted by Chinese government in realizing its dream of regaining the glory of managing silk-road, making it the new silk-road.