China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia: Vietnam’s Strategic Responses and Regional Implications

This study examines the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a central component of China’s foreign policy under President Xi Jinping. Since its launch, the BRI has afforded China considerable opportunities in infrastructure development and trade enhancement. However, it has also encountered challenges, including sovereignty issues from regional nations, public debt concerns, and security threats. Utilising the Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) framework, this research evaluates the challenges the BRI faces in Southeast Asia, aiming to illuminate its regional impact and specifically investigate its effects on Vietnam.