In this report, the authors explore the Belt and Road Initiative's (BRI's) origins, objectives, and recent developments. They argue that while the initiative's economic benefits may seem tempting, the risks could be far more significant.

The report examines the experiences of countries like Pakistan, Laos and Sri Lanka, which have faced unsustainable debt, reduced sovereignty, and economic policies favouring Chinese interests after participating in the BRI. Rather than turning to the BRI, the authors recommend focusing on domestic reforms to create a more attractive environment for infrastructure investment, such as streamlining overseas investment screening and resource management laws.

The report suggests that New Zealand could collaborate with other liberal democracies to develop an alternative to the BRI – one that promotes best practices and strengthens the rules-based international system.