O IMPACTO DA INICIATIVA FAIXA E ROTA NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DO SUDESTE ASIÁTICO COM DESTAQUE AO CAMBOJA – A CONTINUAÇÃO DE UM “DESENVOLVIMENTO DEPENDENTE”?

Abstract

Since its emergence, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has raised many alarms. That is, there are concerns that the initiative will be used to strictly pursue Chinese national objectives. At the same time, and because of this, it would have negative economic consequences for participating states, often being recognised as an economic trap. In this context, this article seeks to answer how the development of Southeast Asian countries, especially Cambodia, could be impacted by the BRI. Would there be a perpetuation of a model of ‘dependent development’? To do so, it is necessary to understand the main dynamics in the historical development process of Southeast Asian states. And how China's geo-economic strategy towards Southeast Asia in the context of the BRI is implemented. Thus, using a descriptive-analytical model, through bibliographic research and analysis of the case of Cambodia, it can be said that infrastructure construction in the BRI context has positive short-term economic effects for participating countries in Southeast Asia that have characteristics similar to Cambodia. In this sense, investments and infrastructure construction in the IFR sphere have the capacity to promote economic growth in states with low levels of connective infrastructure, dependent on foreign direct investment and with weak governance. Therefore, there does not seem to be a trap as is commonly thought, a debt trap, but rather a possible long-term ‘trap.’ In this trap, Southeast Asian states are increasingly connecting to a regional production chain and increasing their trade relations with China. Thus, they may be continuing a model of ‘dependent development,’ but now dependent on China. This is in line with China's objectives for the region, a regional economic order centred on China.