The question is what is in it for the decision makers in these countries; personally or for the benefit of these countries. Belt & Road has not turned out to be the "great deal" advertised; all one has to do is read on the internet (true there is anti-Chinese material out there) and what country would want to have a bunch of Western missiles aimed at it? Personal benefit, that is quite widespread certainly it may be one of the issues with Duarte.

Then one has to look at the benefit to the Chinese. If this is Pillsbury's 100 Year Marathon, OK. If this is the Marxist imperative, OK. I am reminded of Thomas Orlik's "China the Bubble that Never Pops". All bubbles pop; just not in ways one expects. And certainly the Chinese have made some huge mistakes. The more one believes one's own propaganda, the weaker the decision making.