China’s ‘non-interference’ policy is not a new phenomenon. It originates in pre-modern Chinese history when the Empire had been isolated from the rest of the world, as well as in the Mao era when the Chinese–even if they had the will to interfere–did not have...

Chinese President Xi Jinping's 'One Belt, One Road' (OBOR) vision, heralded as an attempt to revive the pre-modern Silk Route, is intended to strengthen West Asia's economic links with China through ambitious infrastructural projects. Central to this are fast-track rail links, funded by the...