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China’s Belt and Road Plan Is Getting Lashed by Coronavirus

Signature infrastructure disrupted by worker quaratines
Outbreak adds new hurdle while economy forces Xi to scale back

Belt and Road Initiative Building Bridges On Laos’ Rail Network — Photographer: Taylor Weidman/Bloomberg

By

Anusha Ondaatjie and

March 4, 2020, 9:00 PM UTCUpdated onMarch 5, 2020, 4:53 AM UTC

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Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative has long been seen as a way to project China’s influence around the world. Now, the coronavirus is showing how the trade and infrastructure program can help export the country’s troubles.