China's global trade project

Last year the Chinese goverment announced its biggest increase in military spending, although China isn't preparing any military struggling. On the contrary, only one country is sending war ships in the Chinese territory and is focusing on challeging China's positions.  

While the US is trying to crack down on WTO trade practices, lefting the Paris climate agreement, and challeging the agreement which was reached with Iran, China diverts its energy into building more infrastructures with its neighboors. Many countries, such as Qatar and Pakistan, still want the US military protecting them, but even more want China's infrastructures.

In this perspective, on March 23 Italy's government endorsed its participation in China's "Belt and Road" infrastrutcture plan,  a trade project that will link China to Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. The two countries signed a non-binding agreement, as they need to stabilize the rules of the game, which consist of extensive consultation, join contribution, and shared benefit.
As a consequence, the Italian port of Trieste on the Adriatic sea may become the main EU hub of China's infrastructure network, considering that all major Asian shipping lines could dock there. The initiative will generate widespread benefit for global economy, as goods will be shipped away much faster from EU to Asia. 

At the moment, the first  hub in Europe of China's Belt and Road Initiative is Piraeus, the ancient Greek port on the Mediterranean sea. In 2010 it became the China's new gateway to distribute goods across South Europe, North Africa and Middle East, as well as bring them back through the Suez Canal.
According to the global strategist Parag Khanna, nowadays highways, railways, pipelines, and other infrastructures have become global public goods on par with security.