HONG KONG: Countries in Europe and other parts of the world are reportedlyoffering resistance to China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) project.

According to a chinascope.org report, countries like Germany and France seeOBOR as an initiative that could result in a struggle between democracy anddictatorship, as also the introduction of a new value system that might notbe suitable to the West.

Joining these two countries is the United Kingdom, which has refrained frominking any pact that could indicate support for the OBOR.

Governments of these three nations are clear that while OBOR offers newopportunities, the gains for China and the rest of the world, in the shortand the long term, need to be seen to be more transparent and in compliancewith international standards.

Meanwhile, the United States, Australia, Japan, and India are reportedly indiscussions for a counter to the OBOR. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ofAustralia is expected to raise this plan with President Donald Trump whenhe visits the United States this week.

OBOR is a project initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping with theobjective to build trade routes between China and countries in CentralAsia, Europe and Indo-Pacific littoral countries. (Littoral countries meanssituated on the shore of Indian and the Pacific Ocean).

It is a network of roads, railways, oil pipelines, power grids, ports andother infrastructural projects meant to connect China to the world.

It was announced in the year 2013 with an objective to rejuvenate theancient trade routes connecting Asia to Europe.