OTHER countries can fund infrastructure projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) if these were stalled because of the issues surrounding the South China Sea and mounting tensions between China and Taiwan, Socioeconomic Planning Arsenio Balisacan said Thursday.

Balisacan issued the statement after former Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. warned that another 'thorny issue' with China related to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) bases could affect Beijing's promised investments and infrastructure projects under the BRI.