EVER since 2013 when China launched its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), some Western powers, driven by misplaced apprehensions, have been persistently fueling a campaign of disinformation against the initiative. In the prevailing discourse on the BRI, Western think-tanks have blamed China's large-scale investment in coal and other fossil fuels for possible intensification of carbon emissions. They claim that the BRI must align with the Paris Agreement and prioritize environmental sustainability. For instance, an article published by the US-based Council on Foreign Relations accused the BRI of being 'dominated by fossil fuels.'

'BRI's fossil fuel investments will make combating climate change more difficult. The US needs to offer developing nations an alternative means of acquiring clean energy,' the article said.