“All economically well-off nations have used what has been dubbed 'cheque-book diplomacy,' and China does so, too. Apart from funding government-to-government lending, China has also been able to create global companies and global brands that have contributed to Chinese soft power.”

Indian political commentator and policy analyst

Sanjaya Baru is an Indian political commentator and policy analyst. He served in senior public and institutional roles, including as media advisor and chief spokesperson in the Prime Minister's Office under Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008. He later served as Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry until his resignation in April 2018, and before that was Director for Geo-Economics and Strategy at the International Institute of Strategic Studies. His work sits at the intersection of politics, policy, and economics.