How has the Belt and Road Initiative played a part in China's cross-regional political and security relations?

Extract

[...] Moreover, if 2013 marked the beginning of an extensive policy in China, it also marked the beginning of a repressive policy towards a Muslim minority, the Uighur community. Under cover of a "security policy" (as we saw earlier), the Chinese government secretly organized the forced internment of Uighurs in the Xinjiang region (these secret elements were revealed by the New York Times in 2019). Even if Chinese officials prefer to speak of a fight against terrorism or even of "political reeducation camps", could we not say that these revelations corroborate the idea of ethnic persecution? [...]

[...] However, by increasing these economic relationships and ties, China also plays an important agent in diplomacy. This initiative is therefore economic but above all diplomatic, because it guarantees China's access to very strong links with different countries. However, it also proves the inconsistency that Chinese officials may be hiding. China promises a real "Chinese dream" and seeks to be seen as a global example. However, we have seen that the human rights and ecological issues seem to reflect the paradox of the Belt and Road Initiative. [...]

[...] Nowadays, we could argue that this is not the current initiative that China has chosen anymore. By creating the BRI, China is in effect stepping back from all the initiatives of other countries and creating its own. China has spread its initiative across all continents and contrives with different economy or development index. In fact, to join the BRI, one has to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China. For now, the number of these countries reached 146. But what really implies the BRI? [...]

[...] How has the Belt and Road Initiative played a part in China's cross-regional political and security relations? The announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 was meant to signal China's interest in building stronger global economic links, but it has been argued that the BRI also serves to improve Beijing's cross-regional diplomacy in other ways, including strengthening the country's security. For this question, please explain how the Belt and Road may play a part in the development of China's cross-regional political and security relations, giving specific regional examples, (such as Africa, Eurasia, Europe, etc.) where applicable. [...]

[...] In this sense, and I think it is where the subject brought me, could we argue that by growing its economy, China is able to ensure security? For sure, it could ensure the security on its own country. The current war in Ukraine has often been paralleled with what could happen between Taiwan and China. Could China invade Taiwan? Another question, to go further, could be the following: Would the international community be able to impose economic sanctions on the country which remains one of the most important economic players? [...]