Research Article

China's Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective

Volume: 11 Number: 2 June 1, 2025
TR EN

China's Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective

Abstract

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), announced in 2013, is a mega project designed to enhance global transportation infrastructure and stimulate economic development. This study aims to identify and prioritize the key motivational sources driving China's BRI, with a particular focus on economic, political, and strategic considerations. Using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) systematic literature review and focus group methods, we identified 26 motivational factors, 16 of which are primarily economic in nature. Among these, 'New business opportunities for Chinese investors' emerged as the most significant driver. In addition to economic motivations, this study highlights the critical importance of marine engineering, ship risk management, and ship machinery innovations in the success of BRI's maritime routes. Safe, efficient maritime transportation is identified as a crucial element for ensuring the operational effectiveness of the Maritime Silk Road. The study further emphasizes the role of maritime safety protocols, infrastructure modernization, and risk mitigation strategies in achieving China's broader geopolitical and economic ambitions through the BRI. Our findings suggest that China’s internal motivations, particularly those related to economic growth and maritime transport infrastructure, play a more prominent role than external factors. This underscores the need for policymakers, marine engineers, and transport operators to align their long-term strategies with China’s ambitions, focusing on maritime safety, operational efficiency, and the global competitiveness of China’s maritime technologies. The insights gained from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of maritime infrastructure in shaping the future of global transportation systems under the BRI.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No funding was received from institutions or agencies for the execution of this research.

Ethical Statement

Author(s) declare that this study was conducted in accordance with ethics committee procedures of human or animal experiments.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Maritime Business Administration, Marine Vehicles Management Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

February 16, 2025

Publication Date

June 1, 2025

Submission Date

September 24, 2024

Acceptance Date

November 14, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 11 Number: 2

APA
Çelık, M. S., Ceylan, B. O., & Akyar, D. A. (2025). China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective. Turkish Journal of Maritime and Marine Sciences, 11(2), 95-117. https://doi.org/10.52998/trjmms.1555195
AMA
1.Çelık MS, Ceylan BO, Akyar DA. China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective. TRJMMS. 2025;11(2):95-117. doi:10.52998/trjmms.1555195
Chicago
Çelık, Mehmet Serdar, Bulut Ozan Ceylan, and Demir Ali Akyar. 2025. “China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective”. Turkish Journal of Maritime and Marine Sciences 11 (2): 95-117. https://doi.org/10.52998/trjmms.1555195.
EndNote
Çelık MS, Ceylan BO, Akyar DA (June 1, 2025) China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective. Turkish Journal of Maritime and Marine Sciences 11 2 95–117.
IEEE
[1]M. S. Çelık, B. O. Ceylan, and D. A. Akyar, “China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective”, TRJMMS, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 95–117, June 2025, doi: 10.52998/trjmms.1555195.
ISNAD
Çelık, Mehmet Serdar - Ceylan, Bulut Ozan - Akyar, Demir Ali. “China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective”. Turkish Journal of Maritime and Marine Sciences 11/2 (June 1, 2025): 95-117. https://doi.org/10.52998/trjmms.1555195.
JAMA
1.Çelık MS, Ceylan BO, Akyar DA. China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective. TRJMMS. 2025;11:95–117.
MLA
Çelık, Mehmet Serdar, et al. “China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective”. Turkish Journal of Maritime and Marine Sciences, vol. 11, no. 2, June 2025, pp. 95-117, doi:10.52998/trjmms.1555195.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Serdar Çelık, Bulut Ozan Ceylan, Demir Ali Akyar. China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Motivations for Strategic Decision-Making in Global Transport Operations from a Maritime and Marine Engineering Perspective. TRJMMS. 2025 Jun. 1;11(2):95-117. doi:10.52998/trjmms.1555195

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