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Journals / Turkish Journal of Maritime and Marine Sciences / 2026 / Volume: 11 Issue: 2

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

Çin'in Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi: Küresel Ulaştırma Operasyonlarında Denizcilik ve Deniz Mühendisliği Perspektifinden Stratejik Karar Alma Motivasyonları

Mehmet Serdar Çelık(BANDIRMA ONYEDİ EYLÜL ÜNİVERSİTESİ, DENİZCİLİK FAKÜLTESİ, DENİZCİLİK İŞLETMELERİ YÖNETİMİ BÖLÜMÜ, DENİZCİLİK İŞLETMELERİ YÖNETİMİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0001-5971-9405
Bulut Ozan Ceylan(BANDIRMA ONYEDI EYLUL UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF MARITIME, DEPARTMENT OF MARINE ENGINEERING)0000-0003-1182-3566
Demir Ali Akyar(DOKUZ EYLUL UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF MARITIME, DEPARTMENT OF LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT)0000-0003-3853-0042
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-06-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

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.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), announced in 2013, is a mega project designed to enhance global transportation infrastructure and stimulate economic development.
📊
Key Findings & Data: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.
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Conclusion & Impact: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.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:2013 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Marine Transportation · Belt and Road Initiative · ANP

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.

Özet

Çin'in 2013 yılında duyurduğu Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi (BRI), küresel ulaşım altyapısını geliştirmek ve ekonomik kalkınmayı teşvik etmek amacıyla tasarlanmış dev bir projedir. Bu çalışma, Çin'in BRI'sini yönlendiren ana motivasyonel kaynakları, özellikle ekonomik, politik ve stratejik unsurlar açısından tanımlamayı ve önceliklendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. PRISMA sistematik literatür taraması ve odak grup metotları kullanılarak, 26 motivasyonel faktör belirlenmiş olup, bunların 16'sı esas olarak ekonomik niteliktedir. Bu faktörler arasında 'Çinli yatırımcılar için yeni iş fırsatları' en önemli itici güç olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Ekonomik motivasyonlara ek olarak, bu çalışma, BRI'nin deniz yollarının başarısında deniz mühendisliği, gemi risk yönetimi ve gemi makineleri inovasyonlarının operasyonel etkinliğini sağlamak için hayati bir unsur olarak tanımlanmıştır. Çalışma ayrıca, Çin'in daha geniş jeopolitik ve ekonomik hedeflerine ulaşmasında deniz güvenliği protokolleri, altyapı modernizasyonu ve risk azaltma stratejilerinin rolünü vurgulamaktadır. Bulgularımız, özellikle ekonomik büyüme ve deniz taşımacılığı altyapısına yönelik olan Çin'in iç motivasyonlarının dış faktörlerden daha önemli bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir. Bu durum, politika yapıcılar, deniz mühendisleri ve ulaştırma operatörlerinin, uzun vadeli stratejilerini Çin'in hedefleriyle uyumlu hale getirmeleri gerektiğini, deniz güvenliği, operasyonel verimlilik ve Çin'in deniz teknolojilerinin küresel rekabet gücüne odaklanmaları gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışmadan elde edilen bilgiler, BRI kapsamında deniz altyapısının küresel ulaştırma sistemlerinin geleceğini şekillendirmedeki stratejik önemine daha derin bir anlayış kazandırmaktadır.

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Cite This Article

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, Volume: 11 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.52998/trjmms.1555195

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