Australia, US, India, Japan in talks on Belt & Road 'alternative'

Sydney

AUSTRALIA, the United States, India and Japan are talking about establishing a joint regional infrastructure scheme as an alternative to China's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative in an attempt to counter Beijing's spreading influence, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday, citing a senior US official.

The unnamed official was quoted as saying that the plan involving the four regional partners was still "nascent" and "won't be ripe enough to be announced" during Australian Prime Minister Turnbull's visit to the United States later this week.