Analysts the world over have thoroughly scrutinised the recently-concluded Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, from the forum outcomes’ significance and China’s emergence as a global leader to the invitation list.

One thing is for sure: China is offering a large pie that is worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Not only has President Xi Jinping repeatedly assured the world that all are welcome to partake in the feast, all are also even welcome to suggest, and make, changes.

There are many hungry mouths, and everyone wants to know how this pie will be distributed. How will individual countries, regional and international groupings attract China’s attention to get their share? Who gets what, based on what criteria? Who exercises governance and to what extent?

… Irene Chan is a Associate Research Fellow with the China Programme in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.