China Condemns Italy's Criticism of Belt and Road Initiative

China criticizes Italy for "malicious" criticism of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), accusing some forces within the Italian government of politicizing the initiative and attempting to disrupt cooperation. Italy, the first G7 nation to join the BRI, is now considering whether to renew its deal when it expires in 2024. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto labeled the decision to join the BRI as "improvised and atrocious," expressing concerns about how to withdraw without damaging relations with Beijing. Critics see the BRI as a tool for China to increase its influence while burdening low-income countries with unmanageable debts.