China Welcomes Italy Into Its Sphere Of Influence, Unnerving the E.U. and U.S.

Thirteen European countries have already declared themselves open for Chinese business, but the 14th has both Brussels and Washington on edge.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is traveling to Rome in late March to officially welcome Italy into his ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, a Chinese-backed plan to unite East and West with railways, ports, tunnels and other infrastructure projects and transform China's economic strength at home into undisputed geopolitical power abroad.

Thirteen European countries have already declared themselves open for Chinese business, but the 14th has both Brussels and Washington on edge. Chinese President Xi Jinping is traveling to Rome in late March to officially welcome Italy into his ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, a Chinese-backed plan to unite East and West with railways, ports, tunnels and other infrastructure projects and transform China's economic strength at home into undisputed geopolitical power abroad.