A new study says a massive Chinese infrastructure programme that Beijing says is aimed at promoting global trade and economic growth is actually intended to expand the country’s political influence and military presence. The report by the US-based research group C4ADS released questions China’s portrayal of the trillion-dollar programme, called the “Belt and Road Initiative.” President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy program, it is working to reinforce China’s links to SE Asia, Europe and Africa through networks of roads, ports, railways, power plants and other infrastructure projects.