V OLUME 23 • I SSUE 19

For instance, the Report talks of "combining the basic principles of Marxism with China's concrete realities and with China's outstanding traditional culture.” It goes on to argue that it is “necessary to be firm in historical and cultural self-confidence, insist on the use of the past for the present and the promotion of new ideas, and integrate the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of. [...] Other risk factors that have emerged recently include the opaque approach taken by the CCP in uncovering the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, deteriorating relations between the PRC and the US Government, and general economic uncertainty due to the property sector crisis and the weakening external demand for Chinese exports. [...] But beyond the fanfare of this week, the state of CPEC provides valuable insight into the disjuncture between the lofty goals and the often-troubling reality of the BRI. [...] In 2002, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Vietnam is a member, and China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. [...] The views presented here are the author’s own and do not reflect the position of the Navy or the Department of Defense.