Potential Legal and Geopolitical Implications of the Digital Silk Road: Power, Influence, and Global Governance

Digital Silk Road is a revolutionary feature of the Belt and Road Initiative, which integrates both real infrastructure and highly technological digital networks and makes the region and the world more connected. It is not limited to the conventional trade and infrastructure projects since it incorporates the technologies of fiber-optic cables, 5G networks, satellite communications, cloud computing, e-commerce platforms, and smart city systems. Such changes enable the involved nations to increase digital trade, innovation, and technological collaboration, as well as transform strategic and legislative relations at regional and global levels. This chapter focuses on the Digital Silk Road as a legal and geopolitical initiative, and not just a technological or even a commercial effort. The chapter discusses the effect of the development of digital infrastructure under the Digital Silk Road on state sovereignty, control, and geopolitical location. Findings of this study reveal that telecommunication, e-commerce, and satellite investments contribute to making China a force in creating technological and regulatory standards of the digital economy. Other than domestic laws, China sets regulatory principles for the international community alongside the DSR participating countries. The participating nations can implement these principles in order to harmonize their national rules with the international rules, minimize conflicts, and achieve legal predictability in e-commerce.