Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

Question 1

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank origins+ members

Answer 1

Year: 2015
Member: 57 (membership also comprises number of European states as non-regional members)
Headquarters: Bejing

Reasons of establishments:
- Economic competition between China and US
- China’s dissatisfaction with WB structure (favoring US)
- Reducing bilateral tensions in the region

Question 2

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Answer 2

Purpose:
- Promote the ‘Silk Road economic belt’
- Infrastructure investments in Asia: overcome transport and connectivity barriers for export

Question 3

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank debate & criticism

Answer 3

• China’s domaine (largest shareholder)
  -> instrument for foreign policy influence (as US in WB and Japan in ADB)
• Lack of accountability
• Safeguards and social and economic standards & Complaint Handling Mechanism