Initiative (BRI) is an infrastructure concept, consisting of overland routes travelling through Central Asia and the Middle East to Europe and sea lanes of communications (SLOCs) connecting China to Europe and Africa (map p.3). Besides the construction of physical infrastructure, which is largely financed by China, the BRI aims to enhance cooperation in trade and the financial sector as well as people-to-people exchanges (Alon, Zhang & Lattemann, 2018, p.2). Once realised, it could connect 70% of the global population, reach 75% of the known energy resources and encompass 55% of the world’s Gross National Product (Yang et al., 2018, p.56). China uses an inclusive language to promote the BRI and emphasises the benefits for participating countries (Alon et al., 2018, p.7). Despite China’s of “win-win” diplomacy (Lubina, 2017, p. 21), this paper argues that the BRI is a tool to maximise China’s powe Brand Personality r to safeguard its survival and steady rise, which Beijing believes are threatened by the United States (Scobell & Nathan, 2012). Washington is alleged to seek the alteration of the Chinese political system and containment of China’s economic and military capacities (Sauders, 2014, p. 148), illustrated by the U.S. “pivot to Asia” (Sutter, 2014, pp.99-100; Ross, 2012). It was perceived as subverting Beijing’s efforts to strengthen its regional position (Sun, 2013) and it revived fears of encirclement in China (Lubina, 2017, p.86; Scobell & Nathan, 2012). The soundest strategy to guarantee survival according to offensive realism is to possess an overwhelming amount of power (Mearsheimer, 2006, p. 72). Hence, to ensure its wellbeing, China needs to accumulate as much power as possible. Consequentially, ending U.S. hegemony, so that Washington is no longer able to threaten China’s position and contain its rise. This paper analyses how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) guarantees China’s survival. This paper is structured as follows: firstly, the sources are assessed, before outlining the theory of offensive realism and apply Brand Personality ing it to the BRI, analysing how the BRI secures the survival of the Chinese state. Moreover, the implications on the international system are discussed. After a brief summary, the analysis is assessed. 2 Assessment of Sources An abundant amount of literature exists on China and the BRI. Following literature was particularly useful: Phillip Saunders’ and Robert Sutter’s chapters in the book>