With the economic reform and liberalization that accompany the increasing demand in energy, China has surpassed Japan, becoming the second largest energy consuming nation all over the world. Energy from the Middle East and Africa should be delivered through the ocean route from Indian Ocean to the Strait of Malacca. China imported 203.8 million tons of oil in 2009, for an increase of 14.8%, having surpassed Japan and leaving the United States as the second largest oil consuming nation. For oil delivery and energy supply safety, China has much room for improvement in the capability of safeguarding long-distance delivery; a sophisticated cross-ocean navy has not yet been established. On one hand, China has built strongholds along the oil delivery route connecting the Middle East to China, which is the so-called ¡§string of pearls¡¨ strategy. The nations with diplomatic relations with China along the route, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Cambodia have cooperated with China to give it the right to build ports or to use their important ports to improve oil delivery safety. Developing a command of the sea has remained the ambition of China¡¦s navy in recent years. The substantial measures to gain control of the seas require a naval fleet equipped with long-term offshore combat capability. If conflicts occur in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, China¡¦s surface vessels probably can not handle them since they lack air superiority. Therefore, China proactively builds its cross-ocean naval fleet, including ushering in large surface vessels and submarines imported from Russia, or self-developed. China has also recently stated that the development of a functional aircraft carrier is part of the future direction for its cross-ocean naval force.

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In the context of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, this paper provides a comparative analysis of China's neocolonialism and smart power strategies through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The study analyzes the economic, political, and social consequences of China's growing presence in these nations and offers a deeper comprehension of their position in the region by drawing on a wide range of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence. The research starts out by examining the idea of neocolonialism and how it relates to China's involvement in the area. It explores into a critical analysis of China's debt-trap diplomacy, which raised concerns regarding the BRI projects' long-term economic viability and political influence. The paper also looks into how China uses smart power as a strategic tool to expand its influence in the region, emphasizing on smart power programs, economic development, and cultural diplomacy.