SINCE the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was first proposed nearly six years ago, it has been well received globally. So far, 126 countries and 29 international organizations have signed agreements with China for joint construction. Meanwhile, the critics against the BRI among certain media outlets, think tanks, and nongovernmental organizations in some countries have also increased, voicing pessimism and misgivings about it. With debt trap and geopolitical strategy accusations, they exploit sensitive issues among the public in BRI countries concerning sovereignty, energy, and resources to smear the program.