[est31]

1. The infrastructure is often not just built, but also operated by chinese companies. So the chinese have direct operational control through their expats.

2. If you as diplomat even think about suggesting that Taiwan is its own nation, China will give an extremely offended reply. Same will probably happen if you try to negotiate. Either their terms, or you are an enemy. No meeting of equal partners.

3. China has large power over these nations by trading with them. This power will likely increase the more of their infrastructure is ran by China.

4. Eventually China will develop better tools to project power. I don't know what the Chinese analog of the CIA is, but likely they are working on it. Furthermore, recently Xi has opened the first military base outside of the Chinese mainland. If a nation's government defaults on its loans, China will just install a new government. This has little precedent because the change is so recent, but it's not unheard of in the general history of mankind.

[justicezyx]

All your saying is true, but the reality is much less negative than western media's reporting.

One such example: African countries often have the same national control mechanisms practiced by China, for example, 51% equity on joint ventures.

[1] is a good assessment from US scholar.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMCF2eu1D0E