@ZILtoid1991 that's a really strange argument from them. I don't think the Chinese govt would dispute that it's a loan.
I'm far from a tankie myself but I would have thought that the main thing in BRI loans' favour is it doesn't come with the condition that you have to cut health and education funding (which the IMF is infamous for). Possibly at less risk of ending up sued by Vulture funds too, though time will tell on that one.