The place of economy in China's software foreign policy in developing regions

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

Author

Assistant professor of Islamic Council Research Center

Abstract

Introduction: China has drawn itself as a new-developed country in the world, and now it is seeking to use this image to strengthen Chinese soft power, especially in developing regions. The China as a new-developed country is well aware of its economic advantage in the world and developing regions. Despite having a great historical and cultural history, this country has placed its software foreign policy on economic power. Beijing's software policy towards developing countries is aimed at attracting to the Chinese developmental model according to the Beijing Consensus. The "Belt and Road Initiative" megaproject is based on geo-economic imperatives and always seeks to ensure that the development and rise of China is peaceful and will benefit others as well. Achieving this assurance is based on economic interests for the developing regions in order to attracting them, rather than relying on cultural tools and resources. According to conventional western model of soft power, China is facing the challenges for globalizing its culture. The use of relative advantage economically is in Beijing's foreign policy agenda.

Methods: The aim of the article is to analyze the position of the economy in China's soft foreign policy in developing regions, which requires understanding the theoretical conceptual-analytical framework of soft power and its results from China's point of view. The research method is descriptive-analytical and is explained based on the link between economy and soft power as the focus of China's soft foreign policy. Therefore, the article seeks to answer the question, what is the place of the economy in China's software foreign policy towards the developing regions? The hypothesis is that China's software policy in developing regions is mainly aimed at creating "spheres of influence" for economic and political goals through (indirect) economic and then cultural soft power.

Results and Discussion: China wants to present a softer self-image on basis of Chinese culture, and they promote it by the economic tools. 2017 is considered an important turning point in this era. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China introduced President Xi Jinping's thoughts called "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era" in the party's constitution and started to place political goals alongside economic goals in Beijing's foreign policy. Studying the resolutions issued by the Congress shows that the China still emphasizes the use of economic tools to advance foreign policy goals.

Conclusions: The findings of the research indicate that China is one of the main trade and investment partners, one of the biggest donors in regions such as Africa, Asia and Latin America; it has become a "development model" for developing world, and it is one of the most important grantors of educational scholarships in these regions. Resultly, China's soft power, according to "economy-oriented software" policy, mainly has an economic character. While China is widely seen as an economic partner around the developing world, this does not mean the spread of Chinese values, culture and ideas. China's attractiveness in these areas is basically economic, not necessarily cultural according to the western concept of soft power. In this sense, China's soft power has distinctive features that give it a Chinese character and distinguish it from other models common in Western countries.

The result indicates that the attraction of China in e regions is less historical-cultural, rather industrial, scientific and technological power. As long as the economic power of China is progressive, the its soft power will also be strengthened. However, the evidence shows that despite China's prioritization of Southeast Asia and Central Asia in its software foreign policy, it has achieved the most interests (political and economic) in Africa and Latin America.

Keywords

References

‒ Alterman, John (2008), "China's Soft Power in the Middle East", At: https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/publication/090310_chinesesoftpower__chap5.pdf
‒ Aydin, Gulsen Şeker, and Müge Yüce (2018), "China’s Hard Power versus Soft Power in Central Asia: An Analysis of the ‘One Belt-One Road Initiative’ as a Soft Power Instrument", At: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332083399
‒ Azizi, Hamidreza (2013), "China's soft power in the Central Asian region: approaches, tools and goals", Central Asia and the Caucasus, vol. 88, [In Persian], At: https://www.academia.edu/30653041/%D9%
‒ Burton, Guy (2021), “China’s Three Level Game in the Middle East.” Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 15, no. 2, 189–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/25765949.2021.1928412
‒ Caro, Céline-Agathe (2022), "The Smiling Dragon: China’s Soft Power in Southeast Asia", At: https://www.kas.de/documents/274654/18512123/The+Smiling+Dragon.pdf/ae5d2fee-2f6a-d216-6074-4568e20bc684?version=1.0&t=1669278336818
‒ Chee-Beng, Tan (2024), "Chinese Overseas and China's Soft Power", https://doi.org/10.1355/9789815203042-003
‒ Christoffersen, Gaye (2024), "China’s Strategic Thinking toward Central Asia, 2013-2024", At: https://theasanforum.org/chinas-strategic-thinking-toward-central-asia-2013-2024/
‒ Congressional Research Service Library of Congress, (2008), "China's Foreign Policy and Sof Power in South America, Asia, and Africa", At: https://fas.org/irp/congress/2008_rpt/crs-china.pdf
‒ Dinh, Julia Luong; Ha Hai Hoang, and Cu Thi Thuy Lan (2024), "China's Soft Power in Southeast Asia Thriogh the Belt & Road Initiative and Vietnam's Reception, Asian Perspective (48), Doi: 10.1353/apr.2024.a928618
‒ Ebel, Pippa (2024), "How Is China’s Global Education Strategy Evolving?", At: https://thediplomat.com/2024/07/how-is-chinas-global-education-strategy-evolving/
‒ Evron, Y. (2013), "Chinese involvement in the Middle East: The Libyan and Syrian Crisis, Strategic Assessment", At: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272789807_Chinese_Involvement_in_the_Middle_East_The_Libyan_and_Syrian_Crises
‒ FOCAC (2024), "Full text: Toast by Chinese President Xi Jinping at welcoming banquet of 2024 FOCAC summit", At: https://2024focacsummit.mfa.gov.cn/eng/
‒ Fulton, Johnathan (2019), “China’s Changing Role in the Middle East,” Atlantic Council, At: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Chinas_Changing_Role_in_the_Middle_East.pdf
‒ Glaser, Bonnie S., and Melissa E. Murphy (2009), "Soft Power with Chinese Characteristics: The Ongoing Debate", In: Chinese Soft Power and Its Implications for the United States: Competition and Cooperation in the Developing World, A Report of the CSIS Smart Power Initiative, edited by Carola McGiffert, Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, At: https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/media/csis/pubs/090403_mcgiffert_chinesesoftpower_web.pdf
‒ Glosny, Michael (2006), "Heading toward a Win–Win Future? Recent Developments in China’s Policy toward Southeast Asia", Asian Security, no. 1, DOI:10.1080/14799850600575199
‒ Goble, Paul (2018), “China’s ‘Soft Power’ in Central Asia Both More and Less than It Appears”, At: https://jamestown.org/program/chinas-soft-power-central-asia-less-appears/
‒ Hassing, Kongdon oh (2012), "China's Soft Power Strategy in Africa", At: https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/resrep26970.4.pdf ‒ He, Lan and Stephen Wilkins (2019), "The Return of China’s Soft Power in South East Asia", At: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41307-018-0084-x. 
Hindy, L. (2017), "A Rising China Eyes the Middle East", Available at: https://tcf.org/content/report/rising-china-eyes-middle-east/ ‒ Huang, Jessica (2018), "The Study of Soft Power: China’s Presence in African Region", At: https://www.researchgate.net/233176600_China's_'soft_power'_in_Africa
‒ Husain, Andi Subhan, Ahmad Sahide (2023), "China’s Middle East Foreign Policy: A Soft Power Approach and Human Right Issues", Technium Social Sciences Journal, Vol. 39, DOI:10.47577/tssj.v39i1.8105
‒ Irfan, Rafia (2024), "China’s Global Influence: A Soft Power Approach", At: https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2024/08/11/chinas-global-influence-a-soft-power-approach/
‒ Kazemi, A. V. and Chen, X. (2014), "China and the Middle East: More than Oil, The European Financial Review", At: https://www.europeanfinancialreview.com/china-middle-east-oil
‒ Khademi, Musa (2019), National Economic Threats, Tehran: National Defense University [In Persian] ‒ Kurlantzick, Joshua (2007), Charm Offensive: How China’s Soft Power Is Transforming the World. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, At: https://carnegieendowment.org/2007/04/24/charm-offensive-how-china-s-soft-power-is-transforming-world-pub-19126
‒ Kveten (2024), “2024 Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes in Africa, Nairobi.”, At: https://www.uom.ac.mu/confucius/index.php/cs/component/content/article/ci-news-2024-joint-conference-of-confucius-institutes-in-africa-nairobi?catid=66&Itemid=219
‒ Laowattanabhongse, Apisada (2024), "China’s soft power ascendancy in Central Asia", Social Science and Humanities Journal, DOI: https://doi.org/10.18535/sshj.v8i04.103
‒ Li, He (2007), "China's growing interest in Latin America and its implications", Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. 30, No. 4-5, https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390701431972
‒ Liu, Ted (2014), "China's Economic Engagement in the Middle East and North Africa", At: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/176362/China%E2%80%99s%20economic%20engagement%20in%20the%20Middle%20East%20and%20North%20Afric.pdf
‒ Lum, T, W.M. Morrison, B. Vaughn (2013), "China's Soft Power in Southeast Asia", At: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293121708_China's_soft_power_in_Southeast_Asia.
‒ Mifa (2024), "Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027)", At: https://2024focacsummit.mfa.gov.cn/eng/hyqk_1/202409/t20240906_11486213.htm
‒ Nagao, Haruka (2016), "China’s soft power investment in African nations", At: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7b91/9d7a20e8da7ac0fa4f5c555a054affaf220c.pdf.
‒ Narimani, Golnaz, Masoud Akhavan and Seyed Shamsoddin Sadeghi (2017), "An analysis of strategies and tools for strengthening and expanding China's soft power", International Relations Studies, year 15 [In Persian], At: https://journals.iau.ir/article_545077_fc67ee15864508b2ee46ce330721dcb3.pdf
‒ Niblock, Tim (2020), “China and the Middle East: A Global Strategy Where the Middle East Has a Significant but Limited Place”, Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 14, no. 4, 481–504. https://doi.org/10.1080/25765949.2020.1847855
‒ Nuwer, Rachel (2024), "Why China has been a growing study destination for African students", At: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01599-z
‒ Nye, Joseph (2005), "The Rise of China’s Soft Power", Wall Street Journal Asia, December 29, At: https://doi.org/10.1525/as.2008.48.3.453
‒ Nye, Joseph (2008a), "Public Diplomacy and Soft Power", doi.org/10.1177/0002716207311699 ‒ Nye, Joseph (2008c), The Future of Power, New York: Public Affairs, At: https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/154756/issuesinsights_vol11no08.pdf
‒ Osman, Romana (July 2017), "China’s soft power: an assessment of positive image building in the Middle East", At: https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/53153/final%20thesis.pdf?sequence=1.
‒ Pourahmadi, Hossein and Mahmoud Khani (2016), "Political Economy of China's Foreign Policy in the Age of Economic Globalization", Political and International Approaches, Year 8, Number 3, [In Persian], At: https://piaj.sbu.ac.ir/article_99530_c17497db8e57941ecfdc0354c2348dc1.pdf
‒ Rakhmat, M. Z. (2017), "China's Media Foothold Expands to the Gulf", At: http://thediplomat.com/2017/04/chinas-media-foothold-expands-to-the-gulf/ ‒ Rogozhina, N. A. and A. A. Rogozhina (2019), "Economic presence of China in Southeast Asia as a condition for promoting “soft power” policy", DOI:10.20542/0131-2227-2019-63-4-40-49
‒ Rouviski, Vladimir (2023), "China’s Soft Power in Latin America", At: https://dialogopolitico.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cap-6-chinas-soft-power-in-latin-america-DP-2023.pdf
‒ Sazmand, Bahare and Golnaz Narimani (2013), "China; Becoming a Superpower and Its Challenges", Political Studies, Year 7, 25, [In Persian], At: https://journals.iau.ir/article_528991_d061873ec80dd4624754c7cb5cb908ef.pdf
‒ Seif, Allah Murad (2012), "The conceptualization of economic soft power: development of conventional soft power theory in the field of economics", Basij Strategic Studies, year 16, number 58, [In Persian], At: https://ensani.ir/file/download/article/20170315101229-9959-39.pdf
‒ Shambaugh, David (July/August 2015), "China's Soft-Power Push: The Search for Respect", Foreign Affairs, Volume 94, Number 4, At: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2015-06-16/chinas-soft-power-push
‒ Signh, M. (2014), "Chinese Policy in the Middle East in the Wake of the Arab Uprisings", DOI:10.1057/9781137539793_11
‒ Silver, Laura, Christine Huang and Laura Clancy (2023a), "Chinese soft power", At: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2023/07/27/chinese-soft-power/
‒ Silver, Laura, Christine Huang and Laura Clancy (2023b), "China's Approach to Fpregn Policy Gets Largely Negative Reviews in 24-Country Survey", At: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/PG_2023.07.27_Vews-of-China_FINAL.pdf
‒ Soleimani Pourlak, Fatemeh (2019), Soft Power in the US's Middle Eastern Policy, Tehran: Research Institute of Strategic Studies
‒ Song W, Ai W (2023), China’s Vision for a Future World Order and Its Implications for Global Governance. In: F Attinà, Y Feng (Eds.), China and World Politics in Transition: How China Transforms the World Political Order. Springer Nature, Cham
‒ Sun, D. (2015), "China's Soft Military Presence in the Middle East", At: https://www.mei.edu/publications/chinas-soft-military-presence-middle-east ‒ Whitney, Christopher and David Shambaugh (2009), Soft Power in Asia: Results of a 2008 Ultinational Survey of Public Union, At: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/0617_east_asia_report.pdf
‒ Yasushi Watanabe (2008b), Higher education, popular culture and soft power, translated by Mohsen Rouhani, Tehran: Imam Sadeq University [In Persian].
‒ Zhiqun, Zhu (2013), China's New Diplomacy: Rationale, Strategies and Significance, Routledge, At: https://www.book2look.com/embed/9781351952064

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics