The Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in 2013 started “The Belt and Road initiative", otherwise known as the BRI. The initiative entails a comprehensive economic integration plan. A chief aim of the initiative aims producing an effective expansion of the Chinese economy and its associated economic opportunities. This plan specifically operates in the realm of infrastructural investments across Asia and other places, especially Africa. The BRI plan stands out as the biggest infrastructure initiative that was established by one nation. It is important to note that the BRI system dictates the ambitious initiative of the Chinese government in creating connections with the rest of the world. It connotes China’s intention to continue with its global strategy that affects countries across the world.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: China's Foreign Policy
- China's Role in Southeast Asian Development
- Infrastructural Projects and Regional Influence
- The Phenomenal and Controversial Influence of China
- China as a Revisionist Power
- Bibliography
Objective & Thematic Focuses
This paper primarily examines China's foreign policy, focusing on its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its multifaceted impact on Southeast Asian nations and the broader global landscape. It explores the dual nature of China's influence – as a beneficial economic partner and a potentially hegemonic power – by analyzing its strategic objectives and the reception in various countries.
- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a comprehensive economic integration plan.
- China's infrastructural investments and their impact on recipient countries.
- The evolving role of China as a major economic partner in Southeast Asia.
- Concerns regarding China's intentions, sovereignty, and potential hegemonic tendencies.
- China's "going out policy" and its "revisionist power" in global politics.
- Case studies of countries like Singapore, Pakistan, Burma, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam in relation to BRI.
Excerpt from the Book
China's Foreign Policy
The Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in 2013 started “The Belt and Road initiative, otherwise known as the BRI. The initiative entails a comprehensive economic integration plan. A chief aim of the initiative aims producing an effective expansion of the Chinese economy and its associated economic opportunities. This plan specifically operates in the realm of infrastructural investments across Asia and other places, especially Africa. The BRI plan stands out as the biggest infrastructure initiative that was established by one nation. It is important to note that the BRI system dictates the ambitious initiative of the Chinese government in creating connections with the rest of the world. It connotes China's intention to continue with its global strategy that affects countries across the world.
In a bid to enhance the internationalization process, China embarked on a "going out policy" that would actualize its endemic opportunities. It is also important to note that China's BRI system greatly affected the wider policies of Southeast Asia. In the aftermath of China's completion of its own infrastructural demands, the needs of the immediate region, an exportation of its influence became important. It had to begin with its neighbors in Southeast Asia, which was the right way to go. Southeast Asia serves as a region that has received ultimate support from the Chinese government and the BRI initiative. Singapore. Amongst all the BRI recipients, Singapore stands out as the biggest beneficiary of the BRI plan. Between 2012 and 2018, Singapore has received the biggest support from China in various fields. They include technology, real estate and
many more. Pakistan gives another example of such countries given their benefits from the BRI plan, compared to other countries. Singapore and Pakistan represent countries that have greatly benefited from the Chinese BRI plan. They exude significant progress in infrastructural and trade aspects as a result of the BRI. The BRI does not necessarily imply concepts of compromised sovereignty in these countries. This stems from the fact that Nepal and Bangladesh could choose it funding bodies without compulsion from the Chinese government. Therefore the BRI project can influence major infrastructural developments in Asia, without the interference of sovereignty in the same.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: China's Foreign Policy: This chapter introduces the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by Xi Jinping, detailing its aim to expand China's economy through infrastructural investments and connect China globally, particularly impacting Southeast Asia.
China's Role in Southeast Asian Development: This section discusses China's historical and ongoing significant role in the development of Southeast Asian countries, highlighting its emergence as a primary economic partner despite regional skepticism about its intentions.
Infrastructural Projects and Regional Influence: This part focuses on China's preferred infrastructural development projects, such as the China-Myanmar railway, and how these projects, associated with the BRI, exemplify China's growing influence and strategic objectives in Southeast Asia.
The Phenomenal and Controversial Influence of China: This chapter explores the widespread and often debated influence of China in Southeast Asia and globally, particularly through the BRI, which elicits both approval and concerns about potential hegemonic ambitions.
China as a Revisionist Power: This section describes China's foreign policy as that of a revisionist power, aiming to defend its institutions, offer an alternative development model to Western powers, and exert dominance through initiatives like ChinaNet.
Bibliography: This section lists all academic sources and publications cited throughout the document, providing the foundational research for the analysis of China's foreign policy.
Keywords
China, Foreign Policy, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Southeast Asia, Infrastructure Development, Economic Influence, Sovereignty, Hegemony, Revisionist Power, Xi Jinping, Global Strategy, Geopolitics, International Relations, Trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper fundamentally about?
This paper primarily examines China's foreign policy, focusing on its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its multifaceted impact on Southeast Asian nations and the broader global landscape.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include the Belt and Road Initiative, China's economic and infrastructural influence in Southeast Asia, concerns regarding national sovereignty, the concept of China as a revisionist power, and the broader geopolitical implications of its global strategy.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is to analyze China's intentions and the practical consequences of its foreign policy, particularly how the BRI aids in its economic expansion and global connectivity while navigating perceptions of potential hegemony.
Which scientific method is used?
The paper employs a qualitative analytical approach, drawing on existing academic literature and reports to discuss China's foreign policy initiatives, their reception, and geopolitical implications based on observed trends and case studies.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body delves into the origins and objectives of the BRI, China's historical role in Southeast Asian development, specific infrastructural projects like the China-Myanmar railway, the controversies surrounding China's influence, and the characterization of China as a revisionist power.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms characterizing this work include China, Foreign Policy, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Southeast Asia, Infrastructure Development, Economic Influence, Sovereignty, Hegemony, Revisionist Power, and Global Strategy.
How does the Belt and Road Initiative specifically impact Southeast Asia?
The BRI has significantly influenced Southeast Asia through massive infrastructural investments, particularly in transportation networks and ports, fostering economic development in recipient countries like Singapore and Pakistan, though not without skepticism about China's ultimate intentions.
What is meant by China's "going out policy"?
China's "going out policy" refers to its strategic endeavor to internationalize its economy and actualize its domestic opportunities by expanding its global reach through investments and development projects, notably impacting its neighbors in Southeast Asia.
Why is China described as a "revisionist power"?
China is described as a "revisionist power" because it actively seeks to defend its own rules and institutions, aiming to present an alternative development model to traditional Western paradigms and assert its dominance in global politics, exemplified by initiatives like ChinaNet and its trade wars.
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- Stanley Rugwiri (Autor:in), 2022, China's Foreign Policy, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1623321
