Peace through Soft Power: An Analysis of Chinese Foreign Policy

Abstract

This Study attempts to explore the soft power foreign policies of China. It provides the detailed discussion of Chinese foreign policy over the years and its focuses on soft power projection in contemporary times. Thanks to economic reforms in 1970s and soft power policies, China now stands as the fastest growing economy of the world. The major argument of the study is that, soft power policies of China has played a vital role in its rapid development and enhanced economic relationships with other states of the world. As a result, this rapid development and increased interconnectivity is leading the region towards peace and stability. China has its focus on all three components of the soft power which includes promotion of culture through Confucius institutes and public diplomacy, spreading the political values through creation of new global think tanks, academic writings and projecting the political system of China as successful model in achieving the rapid economic development. While in term of foreign policies China has focused on economic aid policies, infrastructure development and regional connectivity for soft power projection and economic development. Recently introduced Belt and Road Initiative by the China clearly projects the soft power of country through cultural heritage, public diplomacy and economic foreign policies. This initiative is enhancing the interconnectivity and trade in the region, while China playing the central role in connecting the states with each other. Theory of Complex interdependence states that enhance connectivity and intuitionalism paves the way for peace and stability by reducing the chances of conflict between the interconnected states because conflict hampers the economic development of the states. Because of this complex interdependence between China and other regional states the region is becoming more developed and stable.