Examining the importance of economic policy in China's software foreign policy in developing regions.

Abstract

China wants the world to see it as a newly developed nation, and it’s using this image to boost its soft power—especially in developing regions. China knows it holds real economic clout, both globally and among developing countries. Even though it has a deep cultural and historical legacy, China’s soft power strategy leans hard on its economic strength.

Beijing’s approach to these regions focuses on drawing them toward the Chinese development model, following what’s often called the Beijing Consensus. The Belt and Road Initiative is a giant project built around economic needs, and China keeps stressing that its growth will be peaceful and good for everyone involved.

Instead of showing off its culture, China puts economics at the center of its agenda. It’s all about helping other developing countries grow, and by doing so, making China more attractive to them. Western countries built their soft power on culture and values, but China runs into problems trying to make its own culture go global. That’s why Beijing sticks to its economic edge as the main tool in foreign policy.

This paper digs into how China uses its economy in soft power strategies, especially in developing regions. To do that, we need to get a handle on what soft power really means and what happens when it’s tied to economics. The research is descriptive and analytical, focusing on how China fuses economic power with its foreign policy goals.

So here’s the main question: What role does economic power really play in China’s soft power approach toward developing regions? The idea is that China wants to build spheres of influence through economic and political means, using economic tools first, and then culture.

China’s leaders want to look softer by promoting their culture, but they’re getting there by relying on economics. 2017 stands out as a big shift: at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party, Xi Jinping’s ideas about “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” got written into the Party Constitution, tying political aims to economic goals in foreign policy. The documents show it clearly: China puts economic tools front and center to reach its foreign policy targets.

China stands out as a key trading and investment partner, a major donor in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and a big source of scholarships for these regions. People often call China a “development model” for the developing world, and honestly, most of its soft power comes from its economic influence.

Here’s the thing: Even though China’s economic presence keeps growing around the world, that doesn’t mean it’s exporting its values or culture. When folks in these regions pay attention to China, it’s usually about the money, not the culture. That’s what sets China’s soft power apart—it's not the typical model you see elsewhere.

What really draws countries in is what China delivers, not just what it promises. Sure, China has a long, rich history, but its industrial, scientific, and technological strength comes from that foundation. As China’s economy keeps advancing, its soft power grows alongside it.

It’s interesting, though—despite China focusing a lot on Southeast and Central Asia through its “software-oriented” foreign policy, its biggest wins, both politically and economically, have happened in Africa and Latin America.