Barkat Ullah
China is a strong raising power due to its strong and effective economic market, which is directly
challenging the status quo of USA in a number of sectors especially in the field of economics. The USA
has a strong say in every international and regional affairs due to its strong foreign policy backed by
elements like, strong economy and military and soft power etc. China under the leadership of Xi Jinping
is also going towards several reforms in its policies in term of foreign affairs. The foreign policy of China
is focusing on a number of new shifts and changes so as to compete the high influential US hold in
international politics in an effective manner. The economic background of China is quite impressive.
Over the forty years the China developed through a large extent. Currently it is the 2nd largest economy
of world and first of the Asia. China has 15 percent of global GDP, 2nd after 24 percent of USA. There are
a number of assumptions that wither China's economy will pass USA or not, but an interesting
debate generates about the topic the way Chinese economy is growing. As like others the Foreign policy
of China is raised on the basis of its domestic conditions. The current world order is led by USA, the
China sees a number of challenges and opportunities for itself. According to President Xi Jinping, the
Foreign policy of China is under a constant shift as the world is also undergoing a change from centuries.
In this constant change, a number of thinkers argue about absolute decline of USA, but in my opinion it
is relative declining rather than absolute, and China knows the fact. Along with this the current liberal
order is not looking effective so This is not only providing opportunity to China to prevail but to other
developing nations too for grooming their economies. The main shift in China foreign policy occurred
after global financial crisis in 2009, after which China considered its system less weak than the liberal
one, because it that time China survived that crisis effectively. In this regards, introducing of IP aging
infrastructure investment bank, belt road initiative, diplomatic meeting like G-20 are major initiatives of
China's foreign policy. Through this China wants to become more modernized country in terms of
technology, military and soft power in coming few decades. The other main change in China's
policy is its focus on domestic development, a step towards strong foreign policy. In this regards, China
is not only enhancing her infrastructure but also of their neighbor partners through Belt Road initiative.
Through this the Foreign policy of China is not only based on foreign objectives, but it is self centered
too. China have realized that only hard power can't pursue its interests, therefore China is now
focusing more on institutions building and portraying soft power. Another words, It is new grand
strategy of multilateralism of China through which it wants to engage the world. For pursuing their
interests peacefully, the Chinese foreign policy is collective and incremental. To summarize the whole
discussion, the Foreign policy of China under Xi Jinping is more diverted from hard power to soft power.
It has started cultural exchange programs and a number of educational projects for foreign students.
The aim is to introduce their culture and language with citizens of other states, so as to influence others
through their traditions. Along with economy china also wants to compete USA in term of soft power
and cultural domination. Economic aspects and institutions building has got a huge importance in the
Foreign policy of China. China wants to resolve their issues through dialogue and diplomacy with their
neighbors. Although it has looked to the tensions with India in Ladakh in a slighter harsh way yet the
doors of talks and and negotiations are still open, and both nations are utilizing it. Moreover its foreign
policy is mainly based on multilateral cooperation through regional level. China is playing a significant
role in regional organizations like Shanghai cooperation organization and ASEAN etc. -The writer is
currently residing in Islamabad, a student of international politics, he writes forseveral newspapers on
domestic and international matters.
