China’s Belt and Road Initiative- Soft Power (Jadyn)

China’s Belt and Road Initiative
In 2013, China announced its plans to create a “new Silk Road” that would once again connect trade routes between East Asia and Europe both on land and sea. This plan is called the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI would connect many countries across Eurasia as well as Africa and Australia by establishing designated and protected trade routes. China’s stated goal for implementing the BRI is that their public image and economic standing will rise. Some speculate the real purpose of the BRI is for China to own trading ports along the span of the BRI and put other countries in debt by giving them loans for infrastructure they can not pay off. China persuades countries to boost their infrastructure so that they can become contributing members to the BRI, which would be beneficial for them. China then offers to invest in their infrastructure then forces them to lease a portion of their land to them when they can not return on their investment. This happened with Sri Lanka when they had to comply with China’s demand to lease out a port for 99 years since they could not pay off their loan. 
A current point of controversy is China offering billions of dollars in aid to various countries in Africa. Although China claims Africa is not expected to pay the money back, skeptics believe this is another way for China to set up debt traps for countries in Africa just as they did in Sri Lanka. What is most likely, however, is that China sees the trading potential in Africa and is trying to boost its economy and stabilize the continent while also securing them as strong economic allies for the future. As of now, most African countries have praised the generosity of China and state that they look forward to having diplomatic relations with them in the future. 
China’s efforts through the BRI seem to be an effective use of smart power due to their managing of trade, aid, payment, and diplomacy. China is strategically influencing the agendas of countries by offering them aid and trade deals while also exploiting weaknesses in fragile and unstable countries to boost their economy. Only time will tell if the BRI is a way for China to push a hidden agenda or if it is just a result of the world's shift to a more global and connected economy.
Works Cited
Chatzky, Andrew, and James McBride. “China's Massive Belt and Road Initiative.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 21 May 2019, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-massive-belt-and-road-initiative.
Fifield, Anna. “China Pledges $60 Billion in Aid and Loans to Africa, No 'Political Conditions Attached'.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 Sept. 2018, beta.washingtonpost.com/world/china-pledges-60-billion-in-aid-and-loans-to-africa-no-strings-attached/2018/09/03/a446af2a-af88-11e8-a810-4d6b627c3d5d_story.html.

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