Chinese Soft Power Approaches towards Pakistan: An Analysis of Socio, Economic and Political Impacts

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Mehmood Hussain
Sumara Mehmood

Abstract

Pakistan has been facing imminent socio-economic, political and diplomatic challenges since 2001. The on-going war on terror has cost losses of infrastructure in the country amounting to $60 billion. China has employed its own version of soft power ranging from diplomatic support on crucial issues to foreign aid and investment, cultural exchanges and higher education opportunities for Pakistani youth. Among them, one of the most important projects is the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with a total investment of $62 billion. Against this backdrop, this study intends to highlight how China is projecting its soft power in Pakistan and to what extent Chinese soft power could heal Pakistan’s socio, economic, political and diplomatic disasters. This study reveals that Chinese soft power strategies have left far higher imprints on Pakistan through diplomatic support, investment, and provision of scholarships.

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Author Biographies

Mehmood Hussain, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Jilin University Changchun, People's Republic of China

He is a Fellow in International Relations at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Jilin University Changchun P. R. China. He holds Master Degree in Political Science from University of Gujrat, Pakistan. His areas of research are China-Pakistan bilateral relations, China-India-Pakistan triangular relations and the U.S.-Pakistan relations and foreign policy of Pakistan. Email: mhussain328@gmail.com

Sumara Mehmood, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dalian University of Technology China, People's Republic of China

Author is a Master Degree Candidate in Higher Education at School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dalian University of Technology China. She has a strong multi-disciplinary research interest.