China’s soft power approach in engaging with Afghanistan (2002-2023)

Abstract

China and Afghanistan have historically maintained ties with each other, but with the eruption of wars, China's engagement with Afghanistan was affected negatively. In 2001, when the United States invaded Afghanistan, China refused to join the United States in its "War On Terror" rather chose to focus on building and expanding its soft power across Afghanistan. This is in contrast to America’s reliance on hard power tools in its relations with Afghanistan. As a major power sharing a border with Afghanistan, China's decision to utilize soft power tools requires deeper analysis to inform contemporary geopolitical considerations. This thesis aims to explore the use of soft power tools by China in Afghanistan and analyze the challenges China faced in building and expanding its soft power. It is significant to assess what specific mechanisms China has used to build and expand its soft power in Afghanistan, alongside investigating the reasons driving its strategic preference for soft power. Furthermore, this thesis critically evaluates China’s success in building and expanding its soft power. This study used thematic analysis for analysing the data collected from China and Afghanistan have historically maintained ties with each other, but with the eruption of wars, China's engagement with Afghanistan was affected negatively. In 2001, when the United States invaded Afghanistan, China refused to join the United States in its "War On Terror" rather chose to focus on building and expanding its soft power across Afghanistan. This is in contrast to America’s reliance on hard power tools in its relations with Afghanistan. As a major power sharing a border with Afghanistan, China's decision to utilize soft power tools requires deeper analysis to inform contemporary geopolitical considerations. This thesis aims to explore the use of soft power tools by China in Afghanistan and analyze the challenges China faced in building and expanding its soft power. It is significant to assess what specific mechanisms China has used to build and expand its soft power in Afghanistan, alongside investigating the reasons driving its strategic preference for soft power. Furthermore, this thesis critically evaluates China’s success in building and expanding its soft power. This study used thematic analysis for analysing the data collected from 15 diplomats, officials, and experts on China-Afghanistan relations. This thematic analysis facilitates the development of a framework for China’s soft power dynamics, providing insights that are essential for scholars studying China’s evolving influence in Afghanistan. The research makes critical contributions to the understanding of China's soft power tools, challenges, reasons and effectiveness and offers significant recommendations for future research in this field. 15 diplomats, officials, and experts on China-Afghanistan relations. This thematic analysis facilitates the development of a framework for China’s soft power dynamics, providing insights that are essential for scholars studying China’s evolving influence in Afghanistan. The research makes critical contributions to the understanding of China's soft power tools, challenges, reasons and effectiveness and offers significant recommendations for future research in this field.