China as a "Green Soft Power" and the Belt and Road Initiative: Evidence From Pakistan

Abstract

By taking a proactive role in international negotiations on climate change and extending the ecological dimension of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has been strengthening its position as a leader in global environmental governance. This article examines the effects of China's efforts regarding its soft power. Specifically, it argues that prioritising environmental protection in foreign policies can enhance a state's status as a "green soft power." To test this argument, this article examines the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key component of the BRI and a multibillion-dollar, 3,000-km energy, road and railway infrastructure network, accompanied by geostrategic, diplomatic, and economic initiatives promoted as a "game-changer" and a "win-win" situation. More specifically, the article aims to assess this project's influence on China's green soft power "reserves," and it sheds light on the role of the bilateral relationship in shaping China's international status. This article asks the following: What is the impact of the CPEC on China's green soft power vis-à-vis Pakistan and globally, especially given that it encompasses numerous coal-based energy projects? To address this question, it draws on selected academic literature, triangulated with primary sources such as policy documents and semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders in Pakistan.