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The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Chinese International Political Influence: An Empirical Study Using a Difference-in-Differences Approach

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Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on China’s political influence in international affairs, as mediated by Chinese economic integration with the BRI countries. We propose that the BRI plays a role in influencing partner countries to support China's presence in the international community, and the economic integration of the BRI positively mediates the willingness of partner countries to align with China in international affairs. This paper uses panel data from 147 BRI countries collected between 2009 and 2020, and the difference-in-differences method, to estimate the political influence of the BRI. The results suggest that the BRI motivates partner countries to support the growth of China's influence in international affairs. The results of the causal mechanism analysis indicate that a significant and positive association between the implementation of the BRI and China’s influence is mediated by promoting Chinese contracts, trade overseas, and outward FDI. The examinations of heterogeneity demonstrate that BRI countries that are developing, non-landlocked, non-neighboring, having signed the memorandum of understanding or cooperation memorandum of understanding, or lacking a Chinese investment guide are more likely to support China’s political presence. This paper concludes with insights into how China implements the BRI to enhance its political ascent in the global order by facilitating economic integration of the BRI.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Yanzhen Wang, upon reasonable request.

Notes

  1. See http://www.china.org.cn/china/2015-03/28/content_35181779.htm

  2. See https://www.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/xwzx/roll/77298.htm

  3. See http://www.china.org.cn/china/2015-03/28/content_35181779.htm

  4. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

  5. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

  6. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

  7. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

  8. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Science Foundation of Ministry of Education of China under Grant < 22YJC790135 > and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under Grant < 2021M691253 > .

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Studies, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, 91711, USA

    Jingjing An

  2. School of Economics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

    Yanzhen Wang

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Correspondence to Yanzhen Wang.

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An, J., Wang, Y. The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Chinese International Political Influence: An Empirical Study Using a Difference-in-Differences Approach. J OF CHIN POLIT SCI (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-023-09860-4

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