One Belt One Road Project within the framework of China's soft power strategy: The case of Africa

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), described as the most comprehensive and controversial project launched by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in recent years, was first announced by Xi Jinping in 2013. Targeted for completion by 2049, which marks the 100th anniversary of the PRC, the project aims to connect the continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa through land and maritime routes. Initially introduced as a "win-win" initiative, the project has since faced criticism, with claims that the PRC is seeking to expand its political and cultural influence in African countries. In this context, the study aims to evaluate the PRC's strategies toward African countries within the framework of power strategies. The numerical superiority of African countries in international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) provides a significant strategic advantage for the PRC. Although issues such as the Uyghur question, the Tiananmen Square incidents, the Hong Kong protests, and the Taiwan issue have led to criticism of the PRC, they have not constituted major obstacles in its relations with African countries. The PRC's relations with the African continent date back to the Bandung Conference held in 1960, after which China has made significant efforts to develop good relations with African nations. Notably, under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), substantial investments have been made and continue to be made in countries such as Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Through these investments, China's strategic presence in Africa has been strengthened. Infrastructure projects and economic investments have fostered cooperation and dialogue with local populations, reflecting the implementation of soft power strategies. Instruments such as Confucius Institutes, joint exercises, and educational programs have emerged as key tools for enhancing China's soft power influence in Africa. However, as the project has progressed, criticisms regarding lack of transparency and "debt-trap diplomacy" have also surfaced, giving rise to the perception that China's strategies involve not only soft power but also sharp power elements. In this regard, analyses have been made suggesting that the PRC is increasing its influence in Africa by employing both soft and sharp power strategies.