The application of sharp power in China's foreign policy in the post-cold war era: The case of Australia

China's ancient historical origins and culture are built on civilizational history, as opposed to nation-state identity in Western countries. China has been home to many dynasties throughout its history, and the dominance and hegemony of these dynasties have shaped the country's history. Dynastic rule lasted close to two thousand years, starting in 221 BC. Nonetheless, events such as the Opium Wars in the nineteenth century caused the collapse of dynastic rule in China and led to the proclamation and establishment of the Republic of China in 1912. Following the fall of the dynastic rule, China experienced civil war and political unrest. Conflict arose between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) led by Mao Zedong and the Nationalist Party of China (NPC). With the victory of the communists, the People's Republic of China was established in 1949. The economic and industrial revolutions during the Mao period had a negative impact on the country; however, with Deng Xiaoping's comprehensive reforms, economic growth accelerated, and China became an influential country in the international arena. The end of the Cold War brought about an important and radical transition and change in the field of international relations. In this context, China's foreign policy has also undergone a great revolution. For example, during the Cold War, China generally employed a closed and isolated policy and focused more on domestic issues, but following the end of the Cold War, China's foreign policy moved towards a more open and efficient direction. As a result, China has become one of the actors that is rapidly increasing its influence on globalization and the new world order through participation in many international organizations, such as membership in the World Trade Organization. Under Xi Jinping's leadership, the country's global position within the framework of the "China Dream" has completely transformed and focused on the use of sharp power. This research is conducted to examine the effects of China's use of sharp power, with specific emphasis on its impact on Australia. The study significantly contributes to understanding China's rise at the global level and its foreign policy strategies. In this context, the study also tries to understand how China became powerful using economic, political and cultural elements and how it uses this power, which carries significant importance in explaining the dynamics of international relations. Furthermore, the primary objective of this thesis is to analyse the application of Sharp Power in Chinese Foreign Policy in the post-Cold War Period using the case of Australia. The study is based on a qualitative research design and includes historical and analytical methods. The study also utilized data collection tools, including books, academic theses, periodicals, reports, articles, and Internet resources.