A/Prof. Lina Gong1
1Xi'an Jiaotong-liverpool University, Suzhou, China
Biography:
Dr Lina Gong joined XJTLU in 2024 as Assistant Professor. She obtained her PhD in International Relations from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She has published a number of journal articles, book chapters and edited books related to non-traditional security in Asia, China-Southeast Asia relations, and humanitarian affairs. Before joining XJTLU, she worked as a Research Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore and provided policy recommendations for the government of Singapore, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the United Nations.
Abstract:
Humanitarian aid is an increasingly important instrument for China to compete with the US for influence and friendship with the Global South, with COVID-19 as a good example. Interestingly, China’s humanitarian engagement demonstrates two patterns. On the one hand, Beijing has tried to distance itself from traditional donors and emphasized its shared norms, experience and history with other Southern countries. But on the other hand, a number of changes in China’s humanitarian-related institution, policy, and practice suggest that Beijing is also adapting to the approach adopted by traditional donors to a certain extent. While it is common that countries adopt a mixed approach to foreign policy, it is puzzling when China differentiates from the west and when adapts. Existing scholarship on Chinese foreign policy under-appreciate these new dynamics in China’s international humanitarian engagement under President Xi, as humanitarian aid used to be a secondary diplomatic tool. This article uses the role theory to explain when and why China differentiate/adapt in humanitarian engagement. It will add specificity and nuance to our understanding of China’s humanitarian-related behaviours and enrich the debate on China’s international role. It also engages the broad scholarship on emerging powers and global governance.