Mr Qian Qin1
1UNSW Sydney, Australia
Biography:
Qian’s research interests cover International Relations, the UN System, International Law, SDG and Development Studies. He previously worked for different agencies within the UN System where he gained practical expertise in global governance. Qian is also a member of the Australian Political Studies Association.
Abstract:
The paper aims to investigate how a rising power uses foreign aid as a diplomatic tool to compete regionally. The paper uses China as a critical case, and its use of foreign aid, particularly in two regions, i.e., the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. The paper argues that although China has been described as the major, if not sole, competitor of the United States at the global level, it is not yet a global power precisely because China lacks the capability to exercise its comprehensive power in multiple regions. To become a "true" global power, China must improve its capability to exercise its comprehensive power in more than one region and create its own network of strategic partners and leadership. This process will lead to competition with and even confrontation against existing regional powers, many of which are allies of the United States – such as Australia. The paper will focus on foreign aid to explain the complex competition at the regional level involving a rising power that can potentially challenge the existing global hegemon.