China’s sustained investment in global infrastructure, technology, and institutions has established it as a powerful economic and diplomatic actor in the international system. Through its massive Belt and Road Initiative, China has invested heavily in physical infrastructure projects like railways, highways, bridges, ports, and power plants throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. China has also invested in digital infrastructure, such as its proposed “Global Telecommunication Infrastructure” that could allow for the integration of the world’s airwaves and provide high-speed internet access. In addition to these investments, Beijing has sought to deepen its influence through international organizations like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. And, as the Trump administration has withdrawn US support for global institutions, China has filled some of the gaps, investing in UN peacekeeping missions and the World Health Organization. These initiatives, combined with Chinese solutions for economic growth, demonstrate its ambition to shape the global order and its desire to become a leader in the economic and political sphere.
