China's Foreign Policy

Understand the factors behind China’s foreign policy

China is one of the world’s preeminent superpowers, rivalling even the United States for overseas influence and economic clout.

On this course, you’ll explore China’s political system, discovering how its domestic and foreign policy intersect. You’ll learn about how Chinese diplomacy operates, and the levers it uses to exercise influence overseas.

Understand China’s domestic politics

You’ll delve into the domestic drivers behind China’s foreign policy, exploring the strategic priorities of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the ideology that influences its bureaucracy.

Get an in-depth insight into the increasing impact of the private sector on Chinese politics, and see how commercial and political interests collide in modern China.

Discover how China became an economic superpower

You’ll examine the history of China’s economic reform programme, and learn how Xi Jinping has pushed China towards a new era of globalisation and geopolitical control.

Consider the relationship between Huawei and other tech powers and the Chinese state, and uncover China’s unfolding digital global vision.

Explore the secrets behind China’s soft power

You’ll identify the mechanisms China uses to exert soft power abroad, including its cultural diplomacy, and the Silk Road initiative, also known as the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) programme.

Alongside diplomacy and geopolitics experts at the Global Diplomatic Forum, you’ll also reflect on China’s participation in global governance organisations, such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), emerging confident in your understanding of China’s diplomatic work.

This course would appeal to students, diplomats, and international affairs and corporate professionals aiming to pursue a career in diplomacy or work for government or international organisations.