OSW

SIGNATURE WORK
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2024

Economic Ties and Diplomatic Alignment: Evaluating China’s BRI and OFDI Influence in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan

Name

Haeji Cho

Major

Institutions and Governance / Public Policy

Class

2024

About

Haeji Cho, majoring in Institutions and Governance with the track of Public Policy.

Signature Work Project Overview

My SW project explores the relationship between economic aid and foreign policy alignment within the framework of international relations, with a particular focus on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) led by China. It specifically examines the cases of three strategically significant countries in Southern and Central Asia: Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. The analysis centers on how their United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voting behaviors align with China following their receipt of economic aid from China. Contrary to prevailing expectations, the result of this study indicates that the correlation between increased economic engagement, as manifested through Overseas Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI), and diplomatic support in the UNGA is not straightforward, particularly concerning resolutions related to human rights. Notably, despite the low statistical significance, the consistent pattern observed in the impact of China’s economic investments and their influence over time across these countries highlights a nuanced dynamic. This pattern suggests that the direct and immediate diplomatic reciprocity anticipated from economic aid engagements does not uniformly materialize. This result underscores the multifaceted nature of geopolitical relationships, where a myriad of factors beyond mere economic transactions shape policy decisions within international forums.

Signature Work Presentation Video