Abstract
China’s foreign policy is increasingly defined by what analysts describe as a strategic paradox: Beijing seeks to expand its global influence while simultaneously avoiding direct geopolitical confrontation. As global power shifts accelerate, China is navigating crises from the Middle East to Latin America, positioning itself as a pragmatic actor that prefers economic leverage and diplomatic restraint over military force. This article examines China’s evolving role in global geopolitical transformations using the original analysis and language presented by Al Jazeera.
Featured Image (Imagined)
Chinese President Xi Jinping stands alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and other leaders during the BRICS Plus summit in Kazan, Russia. National flags and summit branding frame the leaders, symbolising China’s expanding diplomatic reach in an increasingly multipolar world.
China in an Era of Accelerating Global Change
As noted in the original analysis, “amid rapidly accelerating international shifts, China’s foreign policy has become a complex equation.” From the Middle East to Latin America, and from the Asia-Pacific to the Arctic Circle, Beijing is “moving across a global stage with cautious pragmatism but also with an ambition to reshape centres of global influence.”
China’s external behaviour is shaped by two parallel realities: “intense strategic rivalry with the United States” and a determination to expand its influence without triggering open conflict.
The United States: Between Rivalry and Risk Management
China’s official discourse continues to emphasise the idea of a “peaceful rise,” alongside a “commitment to non-interference in internal affairs” and respect for “sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Beijing insists that global governance should be based on “cooperation rather than confrontation.”
Yet, as the article highlights, “the geopolitical landscape reveals a wide gap between this discourse and reality.” Donald Trump’s return to the White House has brought renewed tension, with Washington adopting what China views as aggressive and unpredictable policies.
Recent US actions, including military intervention in Venezuela and threats concerning Greenland, were condemned by Beijing as evidence of “a hegemonic impulse that violates international laws and conventions.”
Exploiting Transatlantic Tensions
Beyond rhetoric, China’s strategy is described as one of “meticulous calculations.” Beijing is seeking to exploit divisions between Europe and the United States, particularly as transatlantic trust weakens.
The article notes that China presents itself as “a stable economic power that can be relied upon,” encouraging European partners to question their traditional security dependence on Washington. By promoting the concept of European “strategic autonomy,” China aims to weaken transatlantic solidarity and reduce collective resistance to its long-term policies.
Iran and Syria in China’s Regional Strategy
China’s approach to Iran and Syria reflects a blend of economic priorities and geopolitical caution.
In Iran, cooperation is “not merely a commercial partnership,” but a critical pillar of China’s energy security strategy. Beijing places “particular emphasis on developing overland corridors through Iran towards Eurasia,” reducing dependence on vulnerable maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, Malacca, and the Suez Canal.
In Syria, China avoids military entanglement. Instead, it supports “a political solution by the Syrians themselves” and focuses on post-war reconstruction. Through infrastructure investment and aid, Beijing is expanding its influence “without entering costly military conflicts.”
Africa and Latin America: An Alternative Development Partner
China’s growing engagement with Africa and Latin America follows a similar pattern. Beijing positions itself as an alternative to Western powers by focusing on “trade, infrastructure investment, diplomacy, and culture,” rather than security pressure or political conditionality.
While these partnerships deliver economic benefits, Western capitals increasingly view them as part of a broader attempt to “build long-term geopolitical influence that could reshape the traditional international order.”
Economy as a Tool of Geopolitical Influence
Despite China’s “peaceful rise” narrative, the article argues that Beijing’s economic initiatives function as instruments of strategic competition. The Belt and Road Initiative, alongside China’s expanding presence in international financial institutions, reflects “a clear ambition to lead an alternative global order.”
Critics argue that large-scale Chinese investments create “patterns of long-term strategic dependency,” particularly in regions such as Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa. By offering development without political reform demands, China is gradually shaping regional dynamics in its favour.
The Arctic: Limits to Expansion
In contrast, China’s influence remains constrained in high-sensitivity regions such as the Arctic. Although some Western narratives exaggerate Beijing’s ambitions, the article notes that China’s presence in Greenland and surrounding areas remains “modest and largely exploratory.”
Political constraints and competition from established powers, particularly the United States, continue to limit China’s ability to convert economic interest into strategic dominance.
Conclusion: A Paradox in a Multipolar World
By 2026, Chinese foreign policy is defined by contradiction. It seeks to “advance its geopolitical interests while avoiding direct confrontation,” to shape global rules “without appearing as an expansionist power,” and to rely on economic tools rather than military force.
As crises intensify from Venezuela to the Middle East and competition expands into new regions like the Arctic, China’s actions are increasingly interpreted as part of a broader effort to redraw global networks of influence.
As the original analysis concludes, the central question remains unresolved:
Is China’s rise paving the way for a more pluralistic and cooperative world order, or is it generating sharper competitive dynamics and an entirely new geopolitical model?
For now, “it is still too early to tell.”
By Shayma Zhou Yi Yi
Originally published by Al Jazeera English, 26 January 2026
Rewritten with attribution for explanatory and analytical purposes
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