THE CHARM OFFENSIVE OF CHINA: ASSESSING THE ROLE OF DIGITAL SILK ROAD IN FOSTERING SINO-EU ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

Abstract

Digital Silk Road, like Belt and Road Initiative, is an ambitious and all-encompassing inventiveness of the Chinese government, aiming to develop China as a global telecommunications network and infrastructure leader. The Global Digital order, since its inception, has been dominated by Western powers; however, with the initiation of the Digital Silk Road and China becoming a digital backbone globally, many Western powers have shown disregard for how this digital hegemony of China can be a threat to their national security. Nonetheless, besides the security implications, the Digital Silk Road brings many strategic opportunities. This paper, thus, looks into how China is advocating a softer image of itself through its Charm Offensive diplomacy and influencing actors involved in Digital Silk Road – specifically the EU – to cooperate with China vis-à-vis Digital Silk Road. This study uses qualitative and thematic analysis to determine how China and the EU can ward off the strategic implications and collaborate to build a more inclusive digital economy. Bibliography Entry Farhat, Laraib. 2023. "The Charm Offensive of China: Assessing the Role of Digital Silk Road in Fostering Sino-EU Economic Integration." Margalla Papers 27 (1): 109-122.