China’s AI Diplomacy: Leveraging Soft Power and Scientific-Technical Influence Within Global Governance Networks

This study examines China’s AI diplomacy, which strategically leverages AI technologies to extend geopolitical influence, build alliances, and shape international governance norms. By integrating AI into its diplomatic efforts, China advances its foreign policy goals through a blend of soft power, science and technology diplomacy (STD), and networked governance. Unlike traditional diplomacy focused on economic or military power, China’s approach positions AI as a multi-layered diplomatic tool. The study explores key facets of China’s AI diplomacy, including its efforts to establish international standards, foster regional collaborations, and extend influence in developing regions through AI-driven infrastructure projects. Employing a mixed-methods design involving content analysis, case studies, and stakeholder interviews, this research highlights China’s distinct strategy of merging technological leadership with diplomatic engagement. The findings underscore China’s adaptability in shifting from a state-centric model to a hybrid, multi-stakeholder framework. Theoretically, this study contributes by presenting a comprehensive framework for AI diplomacy that integrates soft power, technological capacity, and collaborative governance. This framework offers new insights into the role of emerging technologies in international relations and expands the understanding of how AI functions as a diplomatic tool, providing policymakers with a comparative model for navigating the complexities of global AI governance.