1. China’s Digital Silk Road: Strategic Technological Competition and Exporting Political Illiberalism
- Author:
- Clayton Cheney
- Publication Date:
- 08-2019
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Pacific Forum
- Abstract:
- The Digital Silk Road is the component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative that aims to establish China as the global technological superpower. While the Belt and Road Initiative is generally understood to be a foreign policy initiative, it is important to view the Digital Silk Road as both a foreign and domestically focused aspect of the initiative. The first step to analyzing this component of the Belt and Road Initiative is to create a conceptual roadmap to understand the components of the Digital Silk Road. This paper argues that it comprises four interrelated, technologically focused initiatives. First, China is investing abroad in digital infrastructure, including next generation cellular networks, fiberoptic cables and data centers. Second, it contains a domestic focus on developing advanced technologies that will be essential to global economic and military power. These advanced technologies include satellite navigation systems, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Third, because China recognizes the importance of economic interdependence to international influence, the Digital Silk Road promotes e-commerce through digital free trade zones. Last, digital diplomacy and governance, including through multilateral institutions, are key to China creating its ideal international digital environment.
- Topic:
- International Trade and Finance, Science and Technology, Multilateral Relations, Digital Economy, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Artificial Intelligence, and Silk Road
- Political Geography:
- China