PANDEMIC’S EFFECTS ON CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY AND ITS GLOBAL POWER ROLE

Abstract

In this paper, we assume that China, like other major powers, does not change its strategic views and behaviour hastily, even being affected by powerful exterior influence like the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, such significant global events could speed up or deepen ongoing trends and changes in major power relations, the global system, and China’s place in it. Accordingly, changes in China’s foreign policy, as the most direct tool of realising its external goals, but primarily being a reflexion of its internal political dynamics and needs for domestic security and stability, should not be affected differently. Although assuming that there have not been and will be no change to China’s foreign policy’s main course and medium-term goals, we study the possible catalysing effect of the pandemic and eventual changes it caused. Our analyses will try to identify and examine these changes and continuities and prove our initial assumptions.