Review of Siddique & Shafqat (2021) and Its Relevance to PNG’s Higher Education Exchange with China

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In their article, How Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are Reshaping China’s Soft Power, Siddique and Shafqat (2021) analyze how China leverages the BRI to expand its influence through economic investment, cultural exchange, and education diplomacy. The authors examine how the BRI, particularly the CPEC, serves as a vehicle for China’s soft power, enhancing China’s global image while fostering long-term partnerships with participant countries. Their study provides a critical appraisal of Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power, arguing that China is reshaping this framework by integrating economic development, security cooperation, and educational exchanges. This analysis holds strong relevance for PNG, which is also part of China’s global outreach through the BRI, particularly in infrastructure investment and higher education programs.

A screenshot of the journal article by Siddique and Shafqat.

The article highlights how China uses higher education as a soft power tool, particularly by fostering academic collaboration and student exchanges. The authors point out that China has provided extensive scholarships and training programs for Pakistani students, aligning these educational initiatives with broader economic and diplomatic objectives under the CPEC framework. Similarly, PNG could benefit from a structured engagement strategy with China, focusing on increasing the number of PNG students pursuing higher education in China, facilitating faculty exchanges, and fostering research collaboration between PNG and Chinese universities. By strengthening academic ties with China, PNG could enhance its domestic knowledge base and develop expertise in critical sectors such as engineering, technology, and public administration.

A key insight from the study is that China’s investment in infrastructure and education go hand in hand. While Pakistan has received massive infrastructural investments under the CPEC, China has also established Confucius Institutes and research centers that deepen cultural and academic engagement. This model is already taking shape in PNG through institutions like the Centre for Confucius Education, Culture, and Research at the University of Goroka. The center promotes Chinese language education and cross-cultural understanding, reflecting China’s commitment to academic diplomacy in PNG. Expanding such initiatives to other universities and educational institutions would enhance PNG’s capacity for international collaboration, language acquisition, and research excellence. Additionally, the construction of more modern schools similar to Butuka Academy could complement these higher education efforts, providing a strong foundation for students to transition into international academic and research opportunities.

Another crucial takeaway from Siddique and Shafqat’s research is the importance of aligning educational exchanges with national development priorities. In Pakistan, many students returning from Chinese universities have taken up roles in industries linked to CPEC projects, ensuring that their education translates into tangible economic benefits. PNG policymakers could take a similar approach by directing Chinese scholarships toward fields essential for national development, such as agriculture, resource management, environmental studies, and digital transformation. Creating government-supported reintegration programs for PNG graduates from Chinese universities would help maximize the benefits of education diplomacy by ensuring that returning students contribute to national growth.

The study also examines how China’s people-to-people diplomacy strengthens its soft power by fostering cultural affinity and academic networks. The authors highlight that Confucius Institutes and cultural programs in Pakistan have enhanced the appeal of Chinese education, attracting more students and researchers to engage with China. PNG could explore similar initiatives by expanding Mandarin language programs in universities and secondary schools, facilitating cultural exchanges, and hosting Chinese scholars for joint research projects. Encouraging student and faculty exchanges between PNG and China could help bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, making it easier for PNG students to integrate into Chinese academic environments.

PNG’s position as a signatory to the BRI further underscores the importance of engaging with China on higher education initiatives. As part of this global initiative, PNG has access to potential investments in academic infrastructure, research funding, and scholarships that could significantly benefit its higher education sector. While the primary focus of BRI investments in PNG has been on infrastructure and economic projects, the country could negotiate targeted educational partnerships under the BRI framework, ensuring that human capital development aligns with its broader economic and diplomatic goals.

Siddique and Shafqat also address concerns about dependency on China, cautioning that while BRI projects bring substantial benefits, recipient countries must ensure balanced and mutually beneficial agreements. PNG can take a proactive approach in its engagement with China, negotiating partnerships that prioritize academic autonomy and national interests. For instance, universities could co-develop research initiatives with Chinese institutions while retaining control over curricula and research agendas. This would ensure that PNG’s engagement with China is not one-sided but instead contributes to knowledge transfer, skills development, and institutional capacity building.

In conclusion, the insights from Siddique and Shafqat (2021) underscore the transformative potential of China’s higher education diplomacy within the BRI framework. PNG can leverage these insights to strengthen its higher education sector by expanding student exchanges, fostering academic collaborations, and aligning scholarship programs with national priorities. By strategically engaging with China, PNG could enhance its academic standing, promote internationalization, and ensure that its human capital development aligns with national economic goals. As China continues to expand its influence in the Pacific, PNG has a unique opportunity to shape its educational partnerships in a way that fosters sustainable development and long-term growth.

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