China 'developmental peace' doctrine in South Sudan (2017-2022)

Abstract

China's progressive peace strategy is influencing the architecture of world peace and security as it emerges as a new paradigm for preserving world peace and security. This study assessed how China’s developmental peace doctrine is applied in its relations to South Sudan (2017-2022) by assessing China’s developmental peace, China’s relationship with South Sudan, China’s peacebuilding approach, and China’s interest in South Sudan. To understand how China’s applied its developmental peace doctrine in relation to South Sudan, I gather qualitative data from academics and grey literature and interviews. With these approaches, the research identifies three major approaches to China’s developmental peace doctrine in South Sudan. First, China provided developmental-reconstruction aid in exchange for natural resources and investment such as oil and the construction of major infrastructure in the country. Second, China’s peacebuilding approach is more of engaging government without engaging local communities and civil society actors. Third, China’s relationships with South Sudan and its interest in peace and security are more on what benefits China will get from this relationship and work as a global power that can contribute to peace at the same time. Despite all these multifaced approaches, China’s developmental peace approach in South Sudan improves the social welfare in some parts of the country although the security situation in the country hasn’t changed so much.