China's Economic Power in Asia: The Belt and Road Initiative and the Local Guangxi Government's Role

China's growing economic power has been identified as a major factor in generating profound transformations of the strategic landscape in Asia. Beijing's interest in using its economic power for the pursuit of geopolitical objectives remain strong. Many analysts believe that the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents the continuation and even intensification of such Chinese policy. I attempt to unpack China's economy power in its external relations by focusing on the role that Guangxi, a subnational government in China, has played by facilitating the emergence of the BRI and by actively participating in the implementation of the initiative. My study suggests that in-depth knowledge about local governments' activism in socioeconomic engagements with neighboring countries contributes significantly to a more nuanced understanding of China's power, particularly its economic power in Asia.