China's Environmental Diplomacy as a Soft Power Instrument: Evidence from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

China has increasingly incorporated environmental diplomacy into its broader soft power strategy, presenting sustainability and ecological cooperation as key components of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This paper analyzes China’s environmental diplomacy as a tool of green soft power in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It argues that China uses renewable energy projects, green finance, water cooperation, and ecological initiatives to present itself as a responsible and attractive partner in Central Asia. Drawing on literature review and qualitative interviews with experts, the study examines not only China’s official narratives but also local perceptions of its environmental engagement. The findings show that China’s green soft power produces selective and uneven results. In Kazakhstan, it gains more credibility when projects align with national development and green-transition goals. In Kyrgyzstan, these effects are weaker due to debt concerns, weak oversight, labor issues, and stronger public distrust. Overall, China’s environmental diplomacy enhances soft power only when environmental benefits are visible, credible, and locally perceived as legitimate.