The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has emerged as China's primary soft power strategy for projecting global influence, particularly in the fields of structural engineering and construction. Through large-scale infrastructure projects across more than 140 countries, China not only strengthens its economic and trade ties, but also promotes technological standards, financing models, and management practices aligned with its geopolitical interests. The BRI serves as a vehicle for disseminating Chinese engineering expertise, consolidating its leadership in ports, railways, highways, and strategic buildings, while simultaneously generating technical and logistical dependence in recipient nations. This article examines how the BRI, beyond its economic dimension, operates as a soft power instrument by linking infrastructural development to China’s image as a reliable and technologically advanced partner. However, critics point to challenges such as unsustainable debt, environmental impacts, and lack of transparency, which could undermine its long-term effectiveness. Through an analysis of emblematic case studies, the article evaluates the BRI’s success in positioning China as a global construction power, as well as the risks and opportunities it poses for the geopolitical balance of the 21st century.
Miguel Muriel Páez (Sun,) studied this question.