China's Vertical Multilateralism and the Global South

"China’s Vertical Multilateralism offers an innovative and critical analysis of China’s approach to multilateral institutions. It shows that behind China’s principled support of multilateralism, Beijing has developed a hierarchical approach that both enhances its own international influence and puts countries participating in these platforms in a situation of deepening and fragilizing dependence upon China. A must-read."

-- Jean-Pierre Cabestan, Senior Researcher Emeritus, French National Centre for Scientific Research, Professor Emeritus, Hong Kong Baptist University

"Xi Jinping has advocated the concept of 'true multilateralism,' but this incisive book explains why China’s approach is better characterized as 'vertical multilateralism' in which Beijing uses multilateral frameworks to advance bilateral initiatives. The authors’ thoughtful examination of this phenomenon in countries across the Global South demonstrates not only how this concept works in theory, but also how Chinese diplomats carry it out in practice. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in China’s evolving international engagement strategy."

-- Zack Cooper, American Enterprise Institute

"This book makes a significant and timely contribution to the study of China’s global strategy. Scholars of China have long examined the interplay between discourse, narrative power, and political practice within the country. But these dynamics are no longer confined to domestic politics—they now shape how China engages the world and projects its power globally. By introducing the concept of vertical multilateralism, the book offers a powerful new lens to understand China’s global strategy, especially in the Global South. It shows how Beijing externalizes core features of its domestic governance model—through discursive framing, the bilateralization of multilateral forums, and the deployment of economic statecraft—to (re)shape international relations on its own terms. The analytical framework proposed here is both timely and innovative. It captures the strategic logic of China's foreign policy toolkit, where discourse, elite-centred networks, and economic interdependencies work in concert to build asymmetrical, Sino-centric partnerships. This book is essential reading for scholars and practitioners alike—an insightful and much-needed guide to making sense of China's growing influence and the profound transformations it brings to global governance."

-- Marina Rudyak, Heidelberg University/The Decoding China Project