China’s strategic role and interests in BRICS expansion

The recent 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia, was pivotal for the coalition as it welcomed new members-the UAE, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia. This growing alliance, once limited to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is now becoming a larger collective, with other nations like Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Malaysia potentially on the horizon. The summit’s outcome highlighted Moscow’s diplomatic triumph in attracting world leaders, challenging Western narratives that have attempted to isolate Russia since its recent geopolitical maneuvers. As this partnership expands, China’s role in BRICS raises an important question: Does China view BRICS as a means to enhance its global influence, or is its focus rooted in broader goals?

Understanding Beijing’s stance on BRICS reveals that China’s approach is more nuanced and less domineering than Western narratives might suggest. For Beijing, BRICS represents not a tool for hegemony but a platform to encourage dialogue, facilitate multilateral economic growth, and reduce dependency on Western institutions. This article examines China’s relationship with BRICS, its strategic interests in the organization, and why BRICS aligns with China’s vision for a multipolar world order.

BRICS is not an alliance in the traditional sense-it is a forum for dialogue rather than a binding coalition. While it facilitates collaboration on issues like finance and trade, BRICS lacks the tightly-knit structure of the European Union or NATO, making it a flexible and adaptable platform. China recognizes that despite this flexibility, the BRICS bloc does face significant challenges, including internal disputes, particularly between China and India, which have a long-standing territorial conflict.

China’s policy approach generally resists rigid alliances. Beijing advocates for what it describes as a “new type of international relations,” which avoids the historical East-West bloc mentality. Unlike Western alliances that may bind members to collective security agreements or standardized economic policies, BRICS allows countries to engage freely in partnerships without sacrificing sovereignty. This philosophy aligns with China’s commitment to non-interference in other countries’ domestic matters, ensuring that BRICS members maintain autonomy in their external relations.

A hallmark of China’s diplomatic strategy is its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which shares ideological ground with BRICS. Rather than an alliance, BRI is a global infrastructure initiative that provides investment without enforcing political strings or requiring alignment with China’s internal policies. Similarly, BRICS has expanded without pressuring countries to adopt a specific political or economic model, thus making it an attractive alternative to Western-led institutions.

For China, BRICS is a way to facilitate discussions on global issues and promote alternative solutions to Western economic dominance. The group serves as a counterweight to organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, offering an opportunity to push initiatives that support the interests of developing countries and emphasize financial autonomy. This focus is in line with China’s long-term objective of de-dollarization, which aims to reduce global dependency on the U.S. dollar and create alternative financial mechanisms to better serve the Global South.

With the addition of new countries from Africa and the Middle East, BRICS is expanding its collective economic and demographic footprint, now surpassing G7 countries in several key metrics. China sees this expansion as a positive development because it allows BRICS to diversify and strengthen its influence on the world stage, extending beyond the traditional confines of its founding members. As more nations join BRICS, China and other leading members have the opportunity to collaborate on issues like currency alternatives, independent banking systems, and a shared development agenda that could reshape global finance.

China’s involvement in BRICS focuses on fostering a balanced global order, not creating an anti-Western bloc. While BRICS nations aim to reduce dependence on Western financial systems, China emphasizes multilateralism and collaboration with Western powers when possible. Its foreign policy vision of a “community of a shared future for humankind” underscores this openness to diverse partnerships, including those beyond BRICS.

Despite tensions with nations like Australia, Canada, and parts of the EU, China’s BRICS participation remains inclusive. Initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) highlight China’s collaborative approach, forming a cross-continental network that promotes trade and investment without pushing a strictly anti-Western agenda.

China’s involvement in BRICS also bolsters Russia’s international standing, which has been weakened by recent Western sanctions. Within BRICS, China does not hold a disproportionately dominant role, as all resolutions must be reached by consensus. This cooperative structure ensures that no one nation has excessive control, allowing Russia to maintain influence within the organization.

China’s participation, however, is essential for BRICS to rival Western economic systems. China’s robust economy and investment capabilities make it the primary trading partner and investor for many BRICS nations. Projects under the New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai, are largely backed by Chinese capital, demonstrating China’s vital role in sustaining and growing the organization. For instance, BRICS projects in Russia, such as infrastructure improvements in Volga Basin cities and Arctic transport, are financially backed by the NDB, which benefits from China’s substantial economic contributions.

Moreover, China and Russia’s joint influence within BRICS underscores their shared vision of a multipolar global order. Both countries aim to reduce Western dominance and advocate for a system where multiple powers share influence. While the West often portrays this partnership as an “autocratic alliance,” BRICS meetings, which include leaders from various democratic and non-aligned countries, paint a different picture. The 16th BRICS Summit showcased the inclusivity of this organization, with Russia and China joining hands with leaders from nations worldwide, including representatives from the United Nations and other global institutions.

BRICS continues to expand, both in terms of its membership and its role in global affairs. As the coalition grows, so too does the diversity of its members’ interests and perspectives. China recognizes that the organization’s strength lies in its inclusivity and flexibility, which align with its own philosophy of sovereignty and multilateralism. A rigid, military-style alliance would limit BRICS’s appeal and contradict China’s goal of fostering a “community of a shared future.”

For China, BRICS offers a valuable platform to showcase its economic strength and promote its vision of international cooperation without the strictures of traditional alliances. The organization’s focus on de-dollarization, creating alternatives to the IMF and World Bank, and establishing frameworks for autonomous development aligns well with China’s objectives. Furthermore, China’s participation ensures that BRICS will remain relevant and capable of challenging Western-led economic systems, particularly those based on US dominance.

China’s approach to BRICS illustrates its ambition to be a part of a multipolar world order, rather than an isolated hegemon. By supporting an inclusive BRICS, China strengthens its partnerships globally and bolsters its own security, enabling it to safeguard its interests while advancing a multilateral framework that reflects the needs of the Global South. As BRICS expands and evolves, it will continue to serve as a forum for Beijing to foster collaboration and promote an alternative to Western-centered globalization.

In sum, China’s participation in BRICS is more than a strategic necessity; it is a testament to its commitment to a global future defined by mutual respect and sovereign equality. As BRICS grows, China’s influence within the organization will continue to evolve, not as a dominating force but as a partner advocating for balanced, equitable international relations.

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Sonjib Chandra Das is a Staff Correspondent of Blitz.

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