How the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is Advancing Chinese Foreign Policy Goals

The Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was launched in 2016 as a “lean, clean, and green” development bank focused specifically on Asia. In this thesis, I examine the effects of the AIIB on Chinese lending across Asia, specifically through the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI). Using data from the AIIB and the American Enterprise Institute’s BRI database, I compare and assess AIIB and BRI policy in regional spending, environmental safeguards, and project specifics. Through this analysis, I argue that the AIIB and BRI reflect different patterns lending and serve different goals for China. In particular, while the BRI allows China to spread influence and create access to new markets through bilateral cooperation, the AIIB serves as an effective means for China to reform global development norms in their favor.