Assessing China's Soft Power in Asia: Implications for U.S. Strategy

Abstract

The identification of the 21st Century as the Pacific Century and the Rise of China signal a transformation in the international order that political leaders and strategists around the globe seek to understand. Most assessments of the strategic factors behind this transformation in Asia tend to focus on the more traditional quantifiable measures of power, such as military and economic power. The concept of soft power, as originated by Joseph Nye, posits an alternative, noncoercive form of power based on attraction rather than force or payment. This paper will review existing assessments of China's ability to wield soft power in the Asia-Pacific region, and present specific case studies of China's use of soft power in Australia, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Burma. The paper presents strategic recommendations for the United States based on these assessments.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA593058

Entities

People

  • Michael R. Lwin

Organizations

  • Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Asia
  • Bangladesh
  • Case Studies
  • Cold War
  • Foreign Policy
  • Globalization
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Recreation
  • South Asia
  • South Korea
  • Students
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design