Understanding China's 'Soft Power'

Kerry Dumbaugh | Congressional Research Service | 2009-04-01

This report prepared by the Congressional Research Service analyzes China's "soft power" -- they're ability to get what they want through attraction rather than coercion using culture and politics as bargaining tools.

"There is little consensus within the U.S. and global China-watching communities on China's foreign policy goals or on what motivates and informs China's decisions-either decisions made in general terms or with regard to specific regions or countries. Does China's international engagement have a pragmatic, overarching strategy, or is it a series of marginally related tactical moves to seek normal economic and political advantages? Is Beijing interested in supplanting the United States as a global power or focused mainly on its own national development? Does the PRC feel strong and confident internationally or weak and uncertain? No one is sure."