Charting the Path of Influence: Between Force and Soft Power

As China’s comprehensive national power grows, how will China exert its global influenceGlobal influence? This chapter argues that China is most likely to continue to wield soft power toolsSoft power, such as economic interests and cultural impact. It also posits that China’s military strength serves primarily as a deterrent, a prerequisite that enables the country to predominantly use its soft power tools. This chapter is structured to explore how China has historically and contemporarily employed economic interest and cultural influenceCultural influence as instruments of soft power. Regarding economic soft powerSoft power, the chapter explores the underlying logic behind China’s approach, paying particular attention to its execution through the tributary systemTributary system. It highlights the emerging obstacles tied to China’s strategy of positioning economic soft power as a primary means of attaining global influenceGlobal influence. In terms of cultural soft powerSoft power, the chapter delves into how China has traditionally defined its own identityIdentity in contrast to the non-Chinese world, and the evolution of this perspective over time. It also explores how this evolving conception of identity has shaped varying strategies to exert cultural influenceCultural influence, both domestically and internationally.