International Law

U.S. Reaction to China?s Use of Soft Power - II

By Stan

OK, here’s more on "China’s Foreign Policy and ‘Soft Power’ in South America, Asia and Africa," a report prepared for the Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate. My last post dealt with some basics about U.S. China policy.

Onward, we get to talk about U.S. soft power:

One former U.S. Government official speculates that although America has massive remaining reserves of soft power, they have become a ‘‘non-renewable resource’’ given current U.S. policies. Others point to multiple global survey results on international views of the United States, saying ‘‘the downward trend is unmistakable.’’

Ouch, that hurts. In fact, it would have looked in worse in comparison to China’s international image a few months ago, before the recent "troubles" began. Still, the U.S. is not winning any awards these days for being a solid world citizen. By the way, I like the use of "non-renewable resource." Cute.

Let’s finally get down to the point. How is China using its soft power in the world today? Here’s one opinion:

China is seen to be trying to project soft power by portraying its own system as an alternative model for economic development, one based on authoritarian governance and elite rule without the restrictions and demands that come with political liberalization.

Maybe China is "seen" this way, but I find it to be a fairly unsophisticated way of looking at China’s foreign policy. Actually, to be honest, I find it to be completely wrong. I do not see China out there in the world proudly promoting its "system" to the developing world. Buying oil and other commodities, yes. Preaching authoritarianism? Not so much.

Where does this view come from? I think that whenever China is seen as a successful up-and-comer, some folks in the West feel threatened, and lots of Op/Ed columnists write ad nauseum about the China "model" as an alternative to liberal democracy. This artificial struggle makes Cold Warriors happy, but I can’t find any evidence that this fundamental clash of political philosophy (I saw this with tongue firmly in cheek) is originating from over here.

And, no surprise, here is one of the reasons why the U.S. keeps navel gazing (hint: its foreign policies over the past few years have sucked):

Having progressed on a steady path in the last three decades on multiple global economic and political endeavors, China’s robust international engagement since 2000 has caught many by surprise and has prompted growing American disagreement and debate over PRC motivations and objectives. The fact that much of this international engagement has expanded while the United States has been preoccupied with its military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan also is causing a growing degree of American introspection. Moreover, many fear that China’s growing international economic engagement is going hand-in-hand with expanding political influence.

Thus ends Part II. I will wrap things up in Part III - pros/cons of China’s soft power.

Full post as published by China Hearsay on May 09, 2008 (boomark / email).