Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 01/2011

Chinese Domestic Debates on Soft Power and Public Diplomacy

Maria Wey-Shen Siow

December 2010

East-West Center

Abstract

Western debates and discussions surrounding China's soft power are more widely known than the discourse within China itself. While the broad parameters of Chinese discussions are fundamentally similar to those of their western counterparts, there are some variations as to how the Chinese perceive soft power. Maria Wey-Shen Siow discusses Chinese domestic debates on soft power and public diplomacy.