China’s soft power in South Asia

Abstract

China’s rapid strategic elevation has been accompanied by conscious efforts to project a benign image of the Chinese nation and its culture. This has resulted in “soft power”

assuming an increasingly important role in Chinese foreign policy. This paper examines

the different aspects of Chinese soft power in South Asia, notably, cultural diplomacy,

economic engagement and development assistance, in terms of their applications in

individual countries of the region. Chinese initiatives in all these respects in the region

have expanded sharply in recent years. This paper, however, argues that China’s

overarching strategy towards South Asia is a careful mix of soft and hard postures. It

further contends that the nature and pattern of deployment of Chinese soft power tools in

the region has varied considerably between India and other smaller countries in South

Asia. Sino-Indian ties will not only decisively determine future Chinese strategy towards

South Asia but will also impact the outlook for Chinese soft power in the region"!