Transitioning Chinese Diplomatic Strategies: From Neo-Liberal ‘Soft Power’ to Realist ‘Sharp Power’ through Digital Media
Keywords:
Chinese diplomacy, soft power, sharp power, state-affiliated institutions, strategic competition, digital diplomacyAbstract
This study explores the transition in Chinese diplomatic strategies, examining the shift from neo-liberal “soft power” to realist “sharp power” through the use of mass media. While China’s “soft power” traditionally focused on cultural diplomacy, economic cooperation, and peaceful engagement, this research highlights how its strategic use of digital media has evolved into a tool
of “sharp power”, characterized by manipulation, censorship, and coercive influence. Drawing on both neoliberal and realist theoretical frameworks, the study contrasts the cooperative, attraction-based methods of “soft power” with more assertive, manipulative techniques associated with ‘sharp power’. Through the perspective of media influence, the paper analyses China’s global efforts to reshape narratives, manage perceptions, and counter Western influence, particularly in regions of strategic interest. This transition reflects China’s broader shift from engagement to strategic competition, aligning its digital diplomacy with its geopolitical ambitions and the realities of the current international system. It explores how the dual nature of China’s digital diplomacy; propagating mutual understanding and cooperation on one hand while engaging in covert operations to challenge the integrity of the global information on the other.
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