Malcolm Rivera
China has been investing heavily in policies to improve its image, protect itself from international criticism, and promote its domestic and international agenda. The country has been employing instruments of cultural diplomacy, such as media, cinema, and the Confucius Institutes, to spread Chinese culture abroad and strengthen its global presence. China's public diplomacy is characterized by a long-term vision, a dominant government role, and a high level of interconnectedness with its overall foreign policy and diplomacy. Beijing has also been attempting to manipulate international organizations and standards-setting bodies to advance CCP goals and challenge the interests of the United States and its allies. China's actions in cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy have been viewed with suspicion, with some considering them propaganda and arbitrary state actions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Investing in policies to improve its image | China has been investing heavily in policies to improve its image and advance its domestic and international agenda |
| Manipulating international organisations | China has been attempting to manipulate and subvert international organisations and standards-setting bodies, including the United Nations, to advance CCP goals globally |
| Grooming and installing CCP members in international organisations | Beijing seeks to groom and install CCP members in leadership and other positions in international organisations |
| Coercion and co-option to avoid accountability | China uses coercion and co-option to avoid accountability for its gross violations of human rights |
| Advancing interests at the expense of the US and its allies | China advances its interests at the expense of the US and its allies and partners |
| Long-term vision | China's public diplomacy is characterised by a long-term vision, a dominant role for the government, and a high level of interconnectedness with its overall foreign policy and diplomacy |
| Dominant role for the government | China's public diplomacy includes a dominant role for the government |
| Interconnectedness with foreign policy and diplomacy | China's public diplomacy is highly interconnected with its overall foreign policy and diplomacy |
| Cultural diplomacy | China uses cultural diplomacy, including media, cinema, and cultural instruments, to spread Chinese culture abroad and promote cultural security and domestic social cohesion |
| Alternative version of a just world | China presents its own alternative version of a just world |
| Active role in world affairs | China is expected to play a more active role in world affairs |
| Economic growth | China set a forceful economic growth goal of about 5% for 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
China's public diplomacy
China has been investing heavily in policies to shape its public diplomacy, with a distinct Chinese approach that suits the country's culture and authoritarian system. This includes the use of propaganda, which, in China, is closely associated with public diplomacy and is employed to promote government actions abroad without the negative connotations that the term usually carries.
The Chinese government has recognized the importance of improving its image to strengthen its global presence. To achieve this, China employs cultural diplomacy, using tools such as media, cinema, and cultural institutes to spread Chinese culture abroad and create a favourable environment for its international insertion. This strategy is designed to disarm tensions and promote Chinese cultural soft power.
China also leverages its economic power to influence international organizations and standards-setting bodies, such as the United Nations, to advance its interests and CCP goals globally. This includes installing CCP members in leadership positions and using its economic might to exert coercion and avoid accountability for human rights violations.
Additionally, China is taking advantage of the U.S.'s retreat from certain foreign aid projects to present its own alternative version of a just world, further enhancing its public diplomacy efforts and global influence.
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Cultural diplomacy
China has been investing heavily in policies to improve its image, protect itself from international criticism, and promote its domestic and international agenda. Cultural diplomacy is a key pillar of China's foreign policy, with Beijing recognising the need to improve its image to strengthen its presence worldwide.
China's cultural diplomacy is a strategy to communicate with the rest of the world and correct adverse impressions created by its rapid strategic rise. The country's traditional values have come into contact with classical liberal ideas about open trade and multilateral institutionalism, shaping how China perceives its role on the world stage. Beijing is conscious of the difficulty in communicating with the rest of the world due to language and cultural differences, and the perception of a persistent effort by the West to project a negative image of China.
China's cultural diplomacy initiatives include cultural festivals, art exhibitions, and language training. The worldwide network of Confucius Institutes has played a significant role in the global transmission of Chinese language and culture. These institutes are a form of soft power, designed to reinforce harmonious relations and enhance the international community's knowledge of China. China also uses media, cinema, and other cultural instruments to spread its culture abroad and achieve goals related to cultural security and domestic social cohesion.
While China's soft power efforts have made sizable gains in enhancing the international community's knowledge of the country, they have also attracted increased scrutiny. China's cultural diplomacy faces challenges due to the involvement of multiple actors, including the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, and the Communist Party's Publicity Department, which can make policy coordination difficult.
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International insertion
China's international insertion can be understood through its foreign relations and the instruments of national power it employs. These instruments include diplomacy, information, military, and economic means (DIME). China has sought to increase its global influence and pursue its national interests through various strategies, including trade relations, foreign aid, and military diplomacy.
One significant aspect of China's international insertion has been its economic power and trade relations. As the world's leading trading nation, China leverages its position in global trade to exert economic coercion and advance its interests. This is particularly evident in its port network, where dependencies are created through the flow of Chinese trade. Chinese firms involved in foreign ports can indirectly represent the country's national trading relations and further its economic interests in major markets. Additionally, China has utilized "dollar diplomacy" in regions like the Caribbean, offering investment and financial credits in exchange for recognizing the "One China" policy and shifting away from recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation.
China has also engaged in medical and vaccine diplomacy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing medical equipment and vaccines to other countries, enhancing its image as a responsible global actor. Similarly, during the 2007-2008 financial crisis, China created credit for spending on infrastructure, stabilizing the global economy while also benefiting from opportunities to retool its infrastructure.
In terms of military diplomacy, China has sought to develop security interests and capabilities in distant regions. While China has only one dedicated military base in Djibouti, it has established commercial ports, foreign bases, and underway support in various states, enhancing its military capabilities. China has also become a significant supplier of weaponry and military equipment to African countries, although this has drawn criticism from Western countries due to sales to states accused of human rights violations, such as Sudan and Zimbabwe.
China's international insertion further involves the use of information as an instrument of national power. The dissemination of information through interconnected global networks and social media platforms can influence public opinion and shape the narrative to support China's interests and undermine those of its adversaries.
Overall, China's international insertion employs a range of instruments of national power, including diplomacy, economic coercion, military presence, and information dissemination, to pursue its national interests and increase its global influence.
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Foreign policy and diplomacy
China's foreign policy and diplomatic efforts are driven by its desire to secure national interests, maintain stability, and achieve its strategic objectives. The country utilizes a range of tools and strategies to exert influence and pursue its goals in the international arena.
One of the key instruments of China's diplomatic power is its economic might. As one of the world's largest economies, China leverages its economic strength to forge partnerships and influence other nations. It does so through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which involves investing in infrastructure projects in partner countries. While the BRI provides economic benefits to participating nations, it also serves China's strategic interests by expanding its influence and creating dependencies. China has also established institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) to increase its influence in global economic governance and provide alternatives to Western-dominated financial institutions.
Another aspect of China's diplomacy is its emphasis on sovereignty and non-interference. China strongly advocates for the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, which aligns with its desire to prevent external interference in its own domestic matters, particularly regarding sensitive issues like human rights and territorial disputes. This stance has been a cornerstone of China's foreign policy and has influenced its engagement with other countries, especially in the context of its relations with developing nations.
China also utilizes diplomatic tools to shape global norms and institutions. It actively participates in multilateral organizations and seeks leadership roles to influence decision-making. For example, China has shown a growing interest in shaping the agenda of the G20 and has played a significant role in the United Nations (UN), particularly in areas related to peacekeeping and development. By engaging with these institutions, China not only gains a platform to advance its interests but also presents itself as a responsible stakeholder in the international system.
Additionally, China employs what is known as "wolf warrior diplomacy," which involves a more assertive and aggressive style of diplomatic engagement. This approach, named after a popular Chinese action film, involves Chinese diplomats adopting a confrontational tone and using provocative language to defend China's interests and push back against criticism. While this style of diplomacy has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from some, it reflects a shift in China's diplomatic strategy, moving away from the traditional low-key approach to a more assertive posture on the world stage.
In conclusion, China's foreign policy and diplomacy are multifaceted and driven by a range of strategic considerations. The country leverages its economic power, emphasizes sovereignty and non-interference, engages with global institutions, and adopts an assertive diplomatic style to secure its interests and exert influence. Understanding China's use of these diplomatic tools provides insight into how it navigates the international arena and pursues its objectives on the world stage.
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China's relationship with the US
China and the US have had a complex and often tense relationship, with periods of cooperation and confrontation. The two countries have a history of competing interests and ideologies, which has resulted in a dynamic and evolving diplomatic relationship.
During the Cold War, the US and China were often at odds, with the US concerned about the spread of communism and the potential for a power vacuum in the region. This led to the United States taking a stand against North Korea, a China-aligned state, during the Korean War. More recently, in 2025, a Chinese scholar, Da Wei, commented on the impact of Trump's foreign policy on China, suggesting that the alienation of allies and the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development were beneficial to China.
In the early 2020s, tensions between the two countries escalated, with the US revoking preferential treatment towards Hong Kong and imposing visa restrictions on Chinese students and researchers. The US also strengthened its relationship with Taiwan, which China saw as a challenge to its sovereignty. In response, China adopted "wolf warrior diplomacy", countering US accusations of human rights abuses. The US officially classified the Chinese government's treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang as a genocide. Following the election of Joe Biden, tensions remained high, with the Biden administration prioritizing strategic competition with China and imposing restrictions on the sale of semiconductor technology to the country.
The US has also expressed concerns about China's efforts to obtain US technologies for military advancement and has committed to countering the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) malicious cyber activity. At the same time, the US and China have both sought to improve their relations with each other's allies, with China trying to enhance its relations with US allies near its borders.
The Philippines, for example, has had to carefully navigate its relationship with both powers due to its geographic proximity and economic interdependence with China. While the Philippines has deepened its strategic alignment with the US, it must also maintain robust diplomatic engagement with China to protect its economic interests. This delicate balance requires clear communication and the diversification of international partnerships to avoid excessive dependence on either power.
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Frequently asked questions
China's public diplomacy is characterised by a long-term vision, a dominant government role, an inseparable and complementary domestic dimension, and a high level of interconnectedness with its overall foreign policy and diplomacy. China also invests heavily in policies aimed at improving its image, guarding itself against international criticism, and advancing its domestic and international agenda.
China uses cultural diplomacy to spread Chinese culture abroad, promote cultural security, and maintain domestic social cohesion. China also uses traditional mechanisms of cultural diplomacy, such as the media, cinema, and cultural institutes, to disarm tensions and create a favourable environment for its international insertion.
In China, the idea of propaganda is closely related to the definition of public diplomacy, and the promotion of government actions abroad is free of negative connotations. China's public diplomacy efforts are often seen as propaganda by other countries.
The 'One China' policy is a fundamental aspect of Chinese policy-making and diplomacy, insisting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of one China to be unified eventually. Any country that wants diplomatic relations with mainland China must break official ties with Taipei, resulting in Taiwan's diplomatic isolation from the international community.
China has set ambitious economic growth goals, such as a 5% growth rate in 2025, and is willing to provide economic stimulus to achieve them. China also leverages its economic power to influence world affairs and present its version of a "just world".
