C3S ISSUE BRIEF XIX: Soft Power or Sharp Power? Understanding China’s Influence in South Asia

Chennai Centre for China Studies
6 days ago
1 min read

By Sneha S.S

Image Courtesy: Vox

Abstract

China’s growing influence in South Asia has sparked a significant debate about what kind of reflections it has on international relations. Beijing likes to showcase its moves as soft power, that is cultural festivals, scholarships and exchange programmes. But researchers and policymakers see something sharper, the strategies that twist and change information slowly change into local institutions. This paper aims to understand how China operates in South Asia, using ideas of soft power and sharp power as a lens. Extracting information from research, think tank analysis, and government papers, this paper argues that China blends influence through charm and pressure. It uses classic attraction, cultural exchanges and partnerships but also leans on information control and indirect influences. This has important and high stakes for influencing democracy and regional politics in South Asia.

Read the full Issue Brief at this link:

(Sneha S.S is an M.A. Public Policy student at M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women. The views expressed here are of the author's own and do not reflect the views of C3S.)