Chinese soft power

Over the last three years, the idea of a “Chinese model” has gained much traction in academic circles and Chinese experts have identified three distinct characteristics of this model. First, they say a “broader democracy” with far- reaching government intervention replaces the “birdcage democracy” seen in Western countries. Second, the Confucian view of harmony replaces Western individualism. Third, the traditional concept of a “celestial order” and nonintervention in the internal affairs of other nations replaces the “Westphalian order,” in which all sovereign states are equal under international law, but Western nations routinely interfere in the internal affairs of emerging nations. While the implications of these three points are hard to grasp, academics firmly believe that this model, strongly supported by China’s economic growth, will be attractive enough to entice emerging nations to embrace China’s “soft power” — international influence created by the attraction of China’s outstanding achievements. Beijing has been aggressive in promoting the “China model,” setting up Confucius Institutes throughout the world and holding classes in Beijing that are open to government officials and academics from emerging nations. In addition, to differentiate itself from the hegemonic US and emphasize its “peaceful development,” China relies on trade concessions that in some ways resemble the tribute trade of the old Chinese empire to cement its new “celestial order.”