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China’s soft power

China’s soft power
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China’s soft power. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A person holds up Labubu dolls in a store during a press tour to Pop Land, a theme park opened by Chinese toy company Pop Mart, in Beijing, China, on June 2. Photo: EPA-EFE
China economy

Opinion | Labubu’s rise reflects hitmaker ability of China’s digital ecosystem

An ecosystem that combines e-commerce with social media, it turns users into marketers, breeds viral hits – and projects cultural power.

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China economy

Opinion | Global hit Labubu was forged in the heat of China’s demanding market

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US-China relations

By toy or tea, some China retailers still see US as path to profit

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Censorship in China

Palace intrigue conquers global screens: has China cast its new soft power?

As overseas fans binge on Chinese hit streaming shows, slick productions could boost country’s image on the global stage, experts say.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Senegal

Senegal PM’s ‘deep gratitude’ to China after US denies basketball team’s visas

Women’s team had been heading to America for 10-day training camp, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko reveals Chinese help for ‘athletes, coaches’.

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Asean

Opinion | Asia is finally cool in the eyes of those who matter – its young

From Chinese EVs and hotpots to anime and K-pop, Asia’s soft power is capturing the imagination of Southeast Asia’s army of young people.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | By eroding US soft power, Trump is ceding the contest to China

Trump 2.0 has boosted China’s charm offensive, making its assertive foreign policy and unapologetic authoritarianism look less threatening.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters | Single-use alternatives to plastic distract from real solutions

Readers discuss the dangers of quick fixes to plastic pollution, the importance of understanding soft power, and the growing urgency of the climate crisis.

India

Letters | Fighting over water is a sign of failure, not strength

Readers discuss India-Pakistan tensions and the danger of weaponising water, Australia’s election results, and boosting Chinese soft power on the belt and road.

China society

Opinion | How China’s modernisation offers a new path to prosperity

Focused on equity and shared development outcomes, China’s path to modernity has both distinct characteristics and global relevance.

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Tourists look at a Terracotta Army warrior in Xian, Shaanxi province, in 2023. In recent years, China has improved its system of museums and libraries while supporting a flourishing cultural industry. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong politics

Beijing calls on HSBC to help improve Sino-British ties, boost Hong Kong’s image

HSBC Group chairman Mark Tucker meets Chinese VP Han Zheng and Xia Baolong, director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, in capital.

Pedestrians walk past the lion statues outside HSBC Hong Kong Head office Building in Central. Photo: Elson Li
China economy

My Take | Labubu proves Hong Kong IP and Chinese manufacturing are a recipe for success

The blind-box retailer’s mass-market toys based on cute Hong Kong designs are fuelling its international rise – and setting a template.

TV shows and streaming video

Addictive China micro-dramas show how commercial demand fuels netcasting boom

The head of China’s body overseeing film and TV calls micro-dramas a ‘new growth pillar for China’s online audio and video industry’, with growing influence overseas.

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US-China relations

China hails US YouTube star who had 10 million views on Beijing, Shanghai

Influencer is seen praising the people who greeted him enthusiastically, clean streets and internet connectivity on the subway.

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US YouTuber IShowSpeed with his fans in Vietnam. Photo: X/iShowSpeedHQ
US-China relations

To counter China, US must maintain soft power and alliances, Congress hears

Witnesses tell House panel President Donald Trump’s recent foreign policy moves undercut effective mix of military, aid and influence.

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Protesters against US President Donald Trump’s decision to virtually shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the Capitol in Washington on February 5. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Opinion | New Zealand need not fear China’s growing ties with Pacific nations

Rather than falling victim to zero-sum illusions, the West must embrace the multiplex nature of Pacific diplomacy.

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Chinese culture

Opinion | Why Ne Zha 2 is part of a broader Chinese cultural renaissance

The film’s strong box office performance marks a shift in how Chinese culture is perceived by young people in China and around the world.

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China-Japan relations

China’s Xinhua seeks to work with Japan’s Kyodo amid push to boost views on ties

Chinese news agency chief presses Kyodo counterpart for more exchanges as Beijing aims to improve public opinion on Sino-Japanese relations.

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President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua (right) shakes hands with Toru Mizutani, president of Japan’s Kyodo News, in Tokyo on Monday. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese culture

Opinion | At last, Chinese folklore adds new flavour to global pop culture

Drawing on ancient myths, China’s film and gaming industry is offering the world refreshing alternatives to the traditional Western canon.

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DeepSeek

How DeepSeek could give China the soft power edge it’s looking for

If DeepSeek is cheaper alternative ‘it is possible that AI development and adoption in the Global South could take a Chinese turn’: analyst.

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Donald Trump

Video | What would the closure of USAID mean for Asia?

‘We all will die’: What would the end of USAID mean for Asia's most vulnerable?
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Diplomacy

Opinion | As the rules-based order declines, hegemony takes on a new form

From new development models to shifting norms, global power is now increasingly shared and contested across different regions and actors.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China’s Communist Party

RedNote’s influx of ‘TikTok refugees’ could be a double-edged sword for Beijing

The authorities will be hoping new users of the app will get a favourable impression of China – but may be unnerved by some of their posts.

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Hong Kong culture

Opinion | To connect Hong Kong with the world, we must go beyond the superficial

The city’s evolving and intriguing pop culture can be a great source of soft power if its creative economy is developed from the grass-roots.

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China exports

How ‘made in China’ became trendy, thanks to Labubu toy’s Asia-wide success

Pop Mart toys are gaining global recognition for their unique designs and brand power.

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Labubu toys on display at the opening of a Pop Mart store in Bangkok, Thailand, in July. Photo: Xinhua
China economy

Opinion | With visa-free initiative, China is betting on a simple truth

China is ready for the world to witness its development, experience its culture and engage with its people.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Japan

Opinion | Japan’s soft power renaissance will help it attract the talent it needs

Japan’s enduring appeal should give it the confidence to move away from cautious foreign policy and act to build bridges around the world.

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China's economic recovery

Why has Shandong been given a key role in Beijing’s soft power push?

Economic powerhouse renowned for its mountains, coastline and cultural heritage aspires to expand its global influence.

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