FuturePAF
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Two areas China will need to improve its image in order for it even have a chance to match American soft power. It will need to win the overwhelmingly support of the Chinese “long time” diaspora (not people have have lived under CCP rule). Secondly, it will have to provide a vision of its own “rules based global order” in which other countries can see prosperity if they follow Beijing’s vision.
Many in the diaspora fear Xi and the CCP. If the CCP can’t win the hearts and minds of the Diaspora, winning the support of non-aligned peoples (non-westerners) will be much harder.
America is revamping to win over Africa in a big way, if you look at the Key positions in the state and defense departments. The US and Europeans are also coming up with a counter initiative to BRI. The US is promoting a more visible human rights based foreign policy, with instructions to embassies around the world to fly Black Lives Matter flags. Africans will be convinced they could become Americans and America, having gone through its history, is now committed to righting the wrongs of the past. I’m not saying it will be believed but that is the narrative being built. If it is successful, African countries may give preferential contracts to American companies over Chinese ones.
How can China counter that? In the Cold War, the Soviet espoused Universal human rights and offered development aid (not loans), and China will have to do some thing similar. China will also have to offer aid and debt relief to counter the debt relief being offered by the West. If not debt relief, free projects, peace corps help, and other initiatives to improve the quality of lives of average people around the world.
China doesn’t need a new voice, it needs a fundamental shift in its soft power strategy to even be able to compete.
Many in the diaspora fear Xi and the CCP. If the CCP can’t win the hearts and minds of the Diaspora, winning the support of non-aligned peoples (non-westerners) will be much harder.
America is revamping to win over Africa in a big way, if you look at the Key positions in the state and defense departments. The US and Europeans are also coming up with a counter initiative to BRI. The US is promoting a more visible human rights based foreign policy, with instructions to embassies around the world to fly Black Lives Matter flags. Africans will be convinced they could become Americans and America, having gone through its history, is now committed to righting the wrongs of the past. I’m not saying it will be believed but that is the narrative being built. If it is successful, African countries may give preferential contracts to American companies over Chinese ones.
How can China counter that? In the Cold War, the Soviet espoused Universal human rights and offered development aid (not loans), and China will have to do some thing similar. China will also have to offer aid and debt relief to counter the debt relief being offered by the West. If not debt relief, free projects, peace corps help, and other initiatives to improve the quality of lives of average people around the world.
China doesn’t need a new voice, it needs a fundamental shift in its soft power strategy to even be able to compete.