Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, a Province of the Peoples Republic of China. 0 In Asia, China realized that establishing good relation is required with the BRI not only for security stability, regional, economic reasons, etc. Notable, in todays world, there is clear indication that soft power has become a popular discourse in Chinas foreign policy and no doubt drives Chinas objective in Asia. The discourse over the years, understandably has varied and has now focused largely not only on the economics of the BRI, but now also on its soft power strategy such as culture that has now become an avenue, a gateway for China with the capability to influence. In recent years, an increase number of scholars have pointed to Chinas past history of overcoming a century of humiliation at the hands of oppressive powers, thus of significance, this is one factor that plays a considerable major role in the way China conduct international affairs in todays society. For example: as far back as 2008, China in promoting its image showcased the cultural aspect of China to the world through the Beijing Olympics and equally in 2010 through the Shanghai Expo, etc. Source: http://wca2016.com/down/list of Asian countries.pdf. Respectively, Clayton Dube affirms that Chinas principles of peaceful co-existence will assist China to improve its relations with neighboring countries and accumulate its soft power in the Asian region in the long run, (Experts says B&R Initiative can boost Chinas soft power, 2017) [18] . The building of friendship, understanding peoples enhances Chinas security, and its principle of peaceful co-existence. This article analyzes instruments of Chinese cultural diplomacy (2003-2018), such as the media, cinema, and the Confucius Institutes, as well as its potential to overcome barriers between states. 0000012426 00000 n China, has now placed significant values on its soft power strategy and has made its culture, its values and its policy attractive, inclusive and legitimate and this in turn has promoted Chinas image regionally in Asia as a peaceful and trustworthy partner, attractive giver, etc., to the region, creating and bringing forth more cultural awareness of its cultural traditions and heritage. Cultural Awareness Leads to Cultural Interest and a Harmonious Society. Currently, the BRI has now allowed for added integration of the internalization of the Chinese culture not only through its vision of boosting economic integration, but also increasing connectivity, people to people exchange programs, infrastructure, etc., through the tool of cultural diplomacy as a soft power strategy, largely leading to the development of cultural awareness and interest in Asia. %%EOF The development of cultural awareness as a result of the BRI in Asia through the use of Cultural diplomacy as a soft power is necessary and it involves the interaction, the awareness of cultural values, beliefs and perceptions, etc. 0000049412 00000 n Cultural diplomacy of the people's Republic of China in the Western Balkans: Serbia from a comparative perspective, Chinese Cultural Diplomacy: From Brics Alliance of Museum to Curitiba Local Agenda.

Chinas quest to improve its international image has increased exponentially in the last decade through cultural diplomacy and the media. In recent years, both state-owned and private Chinese media, This thesis examines Chinas contemporary global cultural footprints through its recent development of cultural diplomacy and its global expansion of the Confucius Institute, whose prominent features, This paper is based on a study of three Confucius Institutes in Canada. 0000018672 00000 n Significantly, the growing popularity and expanding international recognition of Chinese culture and traditions over the years has demonstrated the increasing development and the importance of Chinas soft power. 0000002433 00000 n 0000000788 00000 n Outlook of Cultural Diplomacy in Canada: models and results. According to scholar (Arndt, 2005) [8] , the use of cultural diplomacy can be traced back as early as the Bronze Age, and it is argued, cultural diplomacy has been a norm for humans intent upon civilization. Equally, four additional university campuses have also been established in other countries by China along the Old Maritime Silk Road in Laos, Malaysia and Thailand and 98 joint educational programs abroad, and similarly a campus in Japan (Liu & Sukumaran, 2017) [20] . More so than ever, China undeterred with the BRI does indeed have the strength and potential to influence and transform Asia with its soft power strategy peacefully, which eventually will boost its image regionally and globally. For example: most recently there has been video clips showcasing and promoting Chinas the BRI, such as an American parent telling its child a bedtime story about the BRI project and a music clip of children apparently depicting the different countries along the BRI route, dancing and singing and another video clip depicting the journey of a whisky bottle riding the first rail freight (Slick Chinese Propaganda drive promotes One Belt and One Road Initiative abroad, 2107) [17] . By means of the use of soft power in promoting its image and furthering its relations through the establishment of its strategic drive, it seems China is destined to connect the globe through this momentous initiative, more so than ever as a resourceful means in achieving its national and international interest. This paper proposes that through the use of cultural diplomacy as aspects of culture as a soft power tool, it increases cultural awareness about Chinas cultural traditions that will in turn, further promote Chinas image in Asia and a harmonious society. Subsequently therefore, Chinas use of cultural diplomacy as a soft power strategy has become a powerful and meaningful innovative tool as a platform in promoting its image, influence, diplomatic ties, economic prosperity, etc. Tian posits that the numbers of people in the Belt and Road nations learning the Mandarin language have increased, and this has played a key role in boosting relations (Wong, 2017) [19] . 0000002500 00000 n In todays contemporary society, when the concept of hard power is examined, in practicality it is very costly for countries that use hard power through the use of military means as coercive diplomacy, military interventions, threats or the use of force, economic sanctions, etc., as part of its nationwide and foreign policy; while in relation to soft power, it is free, unconditionally in the sense that it does not require large resources and has limited consequences in case of failure. The BRI according to Chinese President Xi Jinping (Xi, 2017) [22] , at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May stated that, reflecting on our forefathers aspiration for a better life, the ancient Silk Road connected nations in Asia and Europe, catalyzed cultural exchanges and mutual learning between the East and the West, and made an important contribution to progress in human civilization. Acceptable is that China with its soft power strategy, is able to conduct its affairs in a peaceful manner without more or less overseas interference, thus attracting more support regionally. Besides, China has also established University in Malaysia bearing testament as a reflection of its determination in boosting its presence not only through infrastructure and business but also through education as a soft power (Liu & Sukumaran, 2017) [20] . Thereby, many Chinese artistic, Soileh y Cristina Padilla Mayer y Oropeza, Comparative study of the objectives, resources and design of the cultural diplomacy carried out by seven countries in Canada, identifying parameters to measure its effectiveness, in order to draw, ABSTRACT The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is waging a disinformation campaign against the U.S.-led international system. 0000000016 00000 n In the Pakistan-China Institute in Islamabad, in collaboration with the University of Karachis Latif Ebrahim Jamal National Science Information Centre (LEF), launched a basic Chinese language course in all public Universities across Pakistan, to be delivered via video conferencing to develop their Chinese Language skills (Confucius Institutes Expanding Rapidly to Meet Demand for Chinese Language Skills, 2014) [21] .

Depicts the major Asian Countries along the route of China the Belt and Road Initiative. In all, Chinas BRI in Asia and its soft power strategy will stimulate the economic prosperity in Asia, which will largely assist in bringing about the economic, social, infrastructural development of fragile countries in the Asian region. Thus, according to scholar Winter, he suggests that it is within these wider contexts that we need to position the One Belt and One Road Initiative strategy of fostering people to people connections (Winter, 2016) [5] .

Additionally, soft power can be conceived as being passive or in the eye of the beholder; and it is also identified as emerging from how outsiders perceive a countrys values and systems from rather than being promoted from the inside (Breslin, 2011) [7] . In a multi-polar international system that is becoming more and more globalized, countries today are paying greater attention to cultural diplomacy, as part of a central component that represents their national and international interest and image in the international arena. Fundamentally, when examined, it is noted that Chinese soft power relies mainly on sources of the aspects of public diplomacy, which is a form of cultural diplomacy, since in China, many of the aspects that public diplomacy covers such as television (TV), radio, cultural and educational exchanges, scholarly, newspaper publication, etc. Chinas traditional sphere of influence in Asia with the BRI does not come without negative challenges, especially with some of its Asian neighbors based on historical animosity and territorial issues, which in fact complicates their relationship. Melissen (2005) [9] defines cultural diplomacy as the exchange of ideas, information, art, and other aspects of culture among nations and their people to foster mutual understanding. Essentially then, this is the ability to force, through the use of threats and inducements. Add your e-mail address to receive free newsletters from SCIRP. Therefore, China in promoting its image and the development of cultural awareness in Asia, has been engaging and participating actively in a number of regional organizations and cooperation such as ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, East Asian Summit, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), etc. 0000005665 00000 n 0000000736 00000 n For example: In Malaysia, private language school enrollment in Chinese classes has increased immensely. Therefore, to better understand the geographical make up of the Asian region and the countries in Asia party to Chinas the BRI a pictorial illustration of the geographical makeup of the Asian region is provided. Table 2. 0000002587 00000 n Thus, additionally through Chinas strategic objective, its appeal and the promoting and extending of diplomatic friendship, its principle of noninterference in the affairs of other countries, that is respecting other countries main interest and concerns and that of no encroachment on states sovereignty, are also added dimensions to Chinas cultural diplomacy as a strategy of its soft power tools. Furthermore, in relation to the connotation of Culture to China, Zhang (2015) [10] explains the meaning of culture to China, by stating, in modern China there is a lack of culture. The result is that, the long term goal, in due course will advance awareness, mutual respect and understanding that will contribute to the establishment of a cultural structure that will make Asia more harmonious through the BRI by linking the Asian countries party to this policy. This paper aims to identify and analyze cultural diplomacy as an innovative tool in this new age by promoting the image of China in Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative, by means of the various characteristics of culture as a soft power tool. Moreover, it also resulted in the exchange of various aspects of culture, such as languages, ideologies, and a rich history of religious and harmonious cultural exchanges. 0000003928 00000 n

Elaborating, he posits that culture needs to be inherited and passed on (Zhang, 2015) [10] . Admittedly, soft power in China is leadership driven and more or less is seen to be strongly associated with the Chinese culture. Finally, Chinas soft power strategy offers a systematic and important way for it to respond to many challenges it faces relating to the security of its Asian neighbors, providing investment projects and programs, opportunity for employment, education, improving technical skills, the opportunity of learning new ideologies, Mandarin language, educational exchange programs, research cooperation, expertise skills, etc., which will strengthen its economic link and likewise its cultural link in Asia and the support of the Asian countries aspirations, leading to cultural interest and essentially developing a harmonious society. In effect, simply put, it has always been customary for human beings to use cultural diplomacy to influence and shape society. And it is estimated that by 2020, China is on a path to open over 1000 Confucius Institutes not only in Asia but also in other countries around the world. Table 1 shows the geographical composition of Asia, which is divided into East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia, comprising approximately fifty independent countries and regions. This nonetheless shows the increase influence of Chinas soft power, its image culturally through the BRI and its soft power strategy in increasing its influences and therefore the increased cultural awareness of Chinas culture. 1. Chapter 2: Chinas Image-Pew Global attitudes project, 2014) [12] Thus, in the predominately Muslim Asian nations, two-thirds (2/3) or more voice a positive opinion in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand towards China and in 2013, it is also stated that in South Korea attitude towards China also increased. In this way, Chinas soft power will increase in the Asian region with the BRI and likewise increase cultural awareness of Chinas traditional and cultural values and further developing mutual understanding of its developmental strategy, resulting therefore in promoting a harmonious society in Asia. Through the use of cultural diplomacy as a soft power strategy, which stems from the perception of Chinas foreign policies, its five principles of peaceful co-existence and its alignments to the United Nations Charter, further propels the development of cultural awareness leading to cultural interest, which essentially will lead to a harmonious society in Asia. In recognizing the significance of cultural diplomacy through the BRI, it is necessary to understand that it requires collective effort between governments, non-governmental organizations, regional organizations and soft power tools in order to promote the use of cultural diplomacy in Asia. xref Paying tremendous importance to the use of soft power strategy by China, in 2014 President Xi Jinping stated that, we should increase Chinas soft power, give a good narrative and better communicate Chinas message to the world (Albert, 2017) [4] . From this conception, almost all countries in the world generally pursue peace in the international arena and the BRI is seen as an important initiative in the enhancement of peace to acquire developmental opportunities for all the countries party to this policy. Chinas rise in the world today not only symbolizes a significant shift base on its growing trade activities in Asia and beyond, but importantly, through its use of cultural diplomacy as a soft power, which has changed its reputation and image in the 21st century not only to be perceived as a global leader of trade to be contended with but also as a soft power strategist, projecting a non-confrontational image and friendly diplomacy. As a consequence, President Xi highlighted the need to strengthen publicity, enhance cultural educational and scientific exchanges, which will allow China to establish a long-term friendly relationship with its neighbors (Xi, 2013) [13] . It means that culture is a tool that shapes, influences and holistically gives meaning to our lives. HVkLSgNKR,.B3j8XP@X. XB4[%C2@jjmYId:%%2mqe?s'={}}9 :@ H"+W,`Hg::.(nbD.Vr~YsG|,}>Ignb}V5 B;@lL3B`@P= M 1P "`J"ia Ve00EAAg F. Conversely, over the years China has garnered a central role in the utilization of cultural diplomacy as a soft power tool as an alternative approach in effectively stimulating, building and developing a more secure and stable image in the international system as a rising regional and global power. Copyright 2006-2022 Scientific Research Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved. Source: http://english.sipo.gov.cn/specialtopic/tbar/backgroundinformation/201607/t20160708_1279198.html. Meanwhile, some scholars argue, O artigo visa identificar os motivos que levaram o governo de Pequim a assinar um acordo provisrio com a Santa S aceitando sua participao na nomeao dos bispos chineses. 4&XFd 4[FPI q With this sentiment, evidently China has made developmental strides in cultural diplomacy through the use of its soft power strategies such as through its traditional and cultural appeal, investing in the opening of numerous Confucius centers, language training centers, museums, expos, etc., in Asia in promoting its image by spreading its culture to gain appreciation and support, as well as through the mission of Sinology research to share with the world about China. 0000002406 00000 n Principally, Winter (2016) [5] argues that based on the following historical narrative premise of connectivity, it is stated that both culture and economic reduces suspicion and promotes common prosperity. Nonetheless, across the board Chinas influence and presence are accepted and perceived in a strong and positive way. Similarly, China he states has been committed to developing its soft power, by opening hundreds of Confucius Institutes worldwide and launching extensive international branding campaigns (Experts says B&R Initiative can boost Chinas soft power, 2017) [18] . xb```b``c`2621 PECA $ |3Xmc BMXXjoH9!dR\c" #F "_"6&.]~! educational and cultural exchange, shared knowledge, established good relationship policies with its neighbor, active participation in a wide range of regional organizations and global institutions, and aligning the developmental plans of its Asian neighbors in the region, by positioning China in such a way by enhancing its soft power strategy and in turn promoting its image. However, in respect to China he expounded that it has constantly learned from other countries for more than a century, but it has sometimes forgotten and ignored the most excellent cultural essence hidden in Chinese culture. Since, the revival of the One Belt and One Road Initiative, it has been described by many as the most significant and most far reaching initiative that China has ever put forward. Additionally, it is further elaborated that the bright future of the One Belt and One Road Initiative strategy is closely related to its historical origin and cultural charm (Hu, 2017) [3] .