China may be an economic and military giant in Asia but it still trails the US and Japan in wielding “soft power” influence in the region, a new study released yesterday said.
The US in particular remains highly regarded in all five key areas of soft power addressed in the survey: economics, culture, human capital, diplomacy and politics, said the report by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the East Asia Institute of South Korea.
“China’s growing economic and military might have not yet been fully translated into the elements of soft power that help a nation wield indirect influence in its region and the world,” said the report based on public opinion surveys in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, China and the US.
The study said that perceptions of China’s soft power — the ability to wield influence by indirect, non-military means — “generally trail those of the United States and Japan.”
These perceptions persist despite China’s strong economic relationships in Asia and around the world, and concerted efforts by Beijing to leverage the summer Olympic Games to bolster its public image, the report said.
“The findings of this report clearly illustrate that China is recognized by its neighbors as the undisputed future leader of Asia, but it still has real work to do to win hearts and minds in the region,” said Marshall Bouton, president of The Chicago Council.
“To enhance its credibility in Asia, China will need to invest more resources in building up its soft power, especially in the diplomatic, social and cultural spheres,” he said.
The poll found that Americans, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesians all believe that China has the greatest economic influence of any nation in Asia. South Koreans and Vietnamese see it trailing only the US.
More than 6,000 interviews were conducted in January and February during the survey in the six nations. It was held before the unrest in Tibet and the Sichuan earthquake placed a spotlight on events inside China.
The report also said that contrary to other polls taken since the unpopular US invasion of Iraq in 2003, a majority of Asians in the surveyed countries still “admire” the US on many fronts, including economic, diplomatic, cultural and educational.
They see US military presence in Asia as a stabilizing force, notably preventing an arms race between China and Japan, it said.
Another “unexpected” finding showed that American feelings toward China had deteriorated since similar surveys were taken by the council in 2004 and 2006.
“A significant number of those questioned expressed general unease about the future of the relationship,” the study said.
In contrast, Chinese perceptions of the US have grown noticeably warmer compared to the 2006 survey and Chinese demonstrate consistently positive attitudes toward US influence in Asia, it said.
WARSHIP VISIT
In related news, a Japanese warship is set to arrive in China next week in the first such visit since World War II, Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Monday.
“China is an important neighbor and improving defense and other ties will be beneficial not only for us but for peace and stability in the region,” a spokeswoman quoted Ishiba as telling reporters.
The Sazanami is set to dock at a naval port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, next Tuesday for a five day visit, the spokeswoman said.
During that time the crew will take part in friendship events, including a joint concert in the city, Kyodo news agency said.
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