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China’s soft power
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China’s soft power
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China’s soft power. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
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US-China relations
As I see it
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Has China just ended the end of history?
As China continues to thrive, Western observers are beginning to rethink past assumptions about the country’s future.
9 May 2026 - 9:30AM
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17
US-China relations
China urged to forge ‘spear’ for cognitive warfare amid great power rivalry
8 May 2026 - 1:04AM
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13
Chinese culture
Why are modern Chinese audiences shying away from dubbed films?
2 May 2026 - 5:47PM
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China-South Korea relations
What’s behind the surge in South Koreans travelling to China?
Wave of content creators documents life on mainland, with one saying ‘the window has opened and everyone wants to take a look inside’.
26 Apr 2026 - 10:00AM
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9
US, Israel war on Iran
Why spike in fertiliser prices could boost China’s political clout
Beijing could see its regional leverage grow as the Iran war hits supply, though weaponisation of exports is unlikely, analysts say.
31 Mar 2026 - 11:10PM
Art Basel
How Art Basel Hong Kong is fuelling the Greater Bay Area’s cultural ambitions
Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen are lavishing money on art venues and shows, but can really this buy them lasting cultural capital?
28 Mar 2026 - 6:00AM
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China-Japan relations
Why Japan thinks China’s growing cultural clout is something it needs to counter
The global success of Chinese video games and animation – as well as the appeal of traditional culture – has triggered a reaction in Tokyo.
19 Mar 2026 - 8:33AM
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2026 Xi-Trump summit
How foreign students can amplify China’s narrative in its push for soft power
On the sidelines of Beijing’s ‘two sessions’, academic and political adviser Zhang Bo emphasises the power of personal stories.
12 Mar 2026 - 6:51PM
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11
China economy
Opinion
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How the next China shock is shaping hearts and minds
No longer confined to trade and technology, competition between China and the West is now playing out in the realm of cultural imagination.
21 Feb 2026 - 9:30AM
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Pop Mart
Pop Mart balances boom and bust: can Labubu’s leap match Molly’s momentum?
As Labubu’s meteoric rise cools, Molly’s longevity highlights the challenge Pop Mart faces in turning hype into stable intellectual property.
14 Feb 2026 - 10:01AM
6
China technology
Opinion
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‘Becoming Chinese’ memes reflect a world shaped by China’s ascent
The memes are really about how deeply global digital life is embedded in Chinese-built systems – and how comfortable young people are with that.
13 Feb 2026 - 9:30AM
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5
Mainland China
A very Chinese time? How memes are paving the way for a soft power shift
Western social media trends paint ‘Chineseness’ in a positive light, but observers question whether Beijing will benefit.
9 Feb 2026 - 3:47PM
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49
Denmark
Opinion
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Cultural exchange with rivals isn’t capitulation. It’s pragmatism
Middle powers must keep their diplomatic options open and recognise that engagement with a country isn’t an endorsement of it.
22 Jan 2026 - 7:52AM
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Hong Kong
Chinese spy? Propagandist? Former Confucius Institute director tells his story
Memoir by former Britain-based academic rebuts accusations that the centres serve as vehicles for Beijing’s state narratives.
22 Dec 2025 - 12:00PM
9
Chinese culture
From Labubu to blockbuster films, was 2025 the year of China’s soft power?
Chinese lifestyle brands and other cultural exports proved to be a hit around the world this year, here are some of our most notable stories.
21 Dec 2025 - 11:00AM
Diplomacy
Editorial
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Macron faces a tough but necessary balancing act as he visits China
While trade disagreements have hampered ties between Beijing and Paris, Macron’s trip is important for the development of economic and political ties.
3 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM
United States
Pop Mart’s Labubu balloons to debut at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York
A brown Labubu and a pink Mokoko will appear alongside characters such as Skullpanda, Dimoo and Molly on the toymaker’s Pop City float.
22 Nov 2025 - 2:23AM
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Diplomacy
Opinion
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As power balance tips to China, world needs a fairer financial system
China-led macro region will have to work on independence of monetary policy and partnerships in a fairer financial and trade framework.
20 Nov 2025 - 8:30PM
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US-China relations
Why China studies scholars in the West have been left in ‘crisis’ mode
US-China tensions, restricted access and Western-centric thinking seen as key obstacles to gaining ‘full picture of modern China’.
15 Nov 2025 - 7:04AM
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13
US-China relations
‘Hawkish’ interpretations rise as US, China discourse gets lost in translation
In an echo of the Cold War, mistranslations are testing already strained nerves in Washington and Beijing.
27 Oct 2025 - 11:38PM
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Hong Kong economy
Opinion
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More than a tech hub, Northern Metropolis can be a cradle for culture
By focusing on creative industries, the development can enhance Hong Kong’s soft power push within the Greater Bay Area and beyond.
18 Oct 2025 - 5:30AM
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China-Africa relations
China targets Gen Z, millennials in new strategy to build its brand in Africa
Kenyan social media stars showcase China’s striking scenery, culture, history and cuisine in glitzy new promotional campaign.
5 Oct 2025 - 6:50PM
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US-China relations
China stakes a claim on the future with sci-fi and speculative fiction
Liu Cixin’s Three-Body trilogy and other Chinese works may challenge the West’s projection of capitalist society in fiction, experts say.
10 Oct 2025 - 4:26PM
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China-EU relations
Paris’ new Chinese immigrants spawn ‘authentic’ restaurant boom
Influx of younger, more well-off immigrants to French capital leads to upgrading, expansion of Chinese dining options.
3 Oct 2025 - 9:01AM
5
United Nations
Opinion
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Hong Kong should be China’s gateway to the United Nations
Putting the UN’s Asia headquarters in Hong Kong could help the organisation’s reforms and reinforce Beijing’s vision of global governance.
30 Sep 2025 - 9:30AM
16
Hong Kong stock market
Labubu fever to persist despite Pop Mart’s production surge: HSBC
The bank forecasts that by 2026, each Pop Mart member will buy an average of 1.23 Labubus, up from 0.99 this year.
19 Sep 2025 - 8:30AM
ByteDance
Editorial
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China’s mini dramas may be onto something big
Audiences in Southeast Asia love Chinese micro series. In the US, interest in the format is picking up.
14 Sep 2025 - 7:15AM
Cambodia
Video
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Cambodia unveils new Chinese-built airport
Techo International Airport is the second Chinese-built airport in Cambodia to open in two years.
10 Sep 2025 - 2:34PM
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