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Source: Getty

In The Media

Chinese Soft Power in Southeast Asia

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By Josh Kurlantzick
Published on Jul 2, 2007
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Asia

The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

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Source: The Globalist

As demonstrated by the worldwide diffusion of Chinese language, culture and policies, China has successfully marshaled its soft power — particularly among developing nations. But as Josh Kurlantzick writes, China must recognize that its growing clout may eventually engender hostility — especially in Southeast Asia.

This article was published in the July 2 and 3rd edition of The Globalist.
To read part one of this article, please click here.
To read part two of this article, please click here.

About the Author

Josh Kurlantzick

Former Visiting Scholar, China Program

A special correspondent for The New Republic, a columnist for Time, and a senior correspondent for The American Prospect, Kurlantzick assesses China’s relationship with the developing world, including Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

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Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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