This paper first describes an ongoing discourse on soft power within China’s officials and scholars. With different ideologies and interests, Chinese elites propose different determinant factors of foreign public opinion toward China and variety of practical methods to enhance China’s soft power. This paper then uses Chicago Council’s 2008 Survey in five countries (the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam) to testify the determinants behind China’s national image. The paper finds that how foreign people view China’s diplomacy is the strongest indicator of their general perception of China. Other important factor includes people’s assessments of China’s economy and modern culture. Further evidence based on historical data also demonstrates that China’s foreign policies mostly...[ Read more ]

This paper first describes an ongoing discourse on soft power within China’s officials and scholars. With different ideologies and interests, Chinese elites propose different determinant factors of foreign public opinion toward China and variety of practical methods to enhance China’s soft power. This paper then uses Chicago Council’s 2008 Survey in five countries (the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam) to testify the determinants behind China’s national image. The paper finds that how foreign people view China’s diplomacy is the strongest indicator of their general perception of China. Other important factor includes people’s assessments of China’s economy and modern culture. Further evidence based on historical data also demonstrates that China’s foreign policies mostly determine how foreign people view China.