Chinese Soft Power and Media Discussion and Updates

tonyget · Apr 20, 2023

Recently I saw lots of videos and articles pop up on internet，regarding the deteriorating safety in Thailand for Chinese people. That Thailand is become the new Myanmar for "噶腰子".

It seems that many Chinese women went to Thailand，because they are Thai drama fans. So I did some research，and find out that Thai TV show is quite popular among young Chinese female，and they are deeply attracted to Thailand due of Thai culture influence.

I don't think anyone who only sees hard power would take Thailand seriously，how could such backward third world country have so much influence over China but not vice-versa right? After all Thailand is much less developed compare to China when it comes to hard power，so on theory it should be Thai people attracted to Chinese culture but not the reverse, right ? Well that’s the magic of soft power，something your hard power do not automatically translate into.

daifo · Apr 20, 2023

tonyget said:
Recently I saw lots of videos and articles pop up on internet，regarding the deteriorating safety in Thailand for Chinese people. That Thailand is become the new Myanmar for "噶腰子".

It seems that many Chinese women went to Thailand，because they are Thai drama fans. So I did some research，and find out that Thai TV show is quite popular among young Chinese female，and they are deeply attracted to Thailand due of Thai culture influence.

I don't think anyone who only sees hard power would take Thailand seriously，how could such backward third world country have so much influence over China but not vice-versa right? After all Thailand is much less developed compare to China when it comes to hard power，so on theory it should be Thai people attracted to Chinese culture but not the reverse, right ? Well that’s the magic of soft power，something your hard power do not automatically translate into.

Gay tv drama is big with some Chinese females (and gays), however the Chinese gov has ban or censor local production. Thailand is a huge producer of that material

manqiangrexue · Apr 20, 2023

tonyget said:
Recently I saw lots of videos and articles pop up on internet，regarding the deteriorating safety in Thailand for Chinese people. That Thailand is become the new Myanmar for "噶腰子".

It seems that many Chinese women went to Thailand，because they are Thai drama fans. So I did some research，and find out that Thai TV show is quite popular among young Chinese female，and they are deeply attracted to Thailand due of Thai culture influence.

I don't think anyone who only sees hard power would take Thailand seriously，how could such backward third world country have so much influence over China but not vice-versa right? After all Thailand is much less developed compare to China when it comes to hard power，so on theory it should be Thai people attracted to Chinese culture but not the reverse, right ? Well that’s the magic of soft power，something your hard power do not automatically translate into.

And what did this "soft power magic" translate into? Some tourists? Does it stop any country from sanctioning your products or sanctioning products to you if you become a challenge? Does it remove a superpower's ability to strike you if you insist on your interests over theirs? Does it even preserve the tourism that you have if hostilities break out? Is it going to make people rise up against thier government telling them to give concessions to Thailand because they make the best dramas? LOL No, it doesn't do any of that. If Thai interests cross Chinese interests and they insist, the tourism will dry up, their dramas will be banned and if they push for it at sea, their navy will be defeated. I have an overall positive image of Thailand and want none of that to come to pass but I'm putting forth this hypothetic scenerio to demonstrate that once again, there is no soft power and acting cute selling dramas and tourism is worth nothing but the money it brings in. And you can't even get too pushy there because recently, Chinese people have been saying that there are more and more tourist traps aimed towards Chinese people in Thailand; what used to be a pleasant and cheap trip has become an expensive rip-off so they won't go again.

TK3600 · Apr 20, 2023

manqiangrexue said:
And what did this "soft power magic" translate into? Some tourists? Does it stop any country from sanctioning your products or sanctioning products to you if you become a challenge? Does it remove a superpower's ability to strike you if you insist on your interests over theirs? Does it even preserve the tourism that you have if hostilities break out? Is it going to make people rise up against thier government telling them to give concessions to Thailand because they make the best dramas? LOL No, it doesn't do any of that. If Thai interests cross Chinese interests and they insist, the tourism will dry up, their dramas will be banned and if they push for it at sea, their navy will be defeated. I have an overall positive image of Thailand and want none of that to come to pass but I'm putting forth this hypothetic scenerio to demonstrate that once again, there is no soft power and acting cute selling dramas and tourism is worth nothing but the money it brings in. And you can't even get too pushy there because recently, Chinese people have been saying that there are more and more tourist traps aimed towards Chinese people in Thailand; what used to be a pleasant and cheap trip has become an expensive rip-off so they won't go again.

Soft power exists it is just very different from what some dummies perceive. It is the ability to influence country. Like puppeting politicians, spying, political ideology, religion, etc.

KYli · Apr 20, 2023

I would rather not have that kind of soft power. If LGBTQ dramas were needed to promote soft power, then China is wise to ban such dramas. I will give that if the such drama is not too explicitly promoting LGBTQ, then it can allow to be air.

I blame those queer Japanese manga for promoting gay love or boys love. Now, in Asia, there are a large followers of such dramas. However, such soft power is as useless as you can get.

manqiangrexue · Apr 20, 2023

TK3600 said:
Soft power exists it is just very different from what some dummies perceive. It is the ability to influence country. Like puppeting politicians, spying, political ideology, religion, etc.

That's non-violent extension of hard power. Puppeting politicians requires you to have the wealth to pay them and the connections to guarantee their safety. Poor weak countries cannot do this. Spying requires a lot of high tech assets and expensive training; no poor or backwards country in the world has a competent spy operation (FSB, CIA, MI6, ZhongNanHai, Mossad, etc...). To spread political ideology requires that you show superiority in your results that make others want to emulate you; your results are hard power. Without it, no one will listen to your ideology and with it, they dare not ignore it. Religion is a wild card; it can cause people to steadfastly oppose another people and sacrifice their lives towards unwinnable battles, to never seek solutions in science, tech, medicine, or logic but to always seek it in prayer. It's not soft power; it's insanity. For everything that one can confuse to be soft power, its effectivness is brought to nothing or nearly nothing if there were no hard power to drive it. That is why there is no soft power; there is only hard power, nonviolent extensions of hard power, and everything else is inconsequential.

sunnymaxi · Apr 20, 2023

KYli said:
I would rather not have that kind of soft power. If LGBTQ dramas were needed to promote soft power, then China is wise to ban such dramas. I will give that if the such drama is not too explicitly promoting LGBTQ, then it can allow to be air.

I blame those queer Japanese manga for promoting gay love or boys love. Now, in Asia, there are a large followers of such dramas. However, such soft power is as useless as you can get.

luckily time has rapidly changing.

Donghua overtaking Japanese manga market share worldwide. people just don't see this trend.

for example. Mo Dao Zu Shi

The series received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its high production quality and storyline, and amassed a notable Internet fandom both in China and overseas.

The series has since become a worldwide hit, ultimately generating 4.63 billion views on

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

as of July 2022.
The series holds a rating of 9.5 out of 10 on both

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

and WeTV platforms, cementing its status as one of the most acclaimed

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

series in the world.

It won 1st place in the Anime Top 5 category during the first half period of Rakuten TV Award 2022, based on the number of units sold from December 2021 to May 2022.

this is just one example. there are tons of Donghua anime series coming out from Mainland. same with Chinese dramas/series. taking over online platforms include Youtube by storm. thanks to all recent hatred from US/KOREA/JAPAN, Chinese people more and more inclined towards domestic products.

TK3600 · Apr 20, 2023

manqiangrexue said:
That's non-violent extension of hard power. Puppeting politicians requires you to have the wealth to pay them and the connections to guarantee their safety. Poor weak countries cannot do this. Spying requires a lot of high tech assets and expensive training; no poor or backwards country in the world has a competent spy operation (FSB, CIA, MI6, ZhongNanHai, Mossad, etc...). To spread political ideology requires that you show superiority in your results that make others want to emulate you; your results are hard power. Without it, no one will listen to your ideology and with it, they dare not ignore it. Religion is a wild card; it can cause people to steadfastly oppose another people and sacrifice their lives towards unwinnable battles, to never seek solutions in science, tech, medicine, or logic but to always seek it in prayer. It's not soft power; it's insanity. For everything that one can confuse to be soft power, its effectivness is brought to nothing or nearly nothing if there were no hard power to drive it. That is why there is no soft power; there is only hard power, nonviolent extensions of hard power, and everything else is inconsequential.

Yes, soft power and hard power synergize and promote each other. But it is certainly possible to have one but lack other.

It is possible to have money but no political leverage, but having money helps.

It is possible to have good technology but no spy network, although technology helps.

It is possible to have strong military might but nobody buy your ideology.

Religion has diminished influence today but it is undeniable it was used to rule for thousands of years. It is mentioned to drive the point not that it is powerful today.

You could say soft power is useful for maximize the potential of hard power as a force multiplier. Although soft power not backed by hard power is not useful at all. Ideally you want both.

daifo · Apr 20, 2023

sunnymaxi said:
luckily time has rapidly changing.

Donghua overtaking Japanese manga market share worldwide. people just don't see this trend.

for example. Mo Dao Zu Shi

The series received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its high production quality and storyline, and amassed a notable Internet fandom both in China and overseas.

The series has since become a worldwide hit, ultimately generating 4.63 billion views on
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
as of July 2022.
The series holds a rating of 9.5 out of 10 on both
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
and WeTV platforms, cementing its status as one of the most acclaimed
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
series in the world.

It won 1st place in the Anime Top 5 category during the first half period of Rakuten TV Award 2022, based on the number of units sold from December 2021 to May 2022.

this is just one example. there are tons of Donghua anime series coming out from Mainland. same with Chinese dramas/series. taking over online platforms include Youtube by storm. thanks to all recent hatred from US/KOREA/JAPAN, Chinese people more and more inclined towards domestic products.

That is exactly boy love drama that kyli was complaining about

KYli · Apr 20, 2023

daifo said:
That is exactly boy love drama that kyli was complaining about

I actually would give this one a pass.

Chinese Soft Power and Media Discussion and Updates

tonyget

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daifo

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manqiangrexue

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TK3600

Major

KYli

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manqiangrexue

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sunnymaxi

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TK3600

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daifo

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KYli

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