The Charm Offensive That Isn't

About this episode

The episode discusses China's struggle to win soft power in the wake of American influence and features insights from a Chinese academic.

As Trump trashes American soft power, can China fill the void? A top Chinese academic explains why Beijing struggles to win hearts and minds and why being feared isn't the same as being loved. Plus: How American influencers are going viral in China. Guest: Da Wei, Professor, Tsinghua University Book Recommendations Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future by Ian Johnson Other Rivers: A Chinese Education by Peter Hessler Face-Off: The U.S. vs. China is produced in partnership with ⁠Rowhome Productions⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Guest: Da Wei

Topics covered

• soft power
• China
• American influencers
• hearts and minds
• fear vs love

Keywords

• China
• soft power
• Trump
• influencers
• Da Wei

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tsinghua University

Books & works: Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future, A Chinese Education

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