China's charm in Southeast Asia revisited : a study of political implication of South China Sea conflict on China's soft power in Southeast Asia

• Main Author: Nandyatama, Randy Wirasta
• Other Authors: Li Ming Jiang
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/53175
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Whilst there is a limited source in explaining further the nature of soft power in various circumstances, this dissertation concerns basically in the ‘loophole’ on the explanation of how soft power works and whether hard power can influence, especially in the case of the growing tension in South China Sea. Therefore, this dissertation proposes the analysis of South China Sea conflict as a case study, and the exposition ofhard power, reputational power as China’s source of soft power, and the dynamic presence of threat perception as intervening variable. Thus, one can see how the growing China’s hard power measures over the South China Sea affects the existence of its soft power in Southeast Asia. However, this research shows that China’s growing hard power measures since 2007 has induced ‘threat perceptions’ among Southeast Asians’ elite and public opinions. These ‘perceived-excessive’ or inappropriate measures turned out as the growing doubt about China’s reputation and to act against Beijing’s strategic aims. Indeed, hard power does not affect soft power in a direct way, but in the form of inciting the ‘threat perceptions’ in eroding its source of soft power, namely ‘reputational power’, by casting doubt on its virtue and intention. Hence, the prospect of China’s soft power in Southeast Asia will rely on how Beijing would consider the broader aspects in wielding its soft power effectively, including the remaining problems associated with South China Sea issue.