# soft power
Latest news and articles about soft power
Total: 11 articles found
China’s Army Asks Public to Name Three New ‘Spring Festival’ Horses — A Small PR Moment with Bigger Symbolic Reach
The Chinese military has launched an online naming contest for three newly arrived horses ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year, presenting detailed, personable profiles to solicit public submissions and votes. The campaign combines ceremonial tradition with digital outreach, humanizing the armed forces and using a lighthearted vehicle to advance institutional messaging during a politically resonant holiday.
Beijing Says Taiwan Veterans Don’t Qualify for PLA Perks, Points to Tourist Incentives for First-Time Visitors
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office clarified that Taiwanese retired military personnel do not qualify for the same veterans’ concessions granted to PLA veterans, after a social-media incident at a mainland scenic spot. Beijing pointed to targeted tourism incentives for first-time visitors from Taiwan instead, a policy designed to encourage visits without altering institutional distinctions between the two sides’ armed forces.
India Debuts 'Animal Platoon' in Republic Day Parade, Blending Tradition with Tactical Utility
India introduced an "animal platoon"—including camels, horses, birds of prey and military dogs—at its Republic Day parade, combining ceremonial tradition with practical security roles. The display serves both domestic nation-building and soft-power signalling, while raising questions about animal welfare and the place of non-mechanised assets in a modernising military.
India’s Republic Day Introduces an 'Animal Platoon' — Pageantry That Marries Tradition with Security Roles
India’s Republic Day parade introduced an official “animal platoon” featuring camels, horses, birds of prey and military dogs. The contingent blends ceremonial heritage with nods to practical frontier and security roles, while also raising questions about symbolism, resource allocation and animal welfare.
Beijing Defers on Free Access for Taiwan Veterans, Leaving Benefits to Local Rules — A Small but Symbolic Test of Cross‑Strait Policy
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said ticket concessions for Taiwan’s retired military personnel are determined by local scenic spots and authorities rather than by a blanket cross‑Strait policy. The response reflects Beijing’s preference for low‑profile, locally implemented incentives rather than sweeping, centrally declared benefits — a stance with symbolic implications for cross‑Strait influence and Taiwan domestic politics.
Pandas Return to China as Beijing Invites Japanese Visitors — A Quiet Soft‑Power Move
Two pandas from Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, returned to China on January 27 under existing agreements. Beijing used the occasion to invite Japanese visitors to see pandas in China, underscoring the animals’ role as instruments of cultural diplomacy amid broader bilateral tensions.
Teaching Diplomacy: How China Is Training a New Generation to Tell Its Story
Chinese universities are reframing political education to teach students how to translate national diplomacy into everyday stories and lived experience. Through fieldwork, debates and overseas internships, educators aim to produce a generation able to explain and embody China’s global role in tangible, relatable terms.
China Puts an Embodied AI on Its Biggest Stage: Galaxy General to Supply Robots for the 2026 Spring Gala
Galaxy General has been designated to provide embodied large-model robots for China’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala, signalling a shift of advanced robotics from labs into mass cultural exposure. The move offers a high-profile marketing and technical proving ground while raising safety, governance and societal-acceptance questions.
When the Canteen Is Hit: A Chinese Correspondent’s Close Encounter with Kabul’s Violence
A blast outside a Chinese-run restaurant in Kabul killed at least one local employee and injured others, bringing the everyday risks of exile life into sharp relief for the small Chinese community in Afghanistan. The attack highlights the vulnerability of China’s expanding non-military presence in Kabul and raises questions about how Beijing will protect its citizens while maintaining engagement in a fragile, impoverished country.
China’s Hospital Ship Makes First Visit to Uruguay, Underlining Soft‑Power Push in Latin America
China’s hospital ship Silk Road Ark made a four‑day technical stop in Montevideo on January 20, the first PLA naval visit to Uruguay. The call — framed as resupply and public‑diplomatic activity under Harmony Mission‑2025 — underscores Beijing’s use of humanitarian naval diplomacy to deepen ties in Latin America.
Withdrawing but Not Paying: How U.S. Arrears Are Reshaping Global Institutions
The United States is simultaneously withdrawing from some UN agencies and refusing to pay billions in assessed and voluntary contributions, creating cash shortfalls and prompting institutional adjustments across the UN system. Officials say arrears must be settled before formal exits take effect, while agencies relocate staff and curtail services in response to tighter finances.