The US Asia-Pacific Rebalance And China's Response

Since Joseph Nye coined the term “soft power” in 1990,scholars and researchers of international relations over the world have shown great interest in this term.Soft power is the ability to affect others by attraction and persuasion rather than just coercion and payment.Nowadays,more and more countries are attaching importance on their soft power building and soft power is also playing an important part in diplomatic strategy.This thesis studies the US Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy or “pivot to Asia” and China's response to the strategy from the perspective of soft power.First,the thesis starts with explaining what are hard power and soft power as well as the relations between the two types of power.The resources of a country's soft power come from its culture,political values and foreign policies.Second,the thesis introduces the US Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy,including its background,components and limits.The US is rebalancing the Asia-Pacific region through economic,security and diplomatic ways.Next,the role of America's soft power in this strategy is analyzed in the following three aspects: alliance,multinational organizations and culture.As a response,China is actively promoting harmonious diplomacy with its neighboring countries and the US,and using its own culture with a long history to improve its soft power.Finally,the thesis comes up with several suggestions and recommendations for China to further develop its soft power and promote the China-US friendship.