China and Japanese “Soft Power” Projection: A Tangled Web of Culture, Geostrategic Competition, and Naval Power

Abstract

Yee-Kuang Heng opines in this chapter that both Japan and China are mindful of the utility of “soft power” projection. Heng compares how Beijing and Tokyo have pursued “soft power” in the maritime dimension. Novel in Heng’s chapter is his analysis of Chinese and Japanese use of naval forces to project their “soft power” and enhancing both countries’ attractiveness through naval diplomacy , and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) in maritime Asia. While these two Northeast Asian countries are indeed rivals in “soft power,” Heng observes that “maritime and naval soft power also yield mixed results in terms of ameliorating geopolitical competition between Japan and China. The Somalia counter-piracy deployment is turning out to be a rare and much-needed opportunity for Japanese and Chinese military cooperation.” Heng argues that since HADR activities tend to be less provocative than joint military exercises, US–Japanese naval HADR operations with third parties should not necessarily exacerbate relations with China . He concludes: “However, ultimately soft power is about perceptions. Depending on how Beijing or Tokyo view each other’s naval soft power initiatives, each could well view the other as gaining an edge in a particular country or region .”