Survey Reveals Limits Of China's Soft Power As Beijing Affirms National Interest
![Xi Jinping and Najib Razak](https://d.ibtimes.com/en/full/1592742/xi-jinping-najib-razak.jpg?w=736&f=4b11796a28915002aaaccd34ef94e017)
Pew Global Research released the results of its “Balance of Power” survey, and it contains a lot of interesting data about what the world thinks about China. On the whole, impressions of China are positive: A slight majority views its still-impressive economic growth as a net positive for their own country, and those countries where China’s engagement has been most conspicuous -- such as in sub-Saharan Africa -- are particularly positive.
![PG-2014-07-14-balance-of-power-2-03](https://d.ibtimes.com/en/full/1628996/pg-2014-07-14-balance-power-2-03.png?w=736&f=9c93ee85b28e3aad5487a8fc55f8d192)
But the Pew data also contains information that may be cause for concern within Beijing: China’s Asian neighbors have become wary of the country’s influence in the region. Of the 10 Asian countries surveyed (excluding China itself), only two -- Pakistan and Malaysia -- view China, not the United States, as their principal ally.
![PG-2014-07-14-balance-of-power-4-02](https://d.ibtimes.com/en/full/1629000/pg-2014-07-14-balance-power-4-02.png?w=736&f=d288e5a28f522d08543075dd0b153d94)
For a Chinese government that has invested billions in promoting its soft power -- a measurement of a country’s influence beyond basic economic and military strength -- this news isn’t welcome. But neither is it surprising: China’s aggressive pursuit of territorial claims in the South and East China Sea have put Beijing at odds with several of its neighbors, particularly Japan and Vietnam. A majority in each country surveyed expressed strong concerns about territorial disputes with China.
![PG_14](https://d.ibtimes.com/en/full/1629002/pg-14.png?w=736&f=10d1fcc7edb6544b1988e2e7b43461a8)
Of course, the Chinese government has other concerns than mere global popularity. Beijing has stated that it views its maritime claims as core national interests. So the question remains: Can China be both popular and powerful at the same time?
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