China Report

An Introductory Note for the Articles

Michal Fliegel and Zdenĕk Kříž in their article examine China’s unique soft power conceptualisation, which differs from the American coinage. It contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating how soft power is theorised by Chinese academicians and policymakers in a distinct way. That means, according to China’s own tradition, predating the term. Unlike in America, where soft power is largely developed freely, in China, it is highly centralised.

Since 2015, the strong resentment in Chinese social media against international immigration triggered by the European migrant crisis has been noticed, and in many cases harshly criticised, by foreign media. Using primary sources retrieved from a major microblogging site, Chun Gan in his article provides a critical review of the way in which the crisis was represented in the popular discourse between 2015 and 2017and explores the intricate sentiments it provoked.

The South China Sea disputes involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Framing an analysis of international news and diplomatic relations allows researchers to examine how news organisations provide their audiences with context regarding news stories through content promotion and exclusion. Yang Lai Fong, Ramachandran Ponnan, and Antoon De Rycker in this study examined how the Malaysian and Chinese newspapers reported about the South China Sea disputes and Malaysia–China bilateral relations. 

Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) had few historical opportunities to interact with China, but with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the 16+1 platform, that changed dramatically in recent years. This article by Richard Q. Turcsányi discusses recent development in the China-CEE relations with the aim of explaining why the CEE countries became excited about China initially, but also why this excitement led prevailingly to disappointment.

This study by Mordechai Chaziza wants to examine the motivation behind Beijing’s measures to formalise a strategic partnership with Qatar to understand the impact and the extent of the Qatar-Gulf crisis on Doha engagement and integration within the Belt and Road Initiative. The relationship between the two countries has seen steady and smooth bilateral development in the political, economic and cultural fields; in trade, energy and other areas and have given active play to the complementarities between the two economies.

Southeast Asia with its historical concentration of ethnic Chinese remains an important economic hub encouraging cross-disciplinary inquiries on themes relating to businesses. In industrialising Malaysia, there is little research on their capacity to develop tacit knowledge of the founding generation mostly inherited from China, before starting a business in Malaysia. This assessment by John Lee Kean Yew of four thriving Malaysian Chinese family SMEs in food production evaluates how a new generational change has innovated their traditional food products.

 

I Articles

 

• Beijing-style Soft Power: A Different Conceptualisation to the American Coinage
  Michal Fliegel, Zdenĕk Kříž
  Abstract
   
• Discourse on Europe’s Migrant Crisis in Chinese Social Media: Recontextualising Nationalism and Defending Perceived Homogeneity
  Chun Gan
  Abstract
   
• Different Countries, Differing Perspectives: A Comparative Analysis of the South China Sea Disputes Coverage by Malaysian and Chinese Newspapers
  Yang Lai Fong, Ramachandran Poonan, Antoon De Rycker
  Abstract
   
• China and the Frustrated Region: Central and Eastern Europe’s Repeating Troubles with Great Powers
  Richard Q. Turcsányi
  Abstract
   
• China – Qatar Strategic Partnership and the Realization of One Belt, One Road Initiative
  Mordechai Chaziza
  Abstract
   
• Tacit Knowledge and Generational Change: The China Factor, Enterprise Development and Malaysian Chinese Family SMEs in Traditional Food Production
  John Lee Kean Yew
  Abstract

 

II Review Essay

• The World as Viewed From China: Theorising Governance, Leadership and Rationality in the 21^st Century
  Siddharth Mallavarapu
  Abstract

 

II Book Reviews

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• Book Review: Leadership and The Rise of Great Powers by Yan Xuetong
  Shivshankar Menon
  Abstract
   
• Book Review: Active Defense: China’s Military Strategy Since 1949 by M. Taylor Fravel
  Samanvya Hooda
  Abstract
   
• Book Review: India’s Eastward Engagement: From Antiquity to Act East Policy by S. D. Muni and Rahul Mishra
  Sudhir T. Devare
  Abstract
   
• Book Review: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor of the Belt and Road Initiative: Concept, Context and Assessment by Seigfried O. Wolf
  Jeremy Garlick
  Abstract
   
• Book Review: International Migrants in China’s Global City: The New Shanghailanders by James Farrer
  T G Suresh
  Abstract
   
• Book Review: Last Boat Out of Shanghai by Helen Zia
  Mishi Saran
  Abstract
   
• Book Review: China, Russia and Twenty-First Century Global Geopolitics by Paul J. Bolt and Sharyl N. Cross
  P. S Raghavan
  Abstract​