Chinese influence in the Pacific Islands: The yin and yang of soft power

Over the past two decades, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has emerged as the most prominent new star in the firmament of Pacific Island affairs. Depending on the metric used, the PRC is now the second most engaged external power in the region. Beijing has made policy decisions and devoted significant resources during this time to build its stock of soft power in the region to support its expanding influence. Is it reasonable to conclude that China’s growing influence in the South Pacific is a consequence of a successful soft-power campaign? This report argues against rushing to such a finding.