China's national interests and power in the Indo-Pacific

What this note covers

1. China's national interests: sovereignty, territorial integrity and Taiwan
2. Economic growth, regional primacy and regime security
3. Hard power: PLA modernisation and South China Sea militarisation
4. Soft power: development narratives, Confucius Institutes and global image projection
5. Sharp power: influence operations and economic coercion
6. Smart power: the Belt and Road Initiative as an integrated strategy
7. Effectiveness in achieving national interests: successes and limits

7 sections · 14 key terms & formulas · 6 common mistakes