27 June 2018
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- S’pore Should Guard Against False Binary Choices in Chinese Public Diplomacy: Bilahari Kausikan
S’pore Should Guard Against False Binary Choices in Chinese Public Diplomacy: Bilahari Kausikan
China’s public diplomacy in the region often involves presenting false choices in a binary fashion, said retired top diplomat Bilahari Kausikan, adding that such psychological operations would fail once those being targeted are aware of Beijing’s intentions.
Speaking at a conference on Chinese public diplomacy in East Asia and the Pacific on Wednesday (June 27), Mr Kausikan said that Beijing uses a mix of persuasion, inducement and coercion techniques to create a psychological environment which poses false choices for other countries.
A study released this week by AidData research laboratory, Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the Asia Society Policy Institute said that China has spent more than US$48 billion (S$65 billion) across East Asia and the Pacific between 2000 and 2016 to reward trade partners and those supporting its foreign policy positions.
Mr Kausikan noted during the conference – organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies together with those who produced the study – that China’s influence can be brittle even if it succeeds in its public diplomacy.
RSIS / Online
Last updated on 28/06/2018
