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Chinese dream, emerging statecraft, and Chinese influence in the Mekong region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2021

Aranya Siriphon Open the ORCID record for Aranya Siriphon [Opens in a new window]  and
Jiangyu Li Open the ORCID record for Jiangyu Li [Opens in a new window]
Aranya Siriphon*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Jiangyu Li
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, School of Law and Sociology, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
*
*Author for correspondence: Aranya Siriphon, E-mail: aranyas@yahoo.com
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Abstract

It has become known that the Confucius Institute (CI) and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (Qiaoban) are operated as tools of state-led mechanism, or Chinese statecraft with the ultimate goal of expanding China's cultural soft power. Following the direction, Xi Jinping has been pushing the notion of the “Chinese dream,” focusing on the realm of Chinese traditional culture and launching a new state-led mechanism. This article examines an emerging state-led mechanism known as “Chinese Homeland Bookstores” (CHBs), which was proposed by a provincial government-financed state-owned enterprise, and recently expanded to Thailand and various Mekong countries. I contend that the entities, such as CHBs and also CI and Qiaoban, are being extensively utilized as part of a larger state apparatus supporting the regime's Chinese traditional culture campaign. However, the CHB case and those of other government-led institutions illustrate how they combine nation-state work with market-oriented business strategies, to effectively promote Chinese culture “going out” with a focus on financial sustainability.

Keywords

Chinese dreamConfucius InstituteMekong regionNorthern Thailandstate-owned enterprise
Type
Individual Articles
Information
International Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , July 2021 , pp. 289 - 304
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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