China overtakes UK in soft power rankings for 1st time

[Beijingwalker]

Your abuse shows your arrogance in punch drunk power of the conqueror. The spirit of Xinjian will prevail!!!

LOL, They did prevail massively, in 1962.

 

[j_hungary]

How do you even rank soft power to begin with? It's a combination of economy, culture, language, moral and political influence toward the world.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/soft-power

I don't know about all of them, but British is definitely ahead of China in term of Culture and Language, as most of the world, including China, learn English and British Culture (eg the royal family) and British Political Influence may be ahead of China too but since UK is out of EU, that remain to be seen, and the only thing I would say China is definitely ahead is Economy influence.

 

[Beijingwalker]

How do you even rank soft power to begin with? It's a combination of economy, culture, language, moral and political influence toward the world.

I always wanted to ask this question when haters consistently insist that China has no soft power, I guess they thought China doesn't have Korean soap operas and Japanese porns.

 

[j_hungary]

I always wanted to ask this question when haters consistently insist that China has no soft power, I guess they thought China doesn't have Korean soap operas and Japanese porns.

First of all. You do know China produce more porn than Japanese, right? And after seeing some, I would have to say WTF the Chinese men were thinking??

Second of all. As I said, what is the criteria to measure the "Ranking" for such a topic. It's a combination of issue. It's not going to be a head to head comparison.

 

[Beijingwalker]

First of all. You do know China produce more porn than Japanese, right? And after seeing some, I would have to say WTF the Chinese men were thinking??

Second of all. As I said, what is the criteria to measure the "Ranking" for such a topic. It's a combination of issue. It's not going to be a head to head comparison.

I think Japanese produces more, we can have a poll here, lol. and I also always want to know what the criteria is since China has been depicted as having no soft power for so many years by the west and Indians, what's their criteria?

 

[That_Guy]

People in this thread don't know what anglo-saxons are. A majority of European nations, most of whom were colonizers at some point in their history, are NOT considered anglo-saxon.

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On topic, with the way Trump is ruining the US, China may end up #1 in the near future.

 

[j_hungary]

I think Japanese produces more, we can have a poll here, lol. and I also always want to know what the criteria is since China has been depicted as having no soft power for so many years by the west and Indians, what's their criteria?

lol, no......There are actually more Chinese porn star than Japanese porn star, there are only a few productions company in Japan, while Porn Production in China is illegal, it services a MUCH LARGER audience.

I mean, of course JAV is more well known, but you do know Billibilli, right? You can find quite a lot of softcore porn in Billibilli. I am not going to do this because I probably will get banned if I do it for you here.

 

[Sam6536]

China overtakes UK in soft power rankings for 1st time​

The balance of soft power is shifting as AI, luxury, and cultural exports redefine global influence beyond traditional economic dominance.
Steve Price

Published February 20, 2025​

China has surpassed the United Kingdom to become the second most influential soft power nation, according to the 2025 Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index released today. The latest ranking marks a significant shift in global influence, reinforcing China’s growing ability to shape international perceptions through technology, business, and culture.

The annual index, based on a survey of more than 170,000 respondents across 100 countries, highlights China’s rising status across multiple dimensions. Economic diplomacy, technology leadership, and the global expansion of Chinese brands have propelled the country to an all-time high soft power score of 72.8 out of 100.

While the United States retained the top position, its declining reputation — driven by political instability and governance concerns under President Donald Trump’s second term — signals mounting challenges for U.S. influence. The United Kingdom’s fall to third place underscores stagnation in its business and governance metrics, contrasting with China’s deliberate efforts to enhance its global standing.

Image: Brand Finance

The strategy behind China’s soft power expansion #​

David Haigh, Chairman of Brand Finance, attributes China’s rise to its sustained investments in economic attractiveness, cultural engagement, and governance stability. He points to China’s growing reputation for sustainability, its expanding influence in the luxury and technology sectors, and its positioning as an increasingly trusted international partner.

Although China has been recognized as an economic powerhouse for decades, its ability to shape global culture and consumer behavior remains an open question.

The country’s entertainment sector has made significant strides, evidenced by the box office success of Nezha 2. The animated sequel recently overtook Pixar’s Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated film globally, earning $1.69 billion. However, over 99% of its revenue came from the domestic market — a stark contrast to the globalized distribution strategy of Hollywood films.

At the same time, Chinese brands in luxury, technology, and e-commerce continue to make international inroads. BYD, now the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, recorded an 83 percent year-over-year increase in overseas sales last month. Beauty brand Florasis has expanded into European markets, while Pinduoduo’s fusion of social networking and e-commerce has been increasingly recognized as an innovative model for online retail.

China’s AI disruption: How DeepSeek is reshaping the market #​

China’s soft power gains are also emerging in the technology sector, where the launch of DeepSeek AI has shaken up U.S. markets. The debut of the cost-efficient AI model triggered a $969 billion selloff in semiconductor and AI infrastructure stocks, signaling a major disruption in the global AI race.

The immediate reaction in financial markets was striking. More than 70% of stocks in the Technology Select Sector ETF (XLK) declined, with Nvidia losing nearly $600 billion in value before rebounding as investors bought the dip. DeepSeek’s success suggests that China is no longer merely catching up in AI innovation — it is actively reshaping the industry’s trajectory.

However, a key challenge is censorship. DeepSeek AI employs multi-layered content moderation, filtering sensitive topics, erasing responses mid-sentence, and retrospectively reviewing answers for compliance. While this aligns with China’s regulatory framework, it also raises concerns about the AI model’s international adoption.

What China’s soft power means for global luxury, culture #​

Luxury brands must also consider the broader implications of China’s soft power expansion. With global influence increasingly dictated by digital ecosystems, entertainment, and sustainability narratives, Western luxury houses may need to rethink their approach.

For decades, Hollywood, French fashion, and European heritage brands have maintained uncontested cultural dominance. Now, China is closing the gap, driven by homegrown brands expanding overseas, the success of domestic films, and advancements in AI-driven consumer engagement.

Yet, the question remains: can Chinese luxury and cultural brands transcend their domestic success to achieve true global influence? The record-breaking box office of Nezha 2 is a milestone, but the challenge remains whether Chinese entertainment and fashion can scale globally in the same way Hollywood and European maisons have.

Who’s gaining and who’s losing in soft power? #​

Despite China’s rise, the U.S. continues to lead the Global Soft Power Index, ranking high in Familiarity, Influence, and Business & Trade. But its governance rankings have slipped, reflecting growing political instability and economic unpredictability. The United Arab Emirates maintained its 10th position, bolstered by business-friendly policies and diplomatic influence.

Israel and Ukraine saw sharp declines due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts affecting their global reputation.

What’s next? The future of China’s soft power influence #​

Whether in AI, luxury, or cultural exports, China is no longer simply competing — it is reshaping the global balance of influence. The coming years will reveal whether this momentum translates into lasting power, or if China remains an economic force without full cultural integration.

For brands, investors, and global policymakers, China’s soft power expansion is no longer a future possibility — it is a present reality.

The west and japan still has a lot of soft power in entertainment and infotainment industry.
Hollywood, anime, kpop, jpop, netflix, steam, epic games, youtube, android, windows just to name a few. Most of the world still consumes western content.

China might be rising up but in my everyday use I use and pay for way more Western stuff than Chinese (my phone is a OnePlus so yeah they make good tech not denying that).

Netflix, apple music, youtube, google one, crunchyroll, Amazon prime, disney plus, xbox game pass. These are some of the western services I have on recurring payment monthly.

 

[Beijingwalker]

lol, no......There are actually more Chinese porn star than Japanese porn star, there are only a few productions company in Japan, while Porn Production in China is illegal, it services a MUCH LARGER audience.

Really? I don't know, there are some Japanese porn stars who are pretty famous in China, don't any Chinese porn stars though, I m not very sure, maybe you are an expert in this field, ok, you call the shots.

 

[Beijingwalker]

The west and japan still has a lot of soft power in entertainment and infotainment industry.
Hollywood, anime, kpop, jpop, netflix, steam, epic games, youtube, android, windows just to name a few. Most of the world still consumes western content.

China might be rising up but in my everyday use I use and pay for way more Western stuff than Chinese (my phone is a OnePlus so yeah they make good tech not denying that).

India banned lots of Chinese platfroms, I would be quite surprised if you pay for any Chinese stuff at all.

 

[j_hungary]

Really? I don't know, there are some Japanese porn stars who are pretty famous in China, don't any Chinese porn stars though, I m not very sure, maybe you are an expert in this field, ok, you call the shots.

Again, JAV is no doubt more famous anywhere, not just China. Again, billibili have A LOT of softcore stuff, well let's just leave it at that

I am not an expert, but I do watch porn sometime both me and my wife watch together, it spice up sex life, don't you?

 

[Sam6536]

India banned lots of Chinese platfroms, I would be quite surprised if you pay for any Chinese stuff at all.

Only tiktok is banned.
Nothing else at any point got much popular here.
PUBG is renamed to bgmi that makes tons of money per month. Gaming wise yes there are some big hitters. Western developers team up with Chinese devs (codm). The game is western ip tho.

I don't think chinese make any global themed content. For example I love anime and Japanese culture as an extension due to the exposure.

 

[Beijingwalker]

Again, JAV is no doubt more famous anywhere, not just China.

I am not an expert, but I do watch porn sometime both me and my wife watch together, it spice up sex life, don't you?

This is why I think maybe some people think that Japan has soft power and China doesn't because of this.

 

[Beijingwalker]

Only tiktok is banned.
Nothing else at any point got much popular here.
PUBG is renamed to bgmi that makes tons of money per month. Gaming wise yes there are some big hitters. Western developers team up with Chinese devs (codm). The game is western ip tho.

I don't think chinese make any global themed content. For example I love anime and Japanese culture as an extension due to the exposure.

India bans 119 Chinese apps from Google Play Store citing national security concerns - India TV News

The government has launched a digital strike, ordering the removal of 119 Chinese apps from the Google Play Store. These apps are associated with developers from China and Hong Kong.

www.indiatvnews.com

 

[j_hungary]

This is why I think maybe some people think that Japan has soft power and China doesn't because of this.

If porn is a measuring point, it probably put China several step above Japan.

But I have to ask, what's with AI and Cosplay? Those are the two most searched softcore stuff in Billibili.