Social media aims to spread the appeal of Asian culture

Asian countries are investing heavily in social media and cultural exchanges as “soft diplomacy” to influence foreign opinion and build global power, according to an Australian National University academic.

China is leading the way as the Asia-Pacific region’s biggest investor, creating new English language television stations and co-establishing research institutes at foreign universities, says Ian Hall, associate dean of the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.

In an ANU interview, Hall says there are two arms race in Asia today. One is in military capacity, and the other in efforts to attract power through the familiarity of social media, academic and cultural exchanges.