China’s strategy to strengthen soft power in the Asia-Pacific region

Abstract

The article examines research personnel training as part of China’s strategy to expand its ‘soft power’ in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole. The research methodology is based on a series of neoliberal and neorealist approaches of the international relations theory. As part of the research, a comparative analysis of the innovative development indicators in the Human Capital and Research area was carried out when assessing the global innovation index for such countries as China, Russia and the United States. The results of the article demonstrate that strengthening the training of China’s research personnel is an essential component of China’s strategy to strengthen its ‘soft power’. The educational sphere, the activities of research institutes in large companies of the country and the think tanks of the PRC have been studied. The creation and improvement of those institutions make it possible to promote research activities in connection with the current goals of the Chinese policy, and ensure that research personnel in the strategic planning of China’s ‘soft power’ is involved.