China lacks in soft power

A new study shows that China has a long way to go before it achieves respect as a multi-faceted power among its Asian neighbors. Conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the East Asia Institute of South Korea, the study surveyed five East and Southeast Asian countries as well as the United States. It found that perceptions of China's "soft power" abilities (indirect and non-military) were considerably lower than that of the U.S. and Japan. The perceptions persist even though China has worked to build strong economic ties around Asia as well as leverage its position as Olympics host. The study did find, however, that a majority of those polled believed the August Olympics would greatly boost China's world prestige (although economic pundits like Robbert van Batenburg of Louis Capital Markets disagree).