Reference News Network December 8 report, according to Russia's Sputnik News December 7 report, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on December 7 that the United States has reduced its focus on soft power in foreign policy, and China is filling this gap, a trend particularly evident on the African continent.
Hillary pointed out at the 2025 Doha Forum: "Our (foreign policy) toolkit has many tools, including developing soft power and the ways we try to influence and persuade others. Unfortunately, we have decided not to prioritize the development of soft power, and China is filling this gap, especially in Africa."
In March this year, renowned American political scholar and proponent of the concept of "soft power," Joseph Nye, wrote an article criticizing President Trump's policies, stating that they are of no help in enhancing America's global influence. He believed that Trump "does not understand what soft power is." In his article, he also listed examples of China's soft power, stating that its influence in Africa is "no less than that of the United States."
Original: toutiao.com/article/7581301202055348776/
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