China’s Diasporic Public Diplomacy in the UK: Mobilisation through Diaspora Associations and Diasporic Media, and the Paradox of Social Media Use

ABSTRACT:

Diasporic public diplomacy that covers diplomatic efforts aiming to mobilise members of the Chinese diaspora overseas, since its proposal in 2011, has gained central spotlight in China’s quest for soft power. Academia has, however, yet to explore the role that two important strategies, namely diasporic associations, and the diasporic media, play in the process of mobilisation. This article, through a case study of the Chinese diaspora in the UK which analyses news and WeChat articles qualitatively, argues that the strength of economic, political, and emotional ties with China and pro-China narratives has a positive correlation to the effectiveness of mobilisation through diaspora associations and diasporic media with the help of social media. It also argues that the Chinese government’s lack of information control over overseas social media platforms has rendered this social media a double-edged sword and countered part of the effect of Chinese diasporic public diplomacy efforts.