A country has to endure various trials from other countries in the process of growing into a big power. It needs to frankly face different problems emerging in the process and resolve them with a constructive attitude, translating opinion pressure into growth power. The fundamental cause of development lies in internal contradictions, which can also be mutually transformed. This provides enlightening significance for discussion of China’s discourse power.

Soft and hard power
Discourse power is essentially a soft power. Occupying the high ground of discourse power is conducive to promoting China’s international negotiation ability and forging the image of peaceful diplomacy. It is more necessary to use discourse power to resolve sensitive problems. China’s financial discourse power within the International Monetary Fund and World Bank has been promoted based on the growth of economic strength.
 

Soft power can help bolster a country weak in hard power. Promotion of hard power aims not to necessarily increase discourse power. As China’s hard power is being intensified, a prudent attitude is urgently needed to deal with international relations. We should guard against falling into the trap of Western discourse and learn to convert our own hard power into soft power, comprehensively promoting China’s international influence. We should therefore learn to master the superb art of leadership and charm of communication.

Words and deeds
Theories of the “China threat” and “arrogance” from other countries have posed a great challenge to our ability to communicate. We may choose to keep silent and just engage in our own business. We may also indirectly respond to Western ideas of China as a “threat” by putting forward our own ideas for peaceful development, harmonious global relations and the new type of China-US major-power relations.
 

Deeds are more important than words in boosting international discourse power. The principle of matching words and deeds should be followed. The international community welcomes the glorious vision embodied in the diplomatic discourse with strategic significance proposed by China, such as “peaceful development” and “world harmony.” However, they have doubts about how to realize these concepts. There is an essential need to tackle difficult problems, such as the growing wealth gap and corruption.
 

Presentation and complex
China needs to refute and defend against Western discourse attacks. Offense and defense are external behaviors, while in-depth emotional interaction is internal. Western attacks stem from “fear” of China’s rise, while China’s defense reflects its “arrogance” towards Western attacks. Only by making effective dialogues between both sides can China dissolve the emotion of “arrogance” and ease Western “fears.”

Strong and weak countries
Nowadays, Western countries have strong discourse power. China has fallen into the framework of Western discourse, hastily responding to attacks from the West. Countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam, whose hard power is comparatively weak, arouse the sympathy of the international community and gain advantages of discourse power over the issue of the South China Sea.

We shouldn’t be too sensitive and reflective of Western discourse attacks. Facing stronger countries, we should strive to develop hard power to promote international discourse power; facing weak ones, we should treat them kindly and friendly.
 

Truth and methods
Following truth is essential to the promotion of China’s discourse power. The biggest challenge to our discourse power is not from abroad but at home. It lies in deeds rather than words. The key to truth is the awakening of the soul and construction of core values. Methods are also important for boosting discourse power. However, they should be stressed and improved based on truth.
 

We should learn to use proper methods to achieve our goal. For example, we may strengthen investigation of foreign audiences, vigorously develop external media or effectively tell Chinese stories. All these should be fulfilled with truth as prediction.

 

Ye Shulan is an associate professor from East China Normal University.