The center is part of China's expanding presence across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, where Beijing is making a big push to market itself and its language, similar to the way the United States promoted its culture and values during the cold war. It is not a hard sell, particularly to young Asians eager to cement cultural bonds as China deepens its economic and political interests in the region. ...
Over all, China's stepped up endeavors in cultural suasion remain modest compared with those of the United States, and American popular culture, from Hollywood movies to MTV, is still vastly more exportable and accessible, all agree. The United States also holds the balance of raw military power in the region.
But the trend is clear, educators and diplomats here say: the Americans are losing influence.
As China ramps up its cultural and language presence, Washington is ratcheting down, ceding territory that was virtually all its own when China was trapped in its hard Communist shell.
"The Chinese are actively expanding their public diplomacy while we are cutting back or just holding our own," said Paul Blackburn, a former public affairs officer of the United States Information Service who served at four American embassies in Asia in the 1980's and 90's.
The response in Washington has been something of a shrug:
"You are losing ground, that's a fact of life," said Prof. Tanun Anumanrajadhon, the vice president of international affairs at Chiang Mai University. "People here are talking of China and economics. People don't care about democracy now."
The difference in ambition is noticeable, others say.
"China wants to be more influential here to replace America," Vanchai Sirichana, the president of Mae Fah Luang University, where the Sirindhorn Chinese culture center was opened early this year under the patronage of the Thai royal family. "China is very aggressive in terms of contributions."
Mr. Vanchai said he had proposed a balancing act to the American ambassador to Thailand, Darryl Johnson.
"I said, what about collaboration between the American government and universities in this area, because our door is open," Mr. Vanchai said, describing a conversation when Mr. Johnson visited the campus this year.
"He just laughed; there was no answer," Mr. Vanchai said, indicating that the ambassador's reaction was one of sorrow.
See also Daniel Drezner for more discussion on the article.
If George W. Bush talks so much about the transformative power of liberty and the American ideal, why does he seem so unconcerned with the relative decline of one of our best means for supporting that ideal abroad?
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