The Paradox of Power: What is Soft is Strong

“Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.” — Laozi

Perhaps it’s because I grew up as a stereotypical peace-loving Canadian, but it seems clear to me that if the Chinese Communist Party read Laozi half as much as they seemingly study Sun Tzu, China would be faring much better in achieving its global goals.

A couple months ago, we heard speculation that Beijing would likely send troops if Hong Kong dared to declare independence and witnessed President Xi take on his new title of commander-in-chief. Relying primarily on military might, it would appear that Xi seeks to flex his newfound hard power to bully China’s estranged adult offspring (i.e. Hong Kong and Taiwan) and Asian neighbours into complete submission. This dangerous path has so far led to little success and instead, it is arousing much resentment across a region that has consequently become increasingly anti-China.

Rather, Beijing ought to shape its foreign policy through the lens of Laozi and concentrate on improving upon its complete lack of “soft power.” To paraphrase the originator of this political concept, Harvard’s Joseph S. Nye, nations best obtain the outcomes they want on the world stage when they succeed in convincing other countries to admire its values and to aspire to emulate them. The most powerful and enduring type of influence is that which co-opts instead of coerces. So, from whom can Beijing learn how to win over hearts and minds?

Look no further than the internationally beloved country that I proudly call home — Canada. Now, you might be thinking, why should a once and perhaps future superpower such as the Middle Kingdom pay attention to an eternal middle power? Well, like thousands of other Hong Kong natives, my parents had the good sense to take a leap of faith and immigrate to the Great White North back in 1988, as they were not at all optimistic about HK’s impending transfer of sovereignty back to Beijing. For them, even from halfway around the world, Canada represented everything that China didn’t — a society that is free, fair, clean, civilized and peaceful. This globally recognized, consistently flattering image of Canada did not come to be by accident.

Like any success, hard work and calculation paved the way for these longstanding Canadian values to be masterfully projected to every corner of the earth. Internationally cooperative and historically significant Prime Ministers, such as Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Elliott Trudeau, conscientiously cultivated this enviable Canadian brand by the power of their positive example, such as organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis; introducing universal health care; keeping Canadians out of the Vietnam War (while serving as a refuge from militarism for American deserters); adopting an official multiculturalism policy; and establishing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Today, Ottawa is once again home to a Prime Minister that the global community easily appreciates, one who hugs Syrian refugees as they joyfully arrive at the airport. Maybe it’s time President Xi chart a new course, too.