CHINA’S SOFT POWER AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN CEE: PRODUCTIVE OR COUNTERPRODUCTIVE

The present paper is looking into the relations between China and the CEE countries from China’s soft power perspective in the wake of the recent developments between the two parts. After a general analysis of China’s soft power sources and limitations the paper brings into discussion the historical relations between China and the CEE countries. It also tries to see the motives of China’s interest in this region and at the same time it tries to evaluate whether its soft power in the region is either productive or counterproductive.