How Effective is China's Soft Power Diplomacy in FSM? The University of Guam's FSM Student Perspective.

China's increased use of soft power diplomacy and engagement with Pacific Island countries have led to favorable views of China among countries on the receiving end. Favorable views of China may lead to a closer relationship between China and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and impact FSM's current relationship with the United States (U.S.). While the literature on China's soft power diplomacy is voluminous, scholarship on the perspectives of FSM leaders of the future is limited. Based on focus group interviews with FSM university students at the University of Guam, this paper argues that - within the soft power conceptual framework - China's soft power in FSM is tangentially effective. From their perspectives, the university students indicated that China subsidies are consequential, but they fear the loss of land and culture under increased China influence. This research is relevant to understanding the attitudes of FSM's future leaders and providing valuable insights into the future US-FSM-China relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]