Articles #congagement strategy

Traditionally viewed as an unconventional foreign policy tool, hard power has recently evolved into a multifaceted mechanism that employs military strength to mediate interactions between military and civilian entities. While national governments frequently leverage hard power to shape foreign public perceptions, academic discourse often underemphasizes the military’s role in advancing public diplomacy. Armed forces globally contribute to public diplomacy initiatives through humanitarian relief, infrastructure development, and international military education and training programs. This article analyzes these practices within the framework of soft power and public diplomacy in a previously unexplored manner, from the perspective of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China thorough the lenses of the hospital ship “Peace Ark,” in comparison with the United States Navy’s hospital ships “Mercy” and “Comfort,” and highlights the influence of military power on diplomatic engagement.