This book evaluates China's attempts to exert soft power through the Confucius Institutes and other language-related activities. Although these have enhanced Chinese language learning and teaching, they have not necessarily improved China's standing on the global stage. The author examines the reasons for this and its implications.

Jeffrey Gil is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Languages and Applied Linguistics, Flinders University, Australia. His research interests include Chinese foreign policy and Chinese as a foreign language.