Chinese Cultural Diplomacy in the 21st Century: An Analysis of China Cultural Centers

Abstract: China Cultural Centers (CCCs) are cultural organisations established outside China by its Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Despite their importance in Chinese cultural diplomacy, CCCs remain an understudied topic. This article provides an analysis of CCCs based on interviews, policy documents and media reports. It argues that although their primary purpose and key relations demonstrate a close, strategic connection to the Chinese government, CCCs have thus far generated minimal controversy in host countries due to their set-up and activities, especially when compared to Confucius Institutes (CIs). However, this lack of controversy does not necessarily equate to the success of CCCs as a cultural diplomacy initiative.