China’s new and first aircraft carrier isn’t fully operational yet...Why would a truly peaceful-rising country need an aircraft carrier? Joseph S. Nye, Jr., the former dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government rightly credits the “peaceful rising” advertising to current China President Hu Jintao, who stylistically preferred what might be called a foreign-relations approach of “soft power.”

On October 6th, the Cuban Interests Section (aka the Cuban Embassy) will launch a clever bit of public diplomacy by opening "Hemingway's Bar." And what is as interesting is that the Cuban national historical landmark, the Finca Vigia...will be providing educational and cultural exhibits and material about Hemingway's work and life during his two decades living in Cuba.

Tibet’s newly elected leader, Lobsang Sangay, assumed office on Monday. The baton of the Tibetan freedom movement has been passed on to the new generation born and raised outside Tibet, and China must recognise Sangay’s considerable efforts towards achieving democracy and justice.

Pakistan’s use of terror as an instrument of proxy war against India is, of course, well established. And although successive Indian governments have deployed the full force of “coercive diplomacy” ... they haven’t always enjoyed enormous success.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined the meeting at the State Department to promote sports as a means of building ties between countries, underlining US solidarity with Japan after its devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Rebuilding the financial reputation of the United States will be Gary Locke's top priority when he arrives in Beijing on Friday as the US ambassador to China, experts said... And he will certainly engage in public diplomacy, promoting human rights and Western values...

Nearly two starting lineups-worth of young Japanese baseball and softball players assembled at the U.S. State Department Tuesday to kick off a three-week sports exchange. They met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton...

The Syrian revolt is an important part of the broader Arab Spring that is transforming the Middle East, and U.S. policy must transform with it. After months of disappointing statements urging Assad to "reform," the Obama administration has begun to align itself with the Syrian people....