CHINA'S SOFT POWER: THE MAKING OF FOOTBALL SUPERPOWER
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CHINA’S SOFT POWER:
THE MAKING OF FOOTBALL SUPERPOWER
‘SOFT POWER’ CINA :
MENUJU KEKUATAN ADIDAYA DALAM SEPAKBOLA
Ganjar Ariel Santosa 1
Alumni Universitas Pertahanan Indonesia
(santosa.ganjar@gmail.com)
Abstract – A significant economic rise provides an opportunity for China to expand its influence
globally, especially in sectors where China does not have strong influences. One of them is football.
The average achievement of its National football has pushed the government to implement soft
power strategy to improve the quality and the competitiveness of its national football. This strategy
is carried out with a strong synergy between the government and private sector businesses
nationwide. This paper will analyze how China’s soft power strategy implemented in order to
advance its national football and their national pride globally.
Keywords : China, soft power, economy, football, investment
Abstrak – Kebangkitan ekonomi Cina memberikan peluang untuk memperluas pengaruh secara
global, terutama pada sektor-sektor dimana Tiongkok tidak memiliki pengaruh yang cukup kuat. Salah
satunya adalah sepakbola. Prestasi sepakbola nasional yang biasa-biasa saja membuat pemerintah
menerapkan strategi soft power untuk mendorong perbaikan kualitas dan persaingan sepakbola
nasional. Strategi ini dilakukan dengan sinergi yang kuat antara pemerintah dengan sektor bisnis swasta
nasional. Makalah ini akan menganalisis bagaimana strategi soft power tersebut diimplementasikan
demi kemajuan sepakbola nasional dan kehormatan bangsa di mata dunia.
Kata kunci : Cina, soft power, ekonomi, sepakbola, investasi
1
Alumni Universitas Pertahanan Indonesia Manajemen Pertahanan Cohort 4, sekarang bekerja di salah satu
industri pertahanan swasta.
China’s Soft Power: The Making of Football Superpower | Ganjar Ariel Santosa | 109
Introduction1 Olympics in Beijing, China secured number
I
one spot with 48 gold medals. But
n recent decades, China’s economy
unfortunately this does not apply to their
experienced significant progress.
national football. China football national
Economic reforms that began in the
team had only one winless participation in
late 1970s has made the People’s Republic
the 2002 World Cup, had never been Asian
of China (PRC) emerged as a major player
Cup champions and currently ranked at
in the global economic constellation.2The
82, or one rank above the Faroe Islands,
IMF estimates that China will be the largest
in the FIFA world rankings.
economic power in the world before
the end of the decade.3This economic Aware of its national football
revival presents both opportunities and achievement, the government is trying
challenges in all aspects, and one of them to reform their national football. In the
is in the football. initial phase, the government formed a
professional competition, Jia-A League
Li, Macintosh and Bravo said that
in 1994, but it did not go very well. The
sport in China is heavily influenced by
scandal of illegal gambling, match fixing
the government. This foundation can be
and bribery occured in the journey of Jia-A
seen by the formation of their sporting
league competition.
national body, The State General
Administration of Sport, to ensure control Ten years later, the national football
of the operational branches of the sport body, the Chinese Football Association
in China. It starts from the planning stage (CFA) gave birth to Chinese Super League
to the execution of policy and laws that (CSL) toreplace the Jia-A League, which
support the development of the sports was attended by 16 participants of
industry.4 professional football club. The objective
of establishing CSL is to improve quality
Sports in general, is a thing to
and create a high level of competition;
be proud by the PRC. After successful
introduce modern managerial concepts;
national sports reform, China has always
enforce the minimum standards of
been in the top four in Summer Olympic
professionalism; encourage the inflow
competition since 1990. At the 2008
1
of foreign coaches and players of high
2
Thomas G. Rawski, “The Rise of China’s quality; and gradually establish a system
Economy”, Foreign Policy Research Institute,
Vol.16, No.06, June 2011, pp. 1-6. of European football for the registration
3
Mark Harrison and Debin Ma, “Soaring Dragon, and transfer of players.5
Stumbling Bear: China’s Rise in a Comparative
Context”, The CAGE-Chatham House Series, No.6, In general, there is a gap between
March 2013, pp.2-12.
4
Ming Li, Eric Macintosh and Gonzalo Bravo, “Sport the China’s sports achievements with
in China heavily Influenced by the Government”, the achievements of its football. For
Human Kinetic, 2012, http://www.humankinetics.
com/excerpts/excerpts/sport-in-china-heavily- 5
Severine Bardon, “The Economics of Sport in
influenced-by-government, accessed on Thursday, China: A Maturing Sector”, China Perspectives
January 12, 2017. No.1, 2008, pp. 40-46.
110 | Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara | April 2017, Volume 7 Nomor 1
the Chinese government, football factor, like a company, because of its
achievements becomes a priority for importance lies in how football clubs can
the revival of the nation on the world contribute to ensure economic prosperity,
stage. This article will discuss how China’s environmental quality and social equity.
strategy using soft power to support their Transition from production-based
ambitions of becoming a superpower in economy to a service based economy
the world of football, where business, and consumption provide power to
politics and sports intersect. obtain sustainable development through
football.8
Why football? Football industry also allows
massive investment in terms of ownership
Football as a peoplesport can be a
of the club and football infrastructure
bridge to expand China’s influence
development. The industry also involves
while strengthening their economies,
large amounts of money circulating in the
because football nowadays has turned
form of broadcasting rights, advertising
into a profitable industry. Football is a
and sponsorship. Not only from an
market which is unusual because of the
economic standpoint, football is also a
intensity of customer’ loyalty, in this case
platform that is able to provide wider
the fans or supporters, to create a brand
access to spread its influence on the global
of football into a market that is very
level through events and competitions
special. Grant argued that partisanship
like the World Cup, the Olympics, the
and loyalty of supporters to a club make
European Cup, Champions League, and
their fans willing to do anything, from
many more.
purchasing expensive match tickets and
club’s merchandises, watch the game at It is noteworthy that in recent years,
a non flexible time, and buying overpriced European football clubs are already seeing
food or drinks that are sold in the Asia as a new lucrative market. Clubs
stadium.6Therefore, football supporters such as Juventus, AC Milan, Manchester
have become the subject of increasingly United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid,
commercialised and commodified nature Bayern Munich has shifted its target to
of professional football.7 ‘colonialize’ new markets in Asia. Some of
the club, comes and visit Asian countries
In order to obtain sustainable
for their pre-season tour. Four episode of
development through sport, football
Italian League Super Cup match between
clubs should be seen as an economic
Italian league winner and Italian cup
6
Wyn Grant, “An Analytical Framework for a winner was held in China. Three times
Political Economy of Football”, British Politics,
No.2, 2007, pp. 69-90. 8
Vlad Rosca, “Sustainable Development of a city
7
David Kennedy and Peter Kennedy, “Towards a using a Football Club”, Theoritical and Empirical
Marxist political economy of football supporters”, Researches in Urban Management, No.7, August,
Capital & Class No.34, 2, 2010. pp.181-182. 2010, pp.61-68.
China’s Soft Power: The Making of Football Superpower | Ganjar Ariel Santosa | 111at the Beijing National Stadium, and one China’s Soft Power in Football
time at The Shanghai Stadium. A proof
As an emerging force, of course China
that football has evolved in such a way
wants to get all the attention and more
and become an important tool in the
authority in the global system. To achieve
process of globalization.
that, China is applying their soft power
A recent study by CSIS notes that to other countries, especially western
by 2030 Asia will be home to more than and African countries. Joseph Nye said
half the world’s middle-class consumers, that the Soft power is the attractive
and account for more than 40 percent of power. Soft power is more than just the
global gross domestic product (GDP). The influence, coercion or the ability to move
region’s aggregate weight in the global people through argument.11 Furthermore,
economy continues to increase. China is soft power can be defined as the ability to
now the world’s second largest economy get what it wants through an attraction,
by nominal GDP, and largest by purchasing rather than coercion or payment.12
power parity. Average annual per capita
According to Zhou, China’s strategy
disposable income in 2014 was around
emphasizes soft power, because they
$3,000.9 Asian emerging economies,
see this strategy is a weak point for
especially in China provides opportunity
their superpower bitter rivals in global
and challenges for China to bring forward
politics, the United States. Since the Iraq
their national football ambition.
war began in 2003, the United States has
Football clubs nowadays are suffered a serious setback in terms of soft
becoming part of a larger and more power. For China, the drive to go forward
integrated global strategy and becoming with the use of soft power is not just a
an instrument of economic globalization.10 desire to promote a particular brand or
China of course saw this opportunity. their political philosophy, but more to
They see football as an area that can and rebuild national credibility. China’s soft
should be exploited as the extention of power has arrived in the world in the
their national interest, both from the form of scholarships for foreign students
economic and political aspects. It is quite to study in China, helping many countries
natural because football has become an financially, as well as playing an important
industry and market that is very special. role in many international organizations. 13
11
Sheng Ding, “Soft Power and The Rise of China:
An Assessment of China’s Soft Power in Its
Modernization Process”, A Dissertation submitted
9
George Abonyi, “An Alternative Perspective on to Graduate School-Newark Rutgers, The State
Asian Emerging Economies”, CogitASIA, CSIS, University of New Jersey, 2006, pp.41-45.
March 1, 2017.
12
Jinghao Zhou, “Does China’s Rise Threaten The
10
Osvaldo Croci and Julian Ammirante, “Soccer United States?”, Asian Perspectives, Vol.32, No.3,
in the Age of Globalization”, Peace Review, 11, 4, 2008, pp.171-182.
December 1999, pp.500-502.
13
Ibid., pp.180.
112 | Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara | April 2017, Volume 7 Nomor 1Picture 1. Money spent during Winter Transfer Window 2016.
Source: Statista, 2016.
One area that has not been used by local clubs of a league in Asia whose age is
China in terms of soft power is football. relatively new and inexperienced, signed
Football as one of the most popular the big names players in world football at
sports in the world, is an opportunity a fantastic and tend to be unreasonable
to apply soft power to the western and price. CSL managed to force the world
African countries, especially Europe that to recognizes China’s financial clout and
are way more advanced from them in ambition to become a major force in
football world. world football.
In recent years, China’s applying a The lack of resources in high quality
great soft power maneuver in the form of local players, makes the world-class
an international player transfers and heavy star transfer a very reasonable thing. By
investment in European big football clubs. bringing in world class players, the CSL
The strategy of recruiting international has ensure the progress at the level of
foreign players to strengthen the club is competition and professionalism in their
a common thing in the world of football, national football. Nonetheless, many
as professional leagues around the world observers and football critics condemned
does the exact same thing. the steps taken by the Chinese clubs. CSL
However, football public across the has spent hundreds of millions dollars just
globe was taken by surprise when the to bring world-class players to compete in
China.
China’s Soft Power: The Making of Football Superpower | Ganjar Ariel Santosa | 113Table 1. Top 20 Footballers With Highest Salary in 2016-17 Season.
No. Player Name Club Weekly Salary
1. Carlos Tevez Shanghai Shenhua FC £ 615.000
2. Oscar Shanghai SIPG £ 400.000
3. Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid £ 365.000
4. Gareth Bale Real Madrid £ 350.000
5. Lionel Messi FC Barcelona £ 336.000
6. Hulk Shanghai SIPG £ 320.000
7. Paul Pogba Manchester United £ 290.000
8. Graziano Pelle Shandong Luneng FC £ 290.000
9. Neymar FC Barcelona £ 275.000
10. Wayne Rooney Manchester United £ 260.000
11. Robin van Persie Fenerbahce £ 240.000
12. Yaya Toure Manchester City £ 230.000
13. Sergio Aguero Manchester City £ 230.000
14. Luis Suarez FC Barcelona £ 230.000
15. Asamoah Gyan Shanghai SIPG £ 227.000
16. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Manchester United £ 220.000
17. Ezequiel Lavezzi Herbei Fortune FC £ 220.000
18. David Silva Manchester City £ 210.000
19. David De Gea Manchester United £ 200.000
20. Bastian Schweinsteiger Manchester United £ 200.000
Source: Mirror Football, 2017.
In terms of expenditure, CSL is now that the Chinese football transfer
the league who has spent the most for activity has surpassed them and also their
recruiting football players in the world counterpart in the top five European
last year (see picture 1).14 In all, CSL has league such as Italy, Germany, Spain and
spent $336.55 million to bring top quality France.
players to China during the winter transfer High profile players has been
window 2016, compared to $271.42 million involved in this Chinese football transfer
for the English Premier League. While vaganza. Three international players from
English Premier League has always been Brazil; Oscar, Hulk and Alex Teixeira have
the epicenter of its financial power, put themselves on the list of world’s most
14
Niall McCarthy, “Chinese Soccer Clubs Flex Their expensive transfers when they joined
Financial Muscle”, Statista The Statistic Portal, Feb
19, 2016, https://www.statista.com/chart/4383/ the China’s local clubs. While Argentina
chinese-soccer-clubs-flex-their-financial-muscle/ striker Carlos Tevez signed up as a player
accessed on March 23, 2017.
114 | Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara | April 2017, Volume 7 Nomor 1with the highest salary in the world after Magath (Shandong Luneng) are some of
joining the club Shanghai Shenhua in the the world-class managers with a series of
month of December 2016 (see table 1).15 national and international titles. Then in
Table 1 showed us that Chinese the top of the chain, Marcello Lippi, the
Super League latest acquisitions are on former manager of the world champion
the top of the list of world highest paid from Italy, appointed as the Chinese
football players. Those written in bold are national team manager.
the players from Chinese Super League. Human resource recruitment
The CSL contributed six players with the strategy of international football is one
recent signings Carlos Tevez and Oscar on of the ways to enhance the capabilities
the top of the list, surpassing super star and the professionalism of the Chinese
players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and football. Another action that is actively
Lionel Messi. Other famous names such pursued by the Chinese is through
as Graziano Pelle (Italy), Hulk (Brazil), investment in Europeans big football
Ezequeil Lavezzi (Argentina) and Asamoah clubs.
Gyan (Ghana) are on the list from CSL. Two clubs from the city of Milan
While Shanghai SIPG joins FC Barcelona in Italy, Internazionale and AC Milan
and Manchester City in contributing three have been acquired by the China’s giant
players, only Manchester United has company. Suning Holding Group became
more players (four) on the list. This high the majority shareholder of Internazionale,
paying football players trend in CSL will while Changxing Group holds 99.93%
potentially continue in the future. At the of AC Milan shares. In addition, China
moment, there are 501 players in Chinese Media Capital, a consortium of Chinese
Super League, where 16,6% of them are companies has already purchased the
foreign players. (83 players). stock of English giant club Manchester
The world-class players recruitment City owned by Abu Dhabi United Group
is not the only human resource that is for 265 million pounds, equivalent to 13%
imported by China. World-class managers ownership.
also brought in to create a more List of the clubs which was acquired
interesting and qualified CSL. Luiz Felipe by Chinese companies did not stop there.
Scolari (Guangzhou Evergrande), Manuel Granada, Espanyol and Atletico Madrid
Pellegrini (Hebei China Fortune), Sven (Spain), Nice and Lyon (France), Aston
Goran Erikkson (Shanghai SIPG), Fabio Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and
Cannavaro (Tianjin Quanjian FC) and Felix West Bromwich Albion (England), ADO
15
Aaron Flanagan, “The world’s highest paid the Hague (Netherlands) and Slavia
footballers – Who Wayne Rooney could surpass Prague (Czech Republic) has seen their
if he secures move to China”, Mirror Football, 21
February 2017. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/ shares purchased or have been controlled
football/news/worlds-highest-paid-footballers- entirely by Chinese investors. (See Picture
cristiano-9511170, accessed on 23rd of March 2017.
China’s Soft Power: The Making of Football Superpower | Ganjar Ariel Santosa | 115Picture 2. China’s investment to the European Football Clubs since 2015.
Source: Bloomberg, 2016.
2)16. Until 2016, more than 2 billion dollars young Chinese players at the club,
disbursed for investment in European mentioning that the likes of international
clubs with the largest expenditure is to players like Oscar and Hulk were brought
acquire Italian club AC Milan. This list to China to help achieve that goal. Since
certainly has the potential to be longer in SIPG (Shanghai International Port Group),
the years ahead. the largest port management in China,
Two examples to implement soft completed its takeover of the club in
power in the world of football are by 2014, investment in foreign players has
recruiting world-class human resources rocketed. In the 2014/15 season, the club
and massive investment in International spent £5.95 million on overseas players;
big clubs. The world class football players the following season, that rose to £23.38
transfered to China is one of the reason to million; and in the lead up to the new
develop young Chinese players. Shanghai season, the sum was almost five times
SIPG Chairman, Chen Xuyuan, spoke higher, at £113.38 million. On top of that,
about the importance of developing the club has set up 31 academies across
China aimed at advancing the level of
16
See Annex 1.
116 | Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara | April 2017, Volume 7 Nomor 1domestic footballers. The most promising In their Five Year Plan number 13
young products from those academies policy, the government aimed to create
are invited to the center in Shanghai when sporting industry worth of 3.000 billion
they turn 13.17 yuan, which can contribute to about 1
By investing in European football percent of the national gross domestic
clubs, there is a great opportunity for product by 2020, compared with 0.7
Chinese local clubs to learn, and for local percent in 2015. The five-year plan
young talents to be trained in Europe, encourage local governments to form the
which overall will improve the quality of sports industry investment fund, by using
Chinese football. For example, Spain’s club the private sector and cash society, and
Espanyol with their new Chinese owner, also to broaden their sporting interests
just recently announced Xu Xu, their first through a public-private partnership
ever Chinese national midfielder signing. project financed. 19
While Jiansu Suning, the club that has the From abroad, the visit of the
same owner of Internazionale Milan, sent President Xi Jingping, who was also
their Australian defender Trent Sainsbury a football fan, to the headquarters of
on loan to Internazionale. Manchester City in England while on
Now the Chinese Football has began state visit last year, constitutes a strong
to received tremendous exposure of evidence of the state presence that
the international media because of their will make the Chinese investors more
action in the transfer market and also the confident in the support of the state
European stock exchanges. policy towards their investment in the
world of football.
In order to understand the
engagement of China’s local clubs and The synergies between giant
investors, one must also see the important corporations and Chinese state policy
role of government in the process. In are well intertwined. Because for China’s
April 2016, the Chinese government companies, they feel that it is wise to be
has launched an ambitious blueprint publicly visible supporting state policy.
to create 50 million children and adults Buying a football club is not going to
playing football at the end of the decade. yield immediate revenue on investments,
Including plans to have at least 20,000 but has many indirect benefits such as
training centers and 70,000 football fields access to foreign markets, business
in 2020.18 opportunities, and strengthen the
17
Tom Roddy, “The Hard Cash and Soft Power
Driving China’s Footballing Ambitions”, accessed on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.
Newsweek Sport 17th March 2017. Accessed on 23rd
19
Summer Zhen, “Corporate Investment flooding
March 2017. into China’s sport sector”, South China Morning
18
Charlie Campbell, “China Wants to become A Post, September 7, 2016, http://www.scmp.com/
Soccer Super power in 2050”, Time Magazine, business/article/2017193/investment-flooding-
April 12, 2016, http://time.com/4290251/china- chinas-sports-sector, accessed on Thursday,
soccer-superpower-2050-football-fifa-world-cup/, January 12, 2017.
China’s Soft Power: The Making of Football Superpower | Ganjar Ariel Santosa | 117company’s image.20 stadium with 35,000 seat in the capital
Chairman of Dalian Wanda, the of San Jose, at an estimated cost of 100
one who acquired Spanish club, Atletico million dollars. In 2010, when Angola
Madrid, Wang Jianlin, said that Dalian hosted The African Cup Nations (ACN),
Wanda will continue to focus on the China built and financed four new
purchase of sports companies so that stadiums for them. Until this day, Angola
China could have a greater voice in the is China’s second largest source of oil.22
international sporting stage. In January Another example, 15 months
2016, Wanda acquired Swiss sports after the purchase of 13% ownership of
marketing company, Infront Sports Manchester City from Abu Dhabi United
& Media, which also holds a media Group to a consortium of Chinese Investor,
cooperation in several sports at the Abu Dhabi issuing oil and gas exploration
Winter Olympics. Wang said that the rights to China Energy Company Limited.
purchases could be a beginning that can The first time a Chinese company had
help China to host international sporting gained equity rights in Abu Dhabi oil and
events.21 gas. This also means China will have bigger
Influence is one of the most desired involvement in determining the price of
thing by China. With the strategy of soft such resources.23
power, China will have a strong influence Football, in terms of soft power, has
in the decision making on the world of been frequently used by China that it is
football. Given how strong the influence now commonplace. Take a look at the ACN
of Europe in football, then it certainly will held in Gabon this year. Apart from the
affect the global football as well. African players participating in the CSL,
Simon Chadwick, a professor of one of Gabon’s two stadium in Libreville
international football industry and expert and one in Franceville was funded and
on geo-politics of sport in Asia, said that constructed by China. In December last
China’s soft power in football has an year, President Ali Bongo of Gabon and
impact for dozens of countries in Latin Xi Jinping of China met one another in
America, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean Beijing, marked by China’s announcement
through what is referred to as ‘stadium that Gabon is to become a comprehensive
diplomacy’. In 2007, for example, Costa partner (raised from its current status
Rica cut ties with Taiwan and recognize as a billateral partner). Chadwick added
the rival, China. The following year, the that Football nicely joins the dots in a
Chinese workers build a new national Gabonese/Chinese relationship that
20
Liu Sha, “Why Chinese Companies are Investing already sees the African nation sending
in Football Clubs Overseas”, CKGSB Knowledge, 14,2 per cent of all its exports to its East
September, 26, 2016, http://knowledge.ckgsb.
edu.cn/2016/09/26/sports/chinese-companies- Asian partner. Looking ahead to the next
investing-football-clubs/, accessed on Thursday, 22
Campbell, op.cit.
January 12, 2017. 23
Roddy, loc.cit.
21
Loc.Cit.
118 | Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara | April 2017, Volume 7 Nomor 1Picture 3. How China use soft power to become world football superpower
ACN in 2019, where Cameroon will be Zambia, bridges in Mali, and schools in
the host, China Machinery Engineering Angola—all nations with vast mineral
Corporation has agreed to design two new resources that China covets dearly. The
stadiums. Back in 2009, China also made selection of recipients for Chinese aid
soft loans of US$40 million to Cameroon in the form of stadiums in Africa and
enabling the country to construct the Latin America is far from random. While
Limbe and Bafoussam Stadium which will stadiums are only a small component of
also be used in 2019.24 China’s greater foreign aid policy, the
Beijing has been creating massive, modern structures stand,
infrastructure projects for decades even to the most marginal members of
throughout Africa including railroads in society, as a tangible reminder of Chinese
assistance.25
24
Simon Chadwick, “How China is fuelling the
African Cup of Nations: Stadium Diplomacy 25
Rachel Will, “China’s Stadium Diplomacy”,
reigns down in Africa”, Asia & The Pacific Policy World Policy Journal, The World Policy Institute.
Society. https://www.policyforum.net/china- http://www.worldpolicy.org/journal/summer2012/
fuelling-african-cup-nations/ accessed on Monday, chinas-stadium-diplomacy, accessed on Monday,
February 6, 2017. February 6, 2017.
China’s Soft Power: The Making of Football Superpower | Ganjar Ariel Santosa | 119China has accelerate soft power can be a way to gain a national pride and
to the resource rich nations in Africa honor in the future, if managed properly
with their Stadium Diplomacy. At least and carefully. See below picture 3, the
the last three host of the African Cup scheme of how China is using their soft
Nations Angola, Equatorial Guinea and power to become the world football
Gabon; and also Cameroon, the future super power in the future.
host of ACN 2019, has received stadium China’s framework of using
projects from China. Football stadium it’s soft power is based on the good
diplomacy is a crucial aspect in examining synergy between the government and
the country’s effort in the making of a the corporations. Together, with the
football superpower. From here, China necessary sport policy and also the funds
will gain international trust from their from the corporation, they create a soft
allies, making them a startegic partner power strategy that elaborate the needs
in football, as well as opening a flawless to improve their national football and
pathway of a bigger role in the world of become the world’s football superpower.
football. The China’s soft power in football consist of
Sheng Ding believes that progress world class human resources recruitment,
in the Chinese soft power becomes investment in the European big clubs and
an important part of the national stadium diplomacy. With this strategy,
development strategy by emphasizing the China hopes to have a better system
improvement of national power including of youth player development, gaining
economic strength, the power of science influence from the European big decision
and technology, and cultural power. This makers in sport, as well as strengthen
makes China has become a new global their economy by trading their stadium
power.26 Therefore, the expansion of financing with natural resources. With
their soft power strategy in football is an this kind of elaborative and systematic
obvious thing to do and received special plan of action, world football superpower
attention by the government and also the is not just a dream for China.
world.
Although there are growing concern Lesson for Indonesia
about how far the international football
Football is a game that is enjoyed by
players and coaches can carry the national
everybody, everywhere, anytime and
Chinese football forward, we still need to
anyhow. We can see how the foreign
appreciate and praised the country for the
football broadcasts in Indonesia is able to
persistence to promote and improvetheir
attract the Indonesians. European clubs
national football. The planning and the
Indonesian fan base has been flourishing in
execution of their national sport policy
Indonesia and is still growing. The support
is a signal that sport, especially football
26
Ding, op.cit, pp.232-233
from Indonesian for foreign football clubs
120 | Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara | April 2017, Volume 7 Nomor 1flowing through social medias and club national team playing in the regional level,
attributes which voluntarily purchased either in the friendly exhibition or official
by Indonesian football fans such as scarf, match. They were willing to queue for
jersey, hats, bags etc. Football broadcast hours or even days, just to get the tickets
that began at dawn is not an obstacle, to the stadium and support the national
Indonesian football fans happily staying team. They do not care that the ticket has
awake just to watch their favourite been monopolized by brokers and re-sell
clubmatch. Most of the times, the rivalry it at a definetely higher prices. All of this
that took place between two clubs, such happens because two solid reasons, the
as Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, love for soccer and the love for the nation.
also affecting the supporters in Indonesia. Now look at the achievement of
From the local scene, the fanatic Indonesian football in International
supporters of local club is still showing competition. The last time Indonesian
its existence by continuing to flood the national team won a trophy is back in
stadium when their beloved team play. 2013, when the U-19 national team led by
From yells and chants of supporters, Indra Sjafri won the AFF cup 2013, which is
banners of support untilstadium the first title in 22 years. One year after the
choreography, constantly adorn the under 19 glory, the senior national team
local club matches. Fierce rivalry betwen cannot even qualified to the next round of
supporters such as Persija Jakarta and the AFF 2014. In the club level, the biggest
Persib Bandung is still a headline for achievement is in the semifinals of AFC
national sport news when the two teams Cup 2014 where Persipura Jayapura was
meet. beaten by Kuwait club, Al-Qadsia, with
Although there were time when the aggregate of 10-2.
Indonesian football was punished by the One achievement that is worth
highest governing body of world football, noting is, the achievement by the
FIFA, because of the government Indonesian Youth team. Last year,
intervention on May, 2015, which led to Indonesian u-15 team were crowned as the
the suspension of Indonesian football champion of Gothia Cup 2016 in Sweden.
club and national team in the international Gothia Cup is the world’s largest and most
competition, the Indonesian football international youth football tournament
public can still maintain their enthusiasm where each year, around 1600 teams from
when local clubs compete in a national 80 nations take part and they play 4500
event such as the Presidents Cup. games on 110 fields. The achievement of
Let’s take a look at how people from the youth product of Indonesian football
all accross the country willing to come is still promising but they must maintain
to the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium or their ambition, skill and attitude.
Pakansari Stadium when the Indonesian
China’s Soft Power: The Making of Football Superpower | Ganjar Ariel Santosa | 121So the main question is how come eventhough Indonesia has not had the
one of the most populated nations in the economic strength like China have now.
world, where its citizen is crazy about Indonesia requires a good framework for
football and everything related to football, improving the quality of national football,
does not perform at the international to be able to perform in the international
level? This particular question is the arena. As described in the previous
same exact question when we see what paragraph, the framework includes two
happens to the Chinese national football main points which is a strong commitment
before the fundamental changes they and careful planning.
made in the last few years. The first point relates to the
What China did to improve the motivation of the national football
quality of their football is something that stakeholders, which in this case, by the
can be learned. So why not learn from the national football authorities PSSI and
Chinese? Although Indonesian economic also the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
strength is not as strong as China, still China has successfully remodel their
there are several points that can be taken national football competition format,
from the Chinese football improvement. Ji-A League, from a competition which
By improving the quality of national was corrupted by illegal gamblings,
football through soft power strategy, bribery and match fixing, into a clean
China is attempting to boost national and high quality competition filled by
pride as well as expanding its influence world-class players. Not only remodel
in the international community. China’s the competition format, China also rid
Soft Power Strategy definitely related the corrupt and unproductive human
to their economic revival. In the absence resources. Indonesian football clubs
of significant economic progress, China certainly can recruit world-class players in
may not be able to launch their strategy the future if we provide a clean and high
of soft power in the form of massive quality competition.
international players recruitment, The second point is to create a
investment in Europe’s major clubs and the careful planning, a roadmap to get the
development of football infrastructure. desired results. In the case of China, Five
But soft power strategy will also not be Year Plan number 13 is a foundation for
possible without the strong commitment the Chinese national football towards a
and careful planning by the Chinese more professional and more competitive
government. Therefore, soft power is football scene. An ambitious blueprint
a tool, where commitment and strong where football development related
planning is a framework. to infrastructure and human resources
Indonesia certainly can draw lessons become the main focus of national
from what has been done by China, football reform with the goal of becoming
a world champion in 2050.
122 | Jurnal Pertahanan & Bela Negara | April 2017, Volume 7 Nomor 1Having such a great and careful its role globally.27 In the geopolitics
planning, China not only know what to perspective, China remains a relatively
do, but also able to attract a wide range of small power compared to Europe in
local investors to support their programs. the world of football at the moment.
This paper strongly advice that Indonesia But remember, China’s soft power has
should have the same blueprint as a allowed the restructuring of geopolitical
football policy reference, where national alliances in ways that will help the rise of
football stakeholders in collaboration China as a global power.28 Thus, changes
with academics exercise to achieve a in the geopolitical map of the world of
common goal in imporving the national football is a possible thing. Construction
football. If the Indonesian Ministry of of the alliance with Europe, Africa and
Defence has a defense white paper which Latin America through football clubs
is the formulation of the statement and and stadium diplomacy has put China as
defense policy as a whole, then Indonesia a potential superpower in football in the
must create a national football white future. This is consistent with their target
paper. to become world champion in 2050. Last
but not least, China will play a greater
role in the stage of international football
Conclusion
that certainly will have impacts on their
China’s soft power strategy in football international economy and politics.
this decade focuses on three important
components: (1). HR recruitment of world-
class football players and managers, and
(2). Heavy investment in European big
football clubs. (3). Stadium Diplomacy,
where China fund and construct new
Stadiums for their potential economic
partners in Africa and Latin America.With
this strategy, China aim to achieve some
results that have been implemented: (1).
Improving the quality and competitiveness
of the national football (2). Gain influence
in international football; and (3).
Strengthen their economies by expanding
markets and opportunities, in the football
business. 27
Alexandra Dan, “European Union, United States
of America and Popular Republic of China: The
China’s rise has caused a change in Impact of the National Power among the Trilateral
the international system. Its economic Cooperation”, European and Euro-Atlantic
Integration, 2016.
power contributed to strengthening 28
Ding, op.cit., pp.234.
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