'Sharp power' accusations seen as unfair ploy to tarnish China's image

Double standards and Cold War-era thinking are behind the recent voices alleging that China is boosting its publicity worldwide in order to impose "sharp power" on others, a spokesman for China's top political advisory body said.

Western countries that do likewise have been described as showcasing soft power or smart power, but China has been accused of having an ulterior motive or showing "sharp power", said Wang Guoqing, spokesman for the first session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He made the remarks at a news conference on Friday in Beijing when asked about the accusations.

Such allegations are full of prejudice, discrimination and hostility, and they are the latest version of views hyping China's threat, the spokesman added.