I think the author argument is that it is okay to be suck in the kind of "soft power" that the west think of as "soft power". The author probably feel like the soft power that the west and Japan and South Korea are promoting are superficial kind of soft power. China instead should pursue different kind of "soft power".

To be honest, I never thought of that before. I always feel like one day, as long as China keep developing technologically and make China look cool that pique the world interest, maybe one day China will give birth to a global C-Pop just like J-Pop and K-Pop before it. Then China starting to crack down on entertainment business and feminine men. I was torn before. I thought that while there are negative aspects of those things that deserve reflection, I still think it is too much for state to intervene in private life of its citizens. I was afraid that it could hinder China from promoting "soft power" globally.

Now I feel like there are alternative paths to pursue soft power. Who knows? Maybe the author is right, maybe he is wrong, I guess only time can tell. Still, I think state should retreat from private life of the citizens.