Cultural coercion as statecraft

States increasingly weaponize cultural and consumer links — banning concerts, delaying films, restricting imports and tourism — as low‑cost, high‑visibility punishment for political signals about sensitive issues like Taiwan. These measures aim to shift public opinion, impose economic pain on targeted industries, and deter other governments from signalling solidarity without crossing into open military confrontation. — If cultural and commercial coercion become routine tools, democracies must harden alliance signalling, protect soft‑power channels, and decide how to respond without escalating to military confrontation.