Is iShowSpeed China’s New Soft Power Tool? The Speculation Behind His Tour
iShowSpeed made his way to China early in April 2025, opening many people’s eyes to the realities of modern-day Chinese culture while simultaneously annoying another large chunk of the population.
In the eyes of many, China is simply the place where we buy our cheap plastic goods without even understanding how much happens there every single year. However, as many may know, civil liberties are nonexistent, which is not a trade-off many would take, even if they could get better public transport in China.
Nonetheless, iShowSpeed did his best to showcase exactly what the country had to offer and was welcomed warmly by its population. From interacting with local celebrities to showcasing the latest and greatest tech, he saw the best of China.
The Grand Entrance: Celebrities, Events, and Iconic Moments
iShowSpeed’s China tour has been a cultural phenomenon, to say the least. Tons of high-profile encounters and unforgettable experiences transformed his little trip from a marketing play to an honest-to-god cultural exchange.
As soon as he stepped foot in the country, he was inundated with Chinese fans. Many local influencers immediately rushed to him. At one point, he had an insistent “Chinese Trump” following him around Chongqing.
He even used his freakish natural athleticism to have some fun with kung fu, learning basic moves and putting on a rather funny show for a sizable audience. No matter what you think about the kid, he’s a natural-born showman who’s made China look cool.
iShowSpeed’s Kung Fu training, Henan Provincial Shaolin Wushu Center
His visit to the Great Wall was another iconic moment, not just for the breathtaking scenery but for how iShowSpeed reacted to the monument. If you’ve ever watched his stream, you would know his reactions can be… odd, and when he got to the Great Wall, he once again started yelling and making dumb comments and asking nonsensical questions; it was hilarious.
It wasn’t all history and culture, though. iShowSpeed also got to see the best of the best in terms of cutting-edge Chinese technology. He bought that new triple-screen Huawei phone, and even test drove the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra electric vehicle. He seemed genuinely surprised at how fast the car could go, likely due to some of the propaganda in the US surrounding Chinese tech. For those who don’t know, the vehicle goes 0-60MPH in a ridiculous 1.98 seconds, far faster than even the fastest Ferrari.
iShowSpeed also got the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in Chinese film and the social media industry, like Da Zhang Wei, a well-known Chinese singer and entertainer.
The timing honestly couldn’t have been better for this trip. Instead of narrowing our worldview as many have over the last several years, his encounters help to bridge the gap between Western and Eastern entertainment.
Streaming Beyond Borders: Cultural Exchange or Strategic Influence?
The question of whether or not his China tour was a genuine cultural exchange or a propaganda play by the Chinese government to lessen tariffs, amongst other things, has led to a ton of debate online. iShowSpeed’s over-the-top and oftentimes ridiculous reactions make most lean towards the authentic side, especially with how dumb he usually acts, but the Chinese government could very well be playing the young man.
On platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), discussions surrounding the tour have been wild, depending on which side of the political aisle you stand on. Some users have gone all in on the “China is great” train, glazing iShowSpeed and China, while others cling to the notion that something just isn’t right.
For example, some posts on Reddit’s r/LivestreamFail have been talking relentlessly about how state-influenced his visit seemed.
Nonetheless, at the end of the day, every government wants to show its good side, not its bad, so it’s not too surprising that iShowSpeed would see the best China has to offer.
Streaming Soft Power: Lessons from iShowSpeed’s China Tour
The world is a far more complicated place than it was even 10 years ago, with China and other powers finally facing off against the USA in a meaningful way. With that comes soft power, something the US has controlled for years. Just think of how pervasive the US media has been since the 50s. Nowadays, China is breaking into that space, influencing international relations and using influencers to push its soft power across the world.
Just recently, it was reported that Chinese users on Weibo, a Chinese messaging service, were colluding to impact the upcoming Canadian federal elections by using large-scale influencer and bot campaigns. It may seem small at first, but the soft power of some of these influencers cannot be overstated; Kai Cenat literally caused a riot with one tweet.
Another great example would be the Donald Trump x Adin Ross stream, where an influencer was used to get to a younger voting block. The age of the internet has morphed from what it once was, and nowadays, your attention is a hot commodity.
Next Stop: Where Will iShowSpeed Stream Next?
iShowSpeed has finished up his tour of China but is planning on staying in Asia for quite some time, currently finding himself in Mongolia. There, he had a great time immersing himself in Mongol culture and even viewing a statue of the great Genghis Khan.
After leaving Mongolia, he plans to visit Japan, namely to see Tokyo. He’s been known to be a massive fan of anime, and the more touristy nature of Japan will likely be right up his alley, which should make for some solid content.
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