Soft power can be welded to bend other nations to your will.

Yes. Long term approach to gaining political influence. Used as a weapon, it fosters dependency. Use as a good will approach, it fosters appreciation and the beginning of a bond of trust.

The infrastructure and loan programs China has been used for years in Africa and South America as the weapon.

Just take a gander of the infrastructure failures and unpayable loans. Also, the rare earth mining in central Africa.