This study deals with a new phenomenon defined as sharp power which is among the crucial field of study in the international relations. The term appeared in late 2017 in the studies of the leading American think tanks. This study aims to discuss the means and mechanisms of sharp power practice by considering the case of China as an authoritarian system. Considering the theoretical background and the existing literature, the study tackles the role of sharp power in shaping China’s foreign policy which is reflected in her behaviour as an authoritarian state in the international scene. Hence, the problem of this research is the term and the ambiguity of the concept as it may shape itself as a soft power of the despotic states or a malicious use of it. A few questions are considered here; how does China project sharp power? Why do authoritarian states prefer sharp power to the other forms of power in the international scene? Does China employ it in her foreign political behavior? what is the aim of China in using sharp power? To what extent has China been successful in deploying sharp power in its international relations? The study attempts to answer the following questions through the comparison it makes between the practice of different types of powers. The study explains sharp power through presentation of the trends and issues related to the concept. The presentations concentrate on the similarities and differences between sharp power and other forms of power such as hard, soft and smart powers compared with terms and concepts used to signify nontraditional modern warfare.