win-over operation; gentle persuasion tactic
Refers to a deliberate plan or strategy to win someone over through gentle persuasion rather than force. Often used in political, diplomatic, or organizational contexts.
The new party is intensifying its operation to win over independent lawmakers.
I fell neatly for his gentle persuasion tactic.
懐柔 is the general act of winning someone over through gentle means, while 懐柔作戦 specifically refers to a planned operation or strategy to achieve that.
作戦 is a broad term for a strategy or operation (military or otherwise). 懐柔作戦 narrows it to a strategy focused on gentle persuasion.
Compound of 懐柔 (かいじゅう, 'winning over by gentle means') and 作戦 (さくせん, 'operation, strategy').