PISA allows for comparisons and contributes to the distribution of certain types of capital among countries, which is converted into soft power. Education has been considered an important pillar of the increased status and power China holds globally. However, Chinese participation in PISA differs from other countries, whereby only some of China's wealthiest areas participate rather than the entire country. Our research investigates China's distinct participation in PISA and its political implications through an analysis of the discourses of China and the OECD. Our findings point toward an intertwinement between local agency and global scripts regarding Chinese involvement in PISA.