logic subject

[ian2]

Despite the overall success of engagement in helping to shape China’s interests in ways desired by the U.S.government, U.S.political support for engagement is under strain.

Question: Shape China's engagement. Success of engagement helps to shape. In other words the success contributes to shaping. But what is the logic subject of SHAPE? In other words, who or what is the doer of shaping? Thanks.

[Tdol]

Engagement is the shaper.

[ian2]

Engagement is the shaper.

Can we say that there are other shapers and engagement is only one of them, because engagement helps to shape, contributes to shape. Or am I off the mark and we are only talking about engagement as a shaper?

[Tdol]

There are undoubtedly other shapers, but they aren't referred to or implied here to me- the focus is purely on engagement because it is under strain despite being successful.