My Take | Diplomatic? Just call it being offensive
- As insults and swear words fly, envoys and their bosses around the world are turning diplomacy on its head
One definition of “diplomatic”, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “employing tact and conciliation especially in situations of stress”.
Now, though, diplomats around the world, and their bosses, the presidents and prime ministers, have become openly rude to each other, often making situations worse than they are. At least one dictionary definition of the word may need revision.
This week, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jnr called China an “ugly oaf” and dropped the F-word in a foul-mouthed tweet as he demanded the withdrawal of Chinese vessels near the Scarborough Shoal. He has now apologised for the outburst.
He seems less sorry to the Chinese, but rather for breaching an unspoken rule that only his boss, President Rodrigo Duterte, is allowed to swear while making public statements.
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Trump angers Beijing with ‘Chinese virus’ tweet
Beijing has been unleashing its wolf warrior diplomats onto the world stage. They do get their messages across, but their effectiveness remains a matter of intense dispute and criticism.
However, no one holds a candle to former US president Donald Trump when it comes to insulting world leaders. After the US military assassinated a top Iranian general, he tweeted that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “has not been so Supreme lately”.