Opinion | China’s handling of Australia row highlights what may be an increasingly hard line in diplomatic affairs
- Speech by vice-minister of foreign affairs offers a hint at the future of Chinese diplomacy
- Through Australia, China is setting the record straight – there will be consequences for offending Beijing
A speech by vice-minister of foreign affairs Le Yucheng at a Beijing forum over the weekend looks to be one of the most important references in gauging the guiding principle of future Chinese diplomacy.
Le addressed a key talking point regarding China’s international relations – its “wolf warrior” style of diplomacy. To many analysts and experts, including scholars within China, Beijing’s diplomatic apparatus is sometimes too confrontational to be constructive – there must be more sophisticated ways to engage than yelling at each other in the public domain.
The argument often goes that, if China wants to win respect in the international community, Chinese diplomats must be, well, more diplomatic. As such, the recent quarrel with Canberra seems unnecessary.
But there are growing signs that this is no longer in line with what Beijing is thinking.