‘It will come back to haunt us’: inside warnings against China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ coronavirus diplomacy

Chinese observers and former envoys caution against Beijing’s attempts to define international opinion in the face of a global health crisis

Be aware of criticism in usually friendly countries as they question China’s position, observers say

Reading Time:4 minutes

99+

Beijing’s much-touted all-weather friendship with Africa have taken a beating over reports of forced eviction and other mistreatment of Africans in Guangzhou. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:00am, 18 Apr 2020Updated: 11:17pm, 18 Apr 2020

Beijing should scale back its combative efforts to change the narrative over the coronavirus pandemic and rein in rising nationalist sentiment because the attempts have backfired and hurt its international reputation, Chinese diplomats and foreign policy experts have said.

The warnings come after pushback in the region and beyond to China’s diplomatic posturing in the midst of a devastating global health crisis, especially its “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy, an assertive approach named after a popular nationalistic film.

In the past week, the French government has summoned China’s ambassador after the Chinese embassy posted an article suggesting workers in French nursing homes had abandoned their jobs; and Beijing’s much-touted all-weather friendship with Africa took a beating over reports of forced eviction and other mistreatment of Africans in Guangzhou.

It is rare for Chinese observers to issue such blunt warnings about their country’s tactics, especially since China has taken an increasingly strident tone against the United States and its Western allies in the past two years.

But Shi Zhan, an associate professor and director of the World Politics Centre at China Foreign Affairs University, said the rise of nationalism among diplomats was particularly dangerous considering the soaring distrust of China and a pulling away from Beijing by Western countries.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x

‘It will come back to haunt us’: inside warnings against China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ coronavirus diplomacy

Chinese observers and former envoys caution against Beijing’s attempts to define international opinion in the face of a global health crisis Be aware of criticism in usually friendly countries as they question China’s position, observers say

Chinese observers and former envoys caution against Beijing’s attempts to define international opinion in the face of a global health crisis

Be aware of criticism in usually friendly countries as they question China’s position, observers say