Coronavirus: they’re only answering Xi Jinping’s call but are China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ diplomats doing more harm than good?

At least seven of Beijing’s foreign ambassadors were summoned by authorities in their host nations last week to answer charges ranging from spreading rumours to racist abuse

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the envoys’ truculence – seemingly demanded by their leader – could well come back to bite them, China watchers say

Reading Time:4 minutes

China has come under heavy attack for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, but its diplomats are answering Xi Jinping’s call to fight back. Photo: AP

Published: 10:15am, 27 Apr 2020Updated: 1:58pm, 27 Apr 2020

With much of the world still in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, China’s diplomats are fighting an uphill battle to fend off criticism of the country’s initial handling of the crisis and reset the narrative about the origins of the deadly coronavirus.

Elsewhere in the world, Beijing’s critics and opponents are redoubling their efforts as they go in pursuit of justice and reparations, or at the very least, a scapegoat.

In recent weeks, some of China’s most seasoned ambassadors have found themselves embroiled in a war of words with their host countries. But rather than adopting the traditional approach of managing tensions through diplomatic protocols, as the storms have raged, many of them have risen to the call of Chinese President Xi Jinping and displayed their “fighting spirit”, often at the expense of the country’s global image, pundits say.

Last week alone, at least seven Chinese ambassadors – to France, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and the African Union – were summoned by their hosts to answer charges ranging from spreading rumours and misinformation to the “racist mistreatment” of Africans in the south China city of Guangzhou.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged diplomats to show their fighting spirit amid growing adversity over the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Xinhua

The clashes correspond with a shift in gear in the wider coronavirus blame game, with ever more countries – Germany, France, Britain, Australia and Canada among them – joining the United States in pressing Beijing for greater transparency regarding its initial cover-ups and other missteps.

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