Too soon, too loud: Chinese foreign policy advisers tell ‘Wolf Warrior’ diplomats to tone it down
- Combative approach is driving the world further away from China, they say
- Scholar calls for a halt to debate over origin of the coronavirus, saying it is only making the blame game worse
A new wave of nationalistic sentiment has emerged in China as it makes its way on the path to recovery, with diplomats and state media outlets fanning the flames.
Emboldened by the country’s success in containing the outbreak at home, and displeased with what they see as unfair criticism of China from abroad, they have taken to social media and official news outlets to defend Beijing’s handling of the outbreak.
But some of the country’s top foreign policy advisers say the aggressive nationalism is only serving to drive the world further away from China.
“The aim is to promote the Chinese political system as superior, and to project the image of China as a world leader in combating a global health crisis,” Shi Yinhong, an international relations professor at Renmin University of China, said during an online seminar arranged by the college on Friday.
“But the problem is, [these efforts] have failed to recognise the complexities that have emerged on the global stage during the pandemic, and they are being done too hastily, too soon and too loudly in tone, so there is a huge gap between what is intended and what is achieved,” he said.
The speech by Shi, who has been an adviser to the State Council, China’s cabinet, since 2011, was posted on an official university social media account on Monday.