As I see itChina’s new diplomacy normal looks a lot like the old one
- The pandemic has meant big changes in the way Chinese envoys and leaders conduct external relations
- But even in an era of digital summits, one thing remains the same
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also admitted as much in his year-end speech at a government-linked think tank earlier this month.
With no end to the pandemic in sight, the changes brought on by the coronavirus to China’s diplomacy are expected to last for many years to come.
The coronavirus has transformed the way diplomacy is usually done in China. With global business travel largely ground to a halt and international gatherings moving online, Chinese diplomats also have to adapt to the changed realities.
For one thing, virtual meetings are the new normal. Digital diplomacy has significantly cut travel budgets and brought down the cost of previously lavish meals and summits.
The crisis that nearly brought diplomatic activities to a standstill in its first few months appears to have a positive side for many Chinese diplomats, who usually work substantial overtime. “I can leave the office on time for the first time in many years and that’s the biggest change for me,” a Chinese diplomat said privately in June.
But holding talks in a digital environment is by no means easy. In the era of President Xi Jinping, China has put particular emphasis on leadership diplomacy, using face-to-face interactions and state visits to foster personal bonds among world leaders and diplomats. But the approach has been hit hard by the pandemic. Compared with Xi’s 13 overseas trips in 2018 and 14 trips in 2019, including a visit to Macau, his January visit to Myanmar was his only trip abroad this year.