What does Chinese diplomacy have in common with the legendary Monkey King? Many virtues, says ex-envoy Cui Tiankai

Cui says the Chinese style can distinguish between good and evil and is steadfast

The world should be highly vigilant for ‘erroneous narratives’ about China that lead to misunderstandings, he warns

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If former ambassador Ciu Tiankai had to find an image representative of China’s diplomatic style, he would choose Sun Wukong from Journey to the West. Photo: Handout

Published: 8:00pm, 3 Dec 2023

Chinese-style diplomacy reflects some of the virtues of the fictional character the Monkey King, former veteran diplomat Cui Tiankai said on the weekend, adding that some Western countries have popularised “erroneous narratives” about Beijing’s foreign policy.

“If I had to find an image representative of China’s diplomatic style, I would choose Sun Wukong from Journey to the West,” Cui said, referring to the Chinese name for the character.

“Sun Wukong is loyal and steadfast, can distinguish between good and evil, and has strong abilities,” the official Guangzhou Daily quoted him as saying at the Understanding China Conference in the southern city of Guangzhou on Saturday.

The 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West is an East Asian literary classic and the Monkey King, one of its main characters, possesses supernatural powers, including immortality, invincibility, celestial strength and fighting skills.

The story has been the basis for comics, cartoons and television series, as well as video games. Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu portrays the Monkey King in the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences also named its first dark matter satellite probe Wukong, launched in December 2015, after the cultural icon.

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