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https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3084537/chinas-aggressive-approach-coronavirus-criticism-not-working
China/ Diplomacy

China’s aggressive approach to coronavirus criticism ‘not working’

  • Observers call for Beijing to reflect on shortcomings of its engagement with the rest of the world as international sympathy fades
  • Mask diplomacy and bellicose statements need to go if global relations are to improve, they say
China has been criticised for its so-called mask diplomacy. Photo: Xinhua

Diplomatic advisers and observers at home and abroad say China needs to reflect on its mask diplomacy and bellicose approach if it is to stabilise international relations in the coronavirus pandemic era.

The calls for Beijing to rethink its engagement with the rest of the world are part of a broader discussion taking place domestically and overseas as the world’s second largest economy maps out its long-term role as a responsible stakeholder on the global stage.

China is now the world’s largest supplier of masks, protective gowns and other medical equipment in the fight against Covid-19, after bringing the disease largely under control at home. But, only a couple of months ago, the situation was reversed.

Official data showed China imported more than 2 billion masks and 25 million protective gowns between January 24 and February 29 – its darkest hour in the coronavirus fight – as it became the world’s largest buyer of protective products to meet the grave shortages of medical supplies at home.

Some of those imports were sourced from foreign companies operating in China, which were quietly approached by the Chinese government for help and asked to keep the transactions low key, according to a foreign businessman involved in the deal.

It was a huge contrast to China’s later high-profile propaganda campaign when it started shipping medical products to Europe and other countries in dire need as the coronavirus spread, the businessman pointed out, and had contributed to growing negative perceptions of Beijing’s approach to the pandemic. “The situation is getting worse day by day,” he said.

China’s critics have accused the country of playing up its political system as superior in containing the virus and highlighting its role as a world leader, while ignoring early missteps including cover-up and disinformation in the initial stages of the outbreak in December.

Observers have also said the aggressive – and sometimes unprofessional and undiplomatic – remarks by Chinese diplomats in defending the county’s handling of the virus had led to fading sympathy for China. An article in Chinese state media suggesting the US and the world owed China “an apology and thanks” for its efforts against the pandemic did not improve perceptions.

In Paris, Chinese envoy Lu Shaye was summoned by the French foreign ministry to explain comments on his embassy’s website claiming France had left elderly citizens to die of Covid-19 in care homes, while other diplomats have pursued a belligerent line on Twitter in fending off international criticism of China.

One Chinese government adviser, who asked not to be named, said the pandemic had offered China opportunities to improve international relations but the result was “obviously opposite”.

Instead of maintaining stable foreign relations, Chinese diplomacy had been largely overwhelmed by the need to serve domestic propaganda, the person said.

“We attributed the victory over the coronavirus to the Chinese system and overplayed the advantages of the system, which was unlikely to convince Western countries. We sent medical supplies to selected European countries, which added a new layer of suspicion – in already China-wary Europe – that the assistance came with a political purpose and endangered the bloc’s solidarity.

“And there is another issue of below-standard epidemic prevention medical products from China, when the world is reliant on us for such supplies,” the adviser said.

Chinese donations of medical equipment have raised suspicion in Europe. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese donations of medical equipment have raised suspicion in Europe. Photo: Xinhua

China has tightened quality control on its exports of medical products since April but more action is needed to quell the growing international hostility, according to observers. Pressure is mounting on China to allow an inquiry into the origin of the virus, with the US and other countries pressing Beijing for greater transparency.

Meanwhile, the pandemic – which has infected more than 4 million people and killed more than 300,000 around the world – has plunged economies into recession. Recovery once the worst of the health crisis has passed will be slow, according to economists.

The government adviser said China needed to take a measured and practical approach to repairing its international reputation. “It is not convincing [anyone] merely through words. Talk the talk and walk the walk, even though it takes time.”

Hong Kong-based Louis Kuijs, head of Asia Economics at Oxford Economics, said China would have to adjust its diplomacy or risk losing further global sympathy. “Perhaps it is not yet completely too late, but China probably will have to really think hard about how it can salvage its international standing and image if it feels that is important now,” he said.

Kuijs said the actions of several Chinese diplomats in Europe – who were “allowed to kind of go rogue in pursuing a very aggressive street-fighting style of diplomacy” – were at odds with China’s diplomatic tradition and had led to a backlash, especially in European countries.

He also described some of China’s responses to the Trump administration in the US as unsophisticated and warned that a similar approach with other countries risked losing further sympathy.

“If China is to have the kind of relationship it wants with the world, it will have to adjust its diplomacy.”