China’s Wolf warrior diplomacy

In news– A term that gained popularity, especially after Xi became President, “wolf warrior diplomacy” is a tactic for the Chinese government to extend its ideology beyond China and counter the West and defend itself.

What is “wolf warrior diplomacy”?

It is an unofficial term for the more aggressive and confrontational style of communication that Chinese diplomats have taken to in the last decade.
A 2015 Chinese action film, titled ‘Wolf Warrior’, and its sequel have served as the inspiration for the term.
The films, with their nationalist themes and dialogues, focus on Chinese fighters who frequently face off against Western mercenaries.
The change in strategy has been attributed to many reasons, such as Xi’s more authoritarian tendencies as compared to earlier leaders, deteriorating US-China relations under former US President Donald Trump, the coronavirus pandemic-related accusations on China, etc.
The move is simply about standing up to what they believe is Western interference.
As per China’s foreign vice-minister Le Yucheng, the term is rhetorical “tit-for-tat”.
Some examples of this strategy can be seen in the form of messaging on social media too, where Chinese officials are quick to counter any allegations by the West and proactively launch attacks.
The new ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ confronts head-on any criticism of China in the public sphere.
In simple terms, it is confrontational and combative, with its proponents loudly denouncing any perceived criticism of the Chinese government and its policies on social media and in interviews, as well as using physical violence against protestors and dissidents.