China wants its diplomats to show more fighting spirit. It may not be intended to win over the rest of the world
- The rise of the so-called ‘wolf warriors’ heralds a more aggressive approach to promoting the country’s official line
- Analysts warn this is likely to harm the country’s image even if their careers benefit as a result
Shortly before her promotion last year to head the foreign ministry’s information department, Hua Chunying lamented the lack of fighting spirit among China’s diplomats in promoting the country’s preferred narrative.
She admitted China had a lot of problems getting its message across at a time of deepening rivalry with the United States and scrutiny of China’s global ambitions in an increasingly chaotic world.
But for Hua, who just wrapped up a four-month training course focused on President Xi Jinping’s domestic and foreign policies at the Central Party School, diplomats’ inaction and their lack of fight is partly to blame.
Published in a front-page article in July in Study Times, the flagship newspaper of the party school, her remarks echoed a key message that the leadership and diplomats have repeated since early last year, that Communist cadres must prepare for a“long-term struggle” and be prepared to fight through adversity.
The Covid-19 crisis is obviously one of those testing moments.
