Insults, conspiracy theories and human rights violations: China has reactivated its “wolf warriors” on social networks

Chinese “Wolf Warrior” diplomats are back after a brief hiatus, shout insults on Twitter, denigrate critical voices and suggest conspiracies. They are hyperactive in the face of Western pressure on Beijing’s treatment of Muslims Uyghurs of Xinjiang.

But what do the Wolf Warriors really represent, baring their teeth again?

When did it start?

The term “wolf warrior diplomacy” became popular in 2019, when Chinese envoys, especially spokesperson Zhao Lijian, they adopted a vehement tone to defend the communist country on social media platforms such as Twitter, which is blocked in China.

It comes from a movie about a Chinese special forces soldier, in the style of Rambo.

China insists it was forced to change its mind, amid White House condemnations when Donald trump he was president.

Zhao Lijian, as spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has promoted conspiracy theories like the one that the U.S. military could have brought COVID-19 to China.

A response to accusations then of “Chinese virus” Donald Trump, who claimed without proof that the coronavirus could come from a Chinese laboratory.

And in December Zhao Lijian criticized Australia in tweets accusing “Australian soldiers” of << Murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners“. The message accompanied the image of a soldier with a bloody knife at the throat of a child.

Experts believe the shift to attack mode reflects President Xi Jinping’s New China.

Why are they coming back?

When Joe biden took over the US presidency in January, Chinese diplomats believed relations would improve.

But the ceasefire was shattered into pieces in the US-China meeting in Alaska in mid-March, where the highest diplomat of the Chinese Communist Party, Yang Jiechi, threatened to take action “American interference”.

“Yang’s loud conversation in Anchorage appears to have encouraged senior Chinese diplomats to make inflammatory remarks.”, thought Mathieu Duchatel, Director of the Asia program at the Institut Montaigne, based in Paris.

The Consul General of China in Rio de Janeiro, Li Yang, called the Canadian Prime Minister a “child” Justin trudeau and said that Canada is a “pocket dog of the United States”.

And at the end of March, when the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States imposed sanctions on Xinjiang, the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, suggested that the CIA wanted to destabilize China.

In response to the boycott against brands such as H&M and Nike Expressing concern about the textile supply chain in Xinjiang, Hua showed a photo in which she said there was black slaves in the cotton fields of America.

Attack mode

China’s envoys say Beijing has been forced to retaliate because its rivals, especially in the West, unite to cut off its path.

The attitude of senior officials has changed a lot under Xi regarding the philosophy of former leader Deng Xiaoping. which was summarized in the slogan “Hide the strength and wait for the moment.”

When France recently summoned the Chinese ambassador for “unacceptable” behavior, the embassy replied that it would not immediately bow.

And now what?

Show that muscle can generate friction with some countries, but it could intimidate others, valued Chong Ja Ian, from the National University of Singapore.

Countries that depend on Chinese trade “They are more likely to submitHe said, adding that those who are used to dealing with Chinese pressure can better cope with Beijing’s wrath.

But Beijing can also step up pressure in the network to show what is the price to pay to oppose ChinaDuchatel note.

As long as you manage social media properly.

In September 2020, an official Twitter account of Liu Xiaoming, then Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, gave a “like” to a pornographic video. A hack then claimed the diplomatic legation.

(With information from AFP)

KEEP READING: