A cross-platform comparison of China’s confrontational diplomatic communication

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recent years, increasingly confrontational diplomatic communication has become a concerning trend, marked by a rise in aggressive narratives between nations. This study explores the transformation of diplomatic communication in the digital age, focusing on the practices of Chinese wolf-warrior diplomacy on social media. By analysing Zhao’s social media posts on international (Twitter) and domestic (Weibo) platforms, we quantified his confrontational diplomatic narratives using structural topic modelling. We then investigate how social media affordances like micro-targeting and boundary spanning, combined with domestic social, political, and economic contexts, shape these confrontational narratives. Our findings demonstrate that Zhao’s communication style varies between platforms: it is reactive and defensive on Twitter, addressing international audiences, while being proactive and offensive on Weibo, targeting domestic audiences. This strategic use of social media serves not only diplomatic goals but also aligns with China’s nationalist sentiments and domestic policies. Our study reveals that China’s wolf-warrior diplomacy is both a result of and a contributor to the changing dynamics of international relations and domestic politics, offering a novel framework for understanding confrontational diplomacy’s rise globally.