China’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy: How Chinese nationalism is Changing

Abstract

Chinese diplomacy in the past decades was known for its blandness and the use of long, verbose statements. In recent years, the international community has witnessed the emergence of a new form of Chinese diplomacy. This article provides an interpretation of the “Wolf Warrior Diplomacy” in the geo-historical context of the Chinese Dream, which is advocated by President Xi Jinping of China and considers the psychological domains that produce a new national subject. Focusing on the emotional energy of pride articulated in the so-called ‘wolf warriors’ are known for their ‘aggressive, proactive and high-profile’ tactics, those constitute the most essential emotional element in the formation of contemporary Chinese nationalism. Those wolf warrior diplomats, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, have started to use social media platforms to respond aggressively to US slander against China. This article elucidates the emotional politics of pride by comparing the Chinese foreign policies in the eras of Deng Xiaoping, and I conclude that the emerging national subjectivity is a psychic transformation and reinvention of previous nationalist fantasies in the new context. © 2021, Tamkang University. All rights reserved.