Rude and Unpopular Chinese Diplomat... Invited to Film Industry to Learn Speech and Manners

Controversies Over Offensive and Aggressive Diplomacy Continue
Significant Damage to China's National Image
"Solving the Problem of Inefficient Messaging"

The Chinese diplomatic community, which has been embroiled in controversy over its 'blunt diplomacy,' is drawing attention by seeking help from overseas film directors. Chinese authorities plan to educate about 10,000 diplomatic personnel to research ways to deliver China's message to the world more 'sophisticatedly.'

According to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 22nd (local time), the China International Communication Development Center (CCICD), an organization under the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party, recently held an online seminar.

About 10,000 participants, including Chinese scholars, journalists, diplomats, and government officials, attended the seminar. The theme of the seminar was "How to make China's message more appealing to the world," and foreign film producers were invited as speakers.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to Korea [Image source=Yonhap News]

Originally, this seminar was planned to promote cultural exchange and cooperation between the CCICD and the overseas film industry and to produce documentaries related to Chinese history or culture.

However, as negative public opinion against China increased, especially in the West, due to China's so-called 'blunt diplomacy,' and voices of concern grew both domestically and internationally, the seminar expanded to include 'diplomat training.'

According to SCMP, the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party explained the purpose of hosting the seminar as wanting to "solve the problem of the Chinese diplomatic community's 'clich?d and inefficient messaging.'"

Criticism of China's diplomatic approach is nothing new. Due to some diplomats' unprofessional remarks and unrefined word choices, a new term, 'Wolf Warrior diplomacy,' has emerged.

Chinese military movie 'Wolf Warrior 2'
[Image source=Kidari ENT]

Wolf Warrior (戰狼) is a patriotic military film released in China in 2015, and diplomats who employ strong rhetoric and an aggressive style of diplomacy have been nicknamed 'Wolf Warrior diplomats.'

Wolf Warrior diplomats are reportedly popular among Chinese citizens. They represent the grandeur of China, which has developed into an economic and military power rivaling the United States, and fulfill the people's desire to be recognized as a great power by neighboring countries. Their statements are shared on Chinese social networking services (SNS), earning praise from netizens.

However, Wolf Warrior diplomacy faces significant criticism overseas and risks shaking China's external standing. For example, in April, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao sparked controversy at a press conference in Tokyo by saying, "Linking China's internal affairs to Japan's security is extremely harmful and will drag the Japanese people into the flames."

Domestically, too, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming caused a controversy over 'interference in internal affairs' when he met with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 8th and stated, "I can say with certainty that those betting on China's defeat will surely regret it later."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.