Wolf Warrior Diplomacy – Foreign Policy for Internal Use in China

Abstract

The article reveals the content of the new concept of “wolf warrior diplomacy” that first appeared in 2019. “Wolf warrior diplomacy” is a metaphorical phrase denoting a new demeanor of Chinese diplomats, characterized by particular assertiveness and aggressiveness. The author examines the emergence of the concept and its popularization in Chinese media discourse, and comes to the conclusion that this behavior of Chinese diplomats was not only condemned by the Chinese leadership and Chinese society, but, on the contrary, was supported and publicly approved. This is consistent with the new conceptual foreign and domestic political ideas of China – the strengthening of the “discursive power” in the international arena and the strengthening of the “four certainties” within the country. Wolf warrior diplomacy is intended to demonstrate China’s ability to turn in its favor even ideas, concepts and formulations that were originally anti-Chinese in nature and were developed by Western countries to discredit China and undermine its international image.