China's "Wolf Warrior" Era

Today’s edition of our Current Affairs will comprise a discussion on China's "wolf warrior" Era. Read further to upgrade your UPSC CSE knowledge and also understand the topic’s relevance to the UPSC syllabus.

For Prelims: Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, Crises of Doklam and Ladakh, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

For Mains: Need for wolf warrior diplomacy, Other Major Foreign Policy Initiative: BRI, China’s Relation with Other Countries, China’s Relationship with India

Context

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) 20th National Congress began recently, completing the second tenure of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who pursued China’s core interests ever more aggressively, dubbed the ‘wolf warrior’ approach, which attracted the attention of the world.

Probable Question

Discuss the need and the implications of China’s Wolf Warrior era.

About Chinese Wolf Warrior Diplomacy

• The term is inspired by a 2015 Chinese action film, named ‘Wolf Warrior’ and its sequel, that focus on Chinese fighters who frequently face off against Western mercenaries.
• The term was rhetorical “tit-for-tat”, which means the following: 
  • It is a tactic for the Chinese government to extend its ideology beyond China and counter the West and defend itself. 
  • It is an unofficial term for the more aggressive and confrontational style of communication.
  • The new ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ confronts head-on any criticism of China in the public sphere.
• Instances of this Practice:
  • Chinese officials are quick to counter any allegations by the West and proactively launch attacks.
  • They lecture host governments and don’t always show up when ‘summoned’ by foreign offices. 
  • India has been at the receiving end for a while, during the recent crises of Doklam and Ladakh.

Need for Wolf Warrior Diplomacy

• The current Chinese President’s more authoritarian tendencies, 
• Deteriorating US-China relations 
• The accusation of the coronavirus pandemic on China.
• To safeguard the interests of China.

Other Major Foreign Policy Initiatives: BRI

• The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched in 2013, to stake China’s claim to global leadership. 
• BRI Aims:  
• To promote the connectivity of Asian, European, and African continents and their adjacent seas.

• To establish and strengthen partnerships among the countries along the Belt and Road.
• To set up all-dimensional, multi-tiered, and composite connectivity networks.
• To realize diversified, independent, balanced, and sustainable development in these countries.

China’s Relation with Other Countries

• China-U.S. rivalry is rising and China-Russia has deepened ties.
• China has sought to shore up relations with its Southeast Asian neighbors by deepening economic ties in the region.

China’s Relationship with India 

• India is viewed as a key “swing power” by China.
• However, The India-China relationship has been in conflict due to: 
  • The two “informal summits” in Wuhan in 2018 and Mamallapuram in 2019, 
  • The ongoing border crisis was triggered by the Chinese military’s multiple transgressions.
• India is dependent on China for emissions-reducing components used in thermal power plants.
• India and China both are part of various multilateral mechanisms such as the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the East Asia Summit, and the BRICS grouping (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).

Way Forward

• Relations with India have also been shaped increasingly by the all-consuming focus of Chinese diplomacy on its great rivalry with the U.S.
• The upcoming years with the new President of China, are likely to bring an ever-sharper period of tensions with the West.

News Source: The Indian Express, The Hindu

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/what-is-chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomacy/

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinas-wolf-warrior-era/article66002772.ece

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