China is resorting to ‘wolf-warrior’ diplomacy for ‘great rejuvenation’ of the State as the world corners it on COVID-19

If Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “be prepared for war” cry to protect the nation’s sovereignty is any indication, then China, blamed by much of the world for the COVID-19 nightmare, is hitting back even as it has been browbeaten by the virus. This warning call has been seen as anti-West, indicating China is not willing to let go of the Asian domination of the world economy it has crafted all these years. So it is turning belligerent again on the West-modelled Hong Kong and Taiwan, which it sees as bases of surveillance and destabilisation of Chinese authority. Although it had been patient with the first round of protests in Hong Kong over repressive laws, fearing global opinion and depleted returns from the island economy, it is unapologetic and determined now as it has been roundly condemned for the Wuhan contagion. So it has decided to impose a new anthem Bill and national security laws in Hong Kong, totally bypassing the semi-autonomous territory’s own legislative process. The new Bill would make it a criminal offence to “disrespect” the Chinese national anthem and ensure that it is taught in Hong Kong schools and sung by organisations. The city is also on the edge over Beijing’s plans to impose the national security legislation on May 28, which aims to tackle alleged secession, subversion and terrorist activities. Citizens fear that the legislation could see Chinese intelligence agencies set up bases in the city and begin a new era of State repression. Protests, which had petered off due to the pandemic, have returned to the streets. But for Xi, demonstrable muscularity is about the survival and stability of the Communist Party.

The fact of the matter is that this Chinese aggression is not just limited to Hong Kong. Chinese ships swarmed an offshore oil rig operated by Malaysia and its Coast Guard sank a fishing boat in disputed waters off Vietnam. It denounced the second inauguration of Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen, and nixed the word “peaceful” from its annual call for unification with the island nation. All this goes to show the “wolf-warrior” diplomacy that can happen with an unbridled China, no longer restrained by the fear of international rebuke and led by a leader who is pursuing a “great rejuvenation” of the Chinese State. Besides, Xi knows from past experience that though the global community has often spoken out against China’s excesses in Hong Kong, it has not really counteracted the mainland on the ground. The international community has just stood by and tut-tutted over violations of human rights. It has to do better than just unleash US President Donald Trump’s fury.

(Courtesy: The Pioneer)

China is resorting to ‘wolf-warrior’ diplomacy for ‘great rejuvenation’ of the State as the world corners it on COVID-19

If Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “be prepared for war” cry to protect the nation’s sovereignty is any indication, then China, blamed by much of the world for the COVID-19 nightmare, is hitting back even as it has been browbeaten by the virus. This warning call has been seen as anti-West, indicating China is not willing to let go of the Asian domination of the world economy it has crafted all these years. So it is turning belligerent again on the West-modelled Hong Kong and Taiwan, which it sees as bases of surveillance and destabilisation of Chinese authority. Although it had been patient with the first round of protests in Hong Kong over repressive laws, fearing global opinion and depleted returns from the island economy, it is unapologetic and determined now as it has been roundly condemned for the Wuhan contagion. So it has decided to impose a new anthem Bill and national security laws in Hong Kong, totally bypassing the semi-autonomous territory’s own legislative process. The new Bill would make it a criminal offence to “disrespect” the Chinese national anthem and ensure that it is taught in Hong Kong schools and sung by organisations. The city is also on the edge over Beijing’s plans to impose the national security legislation on May 28, which aims to tackle alleged secession, subversion and terrorist activities. Citizens fear that the legislation could see Chinese intelligence agencies set up bases in the city and begin a new era of State repression. Protests, which had petered off due to the pandemic, have returned to the streets. But for Xi, demonstrable muscularity is about the survival and stability of the Communist Party.

The fact of the matter is that this Chinese aggression is not just limited to Hong Kong. Chinese ships swarmed an offshore oil rig operated by Malaysia and its Coast Guard sank a fishing boat in disputed waters off Vietnam. It denounced the second inauguration of Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen, and nixed the word “peaceful” from its annual call for unification with the island nation. All this goes to show the “wolf-warrior” diplomacy that can happen with an unbridled China, no longer restrained by the fear of international rebuke and led by a leader who is pursuing a “great rejuvenation” of the Chinese State. Besides, Xi knows from past experience that though the global community has often spoken out against China’s excesses in Hong Kong, it has not really counteracted the mainland on the ground. The international community has just stood by and tut-tutted over violations of human rights. It has to do better than just unleash US President Donald Trump’s fury.

(Courtesy: The Pioneer)