Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi defends ‘wolf warrior’ diplomats for standing up to ‘smears’
- Minister tells ‘two sessions’ press conference that country will ‘hit back against malicious slanders and firmly defend national honour’
- Some diplomats have adopted an increasingly combative tone that has caused increasing friction, particularly with the United States
China’s foreign minister has defended the country’s combative “wolf warrior” diplomacy, saying the country will stand firm in defending the national interest and combating “smears”.
Wang Yi, who is also a State Councillor, also lashed out at attempts to sue China for compensation over the Covid-19 pandemic, telling a press conference on Sunday that the law suits were “blackmail” and “frivolous”.
Wang was asked on the sidelines of national legislative meeting, or “two sessions”, whether China had abandoned its low-key approach in light of the confrontational stance adopted by some diplomats, who have been nicknamed “wolf warriors” after a series of nationalistic action movies.
The minister replied that the country had always sought to take an independent and peaceful approach but had principles and integrity.
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“We will strongly hit back against malicious slanders and firmly defend national honour and dignity. We will lay out the truth to counter the gratuitous smears and to firmly uphold justice and conscience,” said Wang.
“No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony,” Wang continued. “Those who go out of their way to label China as a hegemon are precisely the ones who refuse to let go of their hegemonic status”.
It has also been widely criticised over its handling of the early stages of the outbreak and been accused of covering up the spread of the disease, sparking international pressure for an independent investigation.
The country’s combative defence of its response to the crisis has also caused friction and it has been accused of overplaying its hand by trying to use supplies of medical equipment for propaganda purposes.
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But Wang said: “China has never attached any political agenda to its support for the global fight against the virus. China is not a saviour, but is willing to be a friend to those in need.”
China and the United States have been locked in mutual recriminations over each other’s handling of the disease, further damaging their already deteriorating relationship.
Wang said China was also a victim of the virus but had shared information with the World Health Organisation in a responsible way.
“These frivolous lawsuits against China over Covid-19 have zero basis in fact, law or international precedent. They are utterly shoddy,” Wang said.
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“Today’s China is not what it used to be a hundred years ago, and the world is not that of a century ago.
If anyone, by abusing litigation, attempts to undermine China’s sovereignty and dignity or blackmails the Chinese people into giving up their hard-earned gains, I’d say they are delusional and bringing disgrace on themselves.”
Wang said China supported a scientific probe into the origins of Covid-19, which has infected more than 5 million people and killed over 340,000 globally, but said there should be no presumption of guilt.
He also said China had no ulterior motives in sending medical supplies abroad, saying it was not “pursuing geopolitical goals or calculating its economic interests” and had “never attached any political conditions”.
