China has turned the page on its aggressive ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy – except when it comes to Japan

China has turned the page on its aggressive ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy – except when it comes to JapanChina’s shift in diplomacy: Since 2023, China has moved away from its aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomacy, aiming to present itself as a global peacemaker.

Exception with Japan: At the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Wang Yi strongly criticized Japan, particularly comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

Wolf warrior rhetoric: Wang’s remarks included threats and references to Japan’s history of militarism, echoing the confrontational style of wolf warrior diplomacy.

Broader strategy: Despite the harsh tone toward Japan, Wang also emphasized cooperation, UN involvement, and European participation in peace talks, positioning China as a responsible global leader in contrast to U.S. policy.

Nationalist pressure: Anti-Japanese sentiment in China, rooted in historical conflicts like the Second Sino-Japanese War, continues to influence the CCP and Wang’s rhetoric.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the rest of the original article.