By hurling insults at elected officers and a authorities spokesperson — debunking our 2016 authorized victory — Beijing is dividing us, finally to hole out assist for the President
Chinese language diplomats in Manila have reworked themselves into wolves. Final December, they took off their fits, confirmed their fangs, and snarled each time they didn’t like what they heard: that worldwide legislation is on our facet. It’s unsettling, even infuriating — and it seems to be like this can proceed, who is aware of, till when.
Take a look at the Chinese language embassy’s web page on Fb, and also you’ll get the drift. Listed below are some examples:
- To some within the armed forces: “A phrase of recommendation to related people within the Philippines: instantly cease making provocations and cease complicated proper and unsuitable, or they are going to pay the value for what they did.”
- To Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea: “…as a uniformed service member within the PCG, it’s best to spend extra time saving lives at sea than promoting anti-China narratives on social media.”
- To Senator Risa Hontiveros: “Are you actually advocating the curiosity of the Philippines and the Filipinos? Or are you merely pursuing your personal political positive aspects?…. What you’re doing is political theatre…”
- To Senator Erwin Tulfo: “Should you don’t perceive diplomacy… take the time to grasp what are the general public exchanges REALLY about. In any other case you threat changing into a supply of ridicule.”
‘Wolf warrior’ diplomacy
Welcome to a brand new chapter in our diplomatic relations with China marked by unrelenting insults and tirades on social media. Whereas many components of the world, particularly within the West, skilled Beijing’s “wolf warrior” diplomacy lately, from 2019 to 2021, the wave has simply reached us.
This combative kind of diplomacy takes its title from a 2017 blockbuster film, Wolf Warrior 2, the highest-grossing movie in Chinese language historical past on the time. The hero is a Chinese language Rambo-type former soldier who goes to an unnamed war-torn African nation to rescue Chinese language residents. Armed solely with a crossbow, he takes on African mercenaries and kills their boss, an American. These have been his indignant phrases to the American earlier than sending him to his grave: “Folks like you’ll all the time be inferior to folks like me.”
How did “wolf warrior” diplomacy evolve?
It has its roots in tensions within the South China Sea, buttressed by a 2016 ruling by the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration that China’s nine-dash line declare was with out authorized foundation. Thus, “wolf warrior” diplomacy was a technique to display resolve to each exterior and home audiences that China was severe about defending its pursuits, Chong Ja Ian, who teaches China’s international coverage on the Nationwide College of Singapore, advised Al Jazeera.
On the time, China spared us its bellicose rhetoric — even when we have been the nation that defeated it in courtroom — as a result of Rodrigo Duterte, who was the president then, pursued a coverage of appeasement. So, right here we’re, 10 years later, being drenched in China’s badass language as Duterte’s successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., shifted in the direction of the West and adopted a transparency coverage to let the world know of Beijing’s aggressive incursions within the West Philippine Sea.
Political context
China’s vitriol comes presently, seeing a gap in our home politics. Whereas the transparency coverage started in 2023, it took no less than two years for China to search out its second.
Marcos faces bother at residence, engulfed by an enormous corruption scandal which has reached his doorstep, slowing down the economic system, and pushing his rankings down — whereas his rival, Vice President Sara Duterte — is having fun with higher numbers. And, as we all know, Duterte is a good friend of China, and 2028 is just not distant.
One other issue is the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations: Marcos has mentioned that he would need the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct concluded on his watch and for President Xi Jinping to go to Manila. I wrote final yr that this might result in precarious diplomacy with Manila aiming to appease China.
So, what higher time for Beijing to dig in, ushered in by a brand new ambassador, Jing Quan, who’s setting a brand new tone.
Uniforms vs fits
It’s been only a few weeks for the reason that onslaught of China’s insults and, already, we’ve seen the distinction in responses by authorities companies. That is palpable whenever you learn the statements of the Nationwide Safety Council (NSC), the Division of Nationwide Protection (DND), the Nationwide Maritime Council (NMC), and the Division of International Affairs (DFA).
The NSC’s and DND’s are strongly worded whereas the NMC and the DFA are considerably muted, calling for restraint. Of all of the statements, it was the NSC that went past the Chinese language embassy’s assaults on people, saying that these have a “broader affect on Philippine establishments.” We’re seeing this play out. As an alternative of closing ranks, reminding themselves that China is the adversary, these authorities companies are targeted on finessing rhetoric.
Certainly, China’s intent to divide the federal government is working.
Furthermore, have a look at the asymmetry in each international locations’ actions. Beijing summoned our ambassador to protest the PCG spokesperson’s remarks whereas Manila merely made “agency representations” with the Chinese language embassy over its wolfish statements.
Unhealthy for China
Let’s zoom out a bit and see how “wolf warrior” diplomacy fared in different international locations.
The Economist got here up with a “wolf warrior” index which confirmed that since mid-2022, the aggressive rhetoric has steadily fallen and to start with of 2025, the Chinese language international ministry’s language had “softened to ranges of cordiality not seen previously six years…” It’s as a result of their confrontational diplomacy precipitated blowback, “soured relations with Australia and the EU, amongst others. Globally, public opinion on China tanked.”
Within the Philippines, China is among the many least trusted international locations. A Pulse Asia survey final December confirmed that just one in 10 Filipinos mentioned they belief China, or a ranking of 11%. Examine this to the US (82%), Japan (64%), Canada (58%), and Australia (51%), the highest international locations Filipinos belief.
With their pugnacious rhetoric, China ought to notice that they’re alienating Filipinos much more.
Let me know what you assume. E mail me at marites.vitug@rappler.com.
Until subsequent e-newsletter!
