Wolf warrior diplomacy is an expression China uses to brand its assertive diplomatic strategy.
Over the weekend, Beijing’s top diplomat in Paris, Lu Shaye, put the strategy into practice when he questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet Union states.
The remark sparked outrage in Europe and even Beijing’s foreign ministry distanced itself from his words.
Since taking up his post in 2019, Lu has not been no stranger to controversy.
China’s strictly enforced zero-COVID-19 policy has been at the forefront of debate that sparked anger and rare, nationwide demonstrations last year.
Lu claimed that Taiwanese people had been brainwashed by ideas of independence — and therefore should be “re-educated.”
Some drew parallels between that comment and China’s descriptions of its concentration camps for Uyghurs and Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region.