China’s “wolf warrior” diplomats are back after a brief lull, firing insults over Twitter, smearing critics and suggesting conspiracies. The hyperactivity of the envoys follows renewed global pressure over Beijing’s treatment of the Muslim Uighur minority in China’s Xinjiang region.
Here are five things to know as the wolf warriors once more bare their teeth: The term “wolf warrior diplomacy” became common parlance in 2019, when Chinese envoys – most prominently spokesman Zhao Lijian – adopted a vociferous defense of the Communist-led country on social media platforms such as Twitter, which is blocked in China. The nickname derives from a film about a Rambo-like Chinese special forces soldier.
