Latest
test post
Russian Halal products are marketable in Pakistan now!
Pakistan takes President Putin’s Proposals Seriously
The Asian Dialogue
Ramadan in Russia: Kazan Hosts Mega Iftar
Regional Rapport
Search
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Introduction
    • Board of Advisors
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Team
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • America
      • North America
      • South America
    • Asia
      • Central Asia
      • East Asia
      • Middle East
      • Southeast Asia
      • South Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
  • Thematic Focus
    • International Security
    • Geopolitics
    • Foreign Policy
    • Terrorism & Extremism
    • History & Civilization
    • Art, Literature & Culture
    • Democracy & Politics
    • Peace Diplomacy
    • Trade & Economy
    • Connectivity & Transportation
    • Climate Change
    • Science & Technology
    • Maritime
    • Human Rights
  • Projects
    • Training Workshop on Data Journalism
    • Books
    • Investigative Reports
    • Research Articles
    • Guidelines
      • Guidelines for Articles
      • Guidelines for Research Articles
    • Authors
  • Media Monitor
  • Book Reviews
Friday, Apr 11, 2025
Regional RapportRegional Rapport
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Introduction
    • Board of Advisors
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Team
  • Regions
    • Africa
    • America
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
  • Thematic Focus
    • International Security
    • Geopolitics
    • Foreign Policy
    • Terrorism & Extremism
    • History & Civilization
    • Art, Literature & Culture
    • Democracy & Politics
    • Peace Diplomacy
    • Trade & Economy
    • Connectivity & Transportation
    • Climate Change
    • Science & Technology
    • Maritime
    • Human Rights
  • Projects
    • Training Workshop on Data Journalism
    • Books
    • Investigative Reports
    • Research Articles
    • Guidelines
    • Authors
  • Media Monitor
  • Book Reviews
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Regional Rapport > Blog > Peace & Diplomacy > COVID-19: China’s Mask Diplomacy
Peace & Diplomacy

COVID-19: China’s Mask Diplomacy

Punsara Amarasinghe
Last updated: June 5, 2020 9:44 am
Last updated: June 5, 2020 8 Min Read
Share
SHARE

It is by no means a hyperbolic phase to call the year 2020 as Anus Horribilis by virtue of the events that have befallen from the very first month. The new year bells rang amid the bush fires in Australia and within seventy-two hours after new year eve the US assassinated Iranian top General Soleimani in Iraq creating an extremely tense situation.

Then within a week, the greater disturbance escalated into a worse scenario when Iran launched an attack on the US bases in Iraq. However, all the above-mentioned events became less significant and probably forgotten when COVID 19 became an unmitigated disaster creating chaos around the world. But when it emerged in China at the end of 2019 the morbid fascination shown by the US foreign policy analysts was a palpable factor as the US perceived that repercussions of COVID 19 in Wuhan may inevitably stagnate the magic economic growth that China has been witnessing.

But this irrational jubilation was short-lived as it ultimately turned to irrational disappear with the rapid spread of COVID 19 as a global pandemic which has now brutally wounded the USA making it as the current epicentre whereas China has slowly begun to recover from its eleventh-hour moment. The unexpected situation erupted in the West before coping with the coronavirus was followed by China’s evasive global aid campaign against Corina virus as Chinese opted for “mask diplomacy” by sending medical supplies to European countries and the portrayal of China as the scapegoat was vindicated by these actions.

So, it is intriguing that, especially the growing emphasis on China’s liability for concealing the coronavirus when it emerged in Wuhan from the global community, that China gleefully clung to its mask diplomacy across Europe when European solidarity was at stake. Especially, China’s gusto in supplying medical aid and masks to Italy was a notable factor as it has altered the hostile public perception pervaded in Italian society towards China’s BRI (Belt and Road Initiative).

For example, there was a massive criticism on Chinese BRI project in Italy, particularly in relation to its potential threat to debilitate Northern Italy’s economy. China seized the moment in such a berating atmosphere towards them in Italy as the good Samaritan. China’s massive medical supply and masks to Italy even as the European Union failed to rally around one of is leading economies played a crucial role in China’s position in Italy. In fact, Italy was just one example showing the astuteness of China’s mask diplomacy amid much COVID crisis.

Nevertheless, the causes rooted in Chinese bonhomie seems to have been propelled by Xi Jin Ping’s biggest dream of leading China to the global political realm and the apathy showed by the USA contrary to its historical Atlantic alliance with Europe boosted China’s “Mask’s Diplomacy” significantly. While ascertaining the Chinese strategy amid the COVID crisis to uplift their good name in the Western world, one cannot forget the trajectories shaped up Chinese foreign policy that has mainly derived from Modern Chinese infatuation with their ancient Confucian values in diplomacy.

The Gift giving has been depicted as rather an essential feature in Confucian ethics and it was well applied by several dynasties in imperial China to expand Chinese influence beyond its frontiers. China’s ethical guru Confucius venerated ethics over the law. In emulating the principle of virtue, the importance given to ritual has played a significant one, because, in the Chinese ancient book of rites, the governance and giving were linked to ritual. It was believed that gift-giving as a ritual was filled with reverence and a sense of generosity and also it was expected to receive blessings from the receiver.

The Confucian ethics prevailed in imperial China reached its nadir after the formation of the People’s Republic of China grounded on Communism. Yet, its importance came back to the practice with steeping growth of China as a global political, economic and military power in the late 20th century. In particular, the famous gift-giving strategy adopted by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in the ’80s to make comity with the USA was known as Panda Diplomacy which resulted in a considerable diplomatic triumph for China.

From a vantage point, the Chinese strategy of sending medical aid and masks to foreign countries, especially to EU states is akin to how Chinese approach to developing foreign relations under Confucian values, but its deeper political expectations seem to have been envisaged by the west with a sense of doubt. Especially, China’s act of sending masks and medical aid was seen as a way to extend Beijing’s political leverage to other countries and divert world attention from discussing China’s culpability for spreading coronavirus.

The Chief of the European Union Joseph Borell has described this phenomenon as “the politics of generosity”, simultaneously the West has lampooned China for conducting provocative campaigns against neighbouring countries from Taiwan to Japan by taking the advantage of corona chaos. The criticism focusing on Beijing’s actions are been propelled by China’s contemporary attitude to increase its participation in global politics contrary to its initial claim on a peaceful rise, which used to be the mantra of Chinese depiction of their yearning to become a superpower under Hu Jintao.

Given this situation of West’s ambivalence to view Chinse “Mask Diplomacy” as an evasive action to change the global attitude towards China, the Confucian ideals need to be reexamined as it guides foreigners to fathom how Chinese vision works. As I stated above gift-giving culture played a dominant role in ancient China under Confucian ethics to underpin the social harmony.

Throughout its civilizational saga, China always called herself the middle kingdom and kept paternal relations with the neighbouring states. Thus, it is justifiable to argue the way Chinese have been using the Mask Diplomacy is not entirely an act of manipulation of opportunities as it has been vehemently critiqued by the West. Indeed, its roots have derived from China’s unique civilizational approach to international affairs.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy and position of Regional Rapport.

TAGGED:ChinaChina Mask DiplomacyConfusion StrategyCOVID-19Mask DiplomacyPeace
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
By Punsara Amarasinghe
Punsara Amarasinghe is a visiting fellow at Center for Global Legal Studies in the University of Wisconsin Madison. He reads for his PhD in International Law at Institute of Law, Politics and Development in Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, Pisa, Italy and held a one-year research fellowship in the faculty of law in National Research University, Higher School of Economics in Moscow.
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Sign up to receive our weekly research email

Our selection of the week's biggest research news and features sent directly to your inbox. Enter your email address, confirm you're happy to receive our emails.
[mc4wp_form]

News & Research

Follow US on Socials

Information for

Top links

Students

Staff

Quick Link

Regional Rapport

regional.rapport@gmail.com
Tel: +92 314 9522907

Follow Regional Rapport

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Privacy Notice
  • Use of Cookies
  • © Regional Rapport. DFLOX Solutions Design. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?