Rise of Chinese Public

Diplomacy during
COVID-19 Era
Maria Kanwal
kanwalmaria618@gmail.com
 01 Introduction
Key Terms
02 China
Public Diplomacy of China before COVID-19
Initiative Points
Aims
Tools and Examples

03Public Diplomacy of China during COVID 19

Coronavirus Diplomacy
Mask Diplomacy
Success or Failure

04 Conclusion
 Introduction
Defined as efforts backed by the
government for communicating with
the foreign publics. It is also known
as “People’s Diplomacy”. Called as coronavirus
Soft disease

Diplomacy Power
 

Public Diplomacy
COVID 19

Defined as method of manipulating The ability of state to influence

behavior and decisions of foreign the other state and non-state
administrations and peoples by the actors through appeal and
means of dialogue and negotiations attraction
 China
• China officially named as People’s Republic of China
(PRC)
• Largest East Asian Country.
• Occupies near to one-fourteenth of Earth’s land surface.
• Beijing is its capital; Shanghai is its main industrial part
and Hong Kong is foremost port and commercial sector.
It is bounded
 To North by Mongolia
 To North East by Russia and North Korea
 To East by East China and Yellow Sea
 To South East by South China Sea
 To South by Nepal, India, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and
Bhutan 2019-CoV
 To Southwest by Pakistan
 To West by Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and CORONAVIRUS
Kyrgyzstan
 COVID-19
 COVID 19 is called as coronavirus
disease 19.
 In March 2020 World Health Organization
(WHO) declared coronavirus disease as
Pandemic
 The first case of pandemic was reported
from Wuhan in China.
 COVID 19 changed lives and economy
of many countries
 Public Diplomacy of China before COVID-19
Public Diplomacy of China
Chinese first report of Public
Diplomacy highlights that Public
Diplomacy denotes ways of
promoting bilateral discussions with
surrounding Nations
China pursues to move from
representation of “China Threat”
to positive image of China as
“Peace Loving and Friendly
Nation”.
 Public Diplomacy of China before COVID-19

Chinese Public Diplomacy Initiative

Points
1st attempt was observed in mid-
1930’s when foreign journalists visits
China.
Second attempt was observed in early
1970’s when China initiated it “Ping-
Pong Diplomacy” and leader of China
initiated “Open-door Policy”.
Last attempt was observed in 1989
when China break the concept of
isolation
Aims of Chinese Public
Diplomacy

To promote Chinese Culture

To promote Chinese Language
To make clear China’s positive image
To enhance international trade and friendly association
with other nations
To back the developing nations
 Chinese Public Diplomacy Tools

Under the rule of Hu Jintao“Confucius Institute” was

established.
Aim was to promote the Chinese language abroad
In 2004 Confucius Institute was established in Korea.
At the last of 2016, China gets success in establishing
512 Institutes in above 140 World countries.
“Chinese Bridge” is considered to be perfect example
of Public Diplomacy.
.
Chinese Public Diplomacy Tools
Events by China like “Asian Games” and “UN
International Women’s Conference” in 1990
serves as vital instrument of Chinese Public
Diplomacy
Events were carried out for promoting Chinese
culture along with international trade.
China’s Central Television (CCTV) broadcasts
internationally on radio, television in Russian,
English, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese
language
 Tools
 China actively engaged in
establishing Cultural
centres in other Nations.
 1st cultural centre of
China was established in
1988 in Mauritius and
Benin.
 20 Cultural centres were
established in Africa, Asia
and Europe
 Aim is to promote
Chinese Culture
Examples
 During 2013 China announced “One Belt One
Road Initiative”.
 This initiative increased China’s investments in
projects in Global South.
 China has been observed in providing aid and loans
to Africa
 Public diplomacy of China in Africa was seen from
the education opportunities given to African students
to study in China
 Medical and technological aids given to African
nation from 1960’s-1970’s.
Public Diplomacy of China during COVID-19
In COVID -19 Era China
represents its nation as
generous
China adopts defensive
approach
Taken measures like transport
closure, closing of educational
institutions and shops
Public Diplomacy contains both
external and internal dimensions
Public Diplomacy of China during COVID-19
China provides measures for
combating the diseases to its
own citizens and also to the
other nations
EU, UK, Australia, Germany and
other nations demanded from
China that how to deal with this
pandemic
 Conti…
China provided medical aids along with significant
health equipment’s to the developing and weaker
nations
Chinese Public Diplomacy is visible from that
during this pandemic time period China shared its
expertise in dealing with this pandemic
China provided medical aids like Ventilators,
Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Gloves, masks,
Medicines, Testing Kits and Ultrasound
Equipment’s to other nations for dealing with
Coronavirus
 Conti…
Chinese government sends its medical
experts for giving the trainings to the other
countries
China provides loans to other nations like
Sri Lanka to fight against Coronavirus
Chinese Companies also takes it part in
helping the world, like Alibaba Foundation
and Jack Ma Foundation.
 Conti……..
 These foundations donate medical aids to rest of
world
 Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and other companies also
takes part in combating this pandemic by providing
masks to the European Countries.
 Under the Public Diplomacy new forms of Diplomacy
emerges like
 Coronavirus Diplomacy
 Key point of this diplomacy is that COVID-19 serve
as a base to maintain peaceful relations between the
states which was hostile before
 Case of China and Italy
 These two states are hostile before pandemic but
during Pandemic China provides medical aids to Italy
Mask Diplomacy
It focuses upon the medical aids
given by the countries to the other
nations
Like during this pandemic time
period China provides medical
equipment’s to the developing
nations and itself received the
equipment’s from Japan
 Success or Failure
Public Diplomacy of China is
considered to be a success.
China achieved its success in a way
that during this pandemic China
seems the one who helps other
nations.
Through this China maintained its soft
image in the world.
Moreover, China through its CPEC
project enhanced its trade with other
nations.
 Success or Failure

Success of China’s Public Diplomacy

could be seen from the speeches
made by President of Serbia and
Foreign Minister of Italy
They pointed that they didn’t receive
any assistance from European during
time period of Pandemic.
They stated that it was only China
who gives them assistance in time of
need.
 In a nutshell it is to be concluded that
China seems to be engaged in providing
Conclusion assistance and aids to other nations
during the time of needs
China backed the developing nations by
providing them loans, medical assistance
and education facilities, like we have
seen case of Africa.
COVID-19 Era created for Chinese
Public Diplomacy a chief favorable
ground.
 Through Public Diplomacy China is
attracting the other nations towards itself
Conclusion and China is achieving it objective
without any coercion
Public Diplomacy of China is paving the
way for representing China as a powerful
and cooperative nation during the time of
needs
China’s efforts of providing aids and
assistance to developing nations
presents China as Global Leader during
COVID-19 Era