China’s ‘mask diplomacy’ to change the COVID-19 narrative in Europe

Abstract

China has attempted to change the COVID-19 narrative (a disease caused by SARS-COV2 virus) and dissociate itself from the virus after reports indicate SARS-COV2 spread from a 'wet market' in Wuhan. It is acting both out of fear and confidence. China is afraid that its standing in world affairs will take a beating due to its botched response in the initial stages to combat COVID-19. It is trying to save face internationally. China is apprehensive that the pandemic will highlight its less developed domestic conditions. It is also concerned it will be blamed for more than three million infections and more than 185,000 deaths globally and for the worst economic meltdown since the 'Great Depression' of the 1930s. China is also deeply anxious about regime survival due to domestic and global economic meltdown. On the global stage, China is exuding confidence in its victory in the war against COVID-19 under the leadership of President Xi. China has declared that there are no new cases in mainland China and only foreign and asymptomatic cases were being reported until recently. 1 China is portraying itself as an essential power which has the capacity to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and ancillary medical equipment (as a public good) relative to the US-led West. It has allowed Xi to boost his image as a model global leader. China has also highlighted the strengths and effectiveness of its governance model. It has repeatedly emphasized the struggles of Western countries in combating COVID-19 and criticized these countries for their inadequacies.

China’s Mask Diplomacy in Europe: Seeking Foreign Gratitude and Domestic Stability

“…Among several noteworthy scholarly assessments of the rationale behind mask diplomacy, Verma (2020) notes that the PRC utilised medical transfers both "for coercive diplomacy and for winning hearts and minds," and also for domestic propaganda purposes (though this argument is not elaborated further). Another study also points to the soft power function of China's global health diplomacy, which, however, contrary to the EU and the USA, has been well received in the developing countries, thus indirectly expanding China's role in the global system as "benevolent actor," at the expense of the US hegemonic position (Gauttam et al, 2020).…”

Globalism or Nationalism? The Paradox of Chinese Official Discourse in the Context of the COVID-19 Outbreak

“…According to Smith [52], nationalism is "a sentiment or consciousness of belonging to the nation," among the range of meanings associated with it. In the early years after the P. R. China was founded, Chinese nationalism is constructed by emphasizing China as a victim of foreign invasion and ill-treatment through Western countries' economic, political and ideological power [57,67]. More recently, by praising China's performance and achievements under the leadership of the ruling party and criticizing Western countries' interference, the Chinese government/party-state counters criticism of Western countries and sustains the legitimacy of the ruling party at home [67].…”

“…The nationalist discourse in Chinese mass media results from fear and confidence. In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, China was blamed for its botched response in the initial stages of combating this new type of coronavirus because reports indicate that COVID-19 spread from a seafood market in Wuhan, in central China [57]. Either calling for an inquiry into the origin of the virus or finding a scapegoat for their failure to contain the spread of the contagion or both, Western countries blame China for its bad governance, insufficient transparency, and unwillingness to share information and are demanding reparations [18].…”

“…Moreover, looking at Chinese official discourse in the context of COVID-19 outbreak will contribute to the understanding of China in global health governance. On the one hand, it will shed light on China’s attitude towards multilateral institution in global health governance and global governance more widely and provide insight into China’s attempts to change global COVID-19 narrative [ 57 ]. On the other hand, to what extent the Chinese experience of controlling the epidemic may be applied to other countries is debatable, but promoting this line of global policy learning is invaluable in global health governance [ 28 ].…”

COVID-19 and China’s Changing Soft Power in Italy

“…On China’s COVID-19-related aid to other countries, scholars have extensively written about China mask diplomacy in relation to its impact in Europe, primarily discussing about the geopolitical nature of China’s aid. Verma ( 2020a , b ), Le Corre and Brattberg ( 2020 ) argued that China manipulated the pandemic to change COVID-19 narrative and that, through its aid, China is showing its superiority in handling COVID-19. While they provided interesting insights into China’s COVID-19-related aid in Europe in general, this article provides country specific studies and conducts inquiry into the domestic role played by China’s public diplomacy.…”