New Books Network Dylan Loh, "China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy" (Stanford UP, 2025)
Jan 7, 2026
Dylan Loh, an Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University, unveils the dramatic evolution of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs into a bold global player. He explores the rise of 'wolf warrior' diplomacy and the intricate balance between assertiveness and professionalism among diplomats. With insights from over 100 interviews, Loh discusses how China's digital tactics on platforms like X shape its diplomatic narrative. He also hints at his upcoming project focused on China's quest for discourse power, providing a captivating glimpse into the future of international relations.
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Diplomats Matter Within Top-Down Constraints
- Diplomats exercise meaningful latitude within broad top-level directives and shape how policies are implemented.
- Dylan Loh argues this discretion makes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consequential in China's foreign policy.
Guanxi and Persistence Won Access
- Dylan Loh describes relying on guanxi and snowball sampling to secure 104 interviews across diplomats and external observers.
- He recounts doing fieldwork in China from 2016–2018 and repeatedly asking contacts for introductions to build access.
Background Shapes Research Access
- Positionality shaped access: Singaporean background and Chinese ethnicity helped open doors that a foreign-born researcher might not get.
- Loh shows nationality and perceived affinity affected who responded to interview requests.
