New Books Network Talking Thai Politics: China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy
Dec 12, 2025
Dylan Loh, an Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University and author of China's Rising Foreign Ministry, delves into the transformation of China's diplomacy. He explores the rise of 'wolf warrior' tactics and the balance of assertiveness versus professionalism among Chinese diplomats. Loh shares insights from his extensive research involving 104 interviews, highlighting the role of institutional habits in shaping diplomatic practices. He also discusses China's influence in ASEAN and previews his next book on discourse power, shedding light on the evolving landscape of global diplomacy.
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Diplomats Shape Policy Within Constraints
- Diplomats matter because they operate within latitude to shape tone and implementation of foreign policy even under top-leader constraints.
- Dylan Loh shows diplomats exert consequential influence by choosing how to phrase and enact state direction.
Fieldwork Access Through Guanxi And Persistence
- Dylan Loh used snowball sampling, guanxi, and repeated requests to gain access to diplomats during fieldwork in 2016–2018.
- He eventually had to limit interviews because demand from informants outstripped his capacity.
Xi's Reforms Elevated The Foreign Ministry
- Under Xi, the foreign ministry's profile rose via personnel, budget, and institutional upgrades to implement ambitious global projects.
- These changes empowered diplomats to act more assertively with leadership approval.
