Roots and Causes of China’s Diplomatic Behaviour

Diplomacy of a nation is an articulation and pursuit of its national interest in the rough weather of international relations. While national interest as perceived by each nation may differ from each other at a particular point, it has never been constant for a particular nation. In the 21st century, internal determinants are increasingly shaping the diplomatic choices of democratic nations more than the external determinants, even though the latter influence the domestic discourses such as the place of migrants in society, rights of minorities, etc. While these issues do not find much place in political discourses amongst one-party states like China, the other internal conditions trump the external environment when it comes to diplomatic choices and behaviour. China’s offending diplomatic offensive in the last few years which has earned the title of ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ is strongly rooted in its domestic political conditions.