The use of Twitter as a diplomatic tool by China
an analysis based on Brazil-China relations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/2178-8839.119206Keywords:
Chinese Diplomacy, Twiplomacy, Brazil-China relationsAbstract
For many countries, social networks have stood out as an instrument of public and digital diplomacy, with China being one of the states that has most
used the network for such purposes, especially Twitter. That said, in this work we present a case study in which we analyze the use of accounts of
Chinese authorities on Twitter for dialogue with Brazilian counterparts. We highlight the way in which the social network was used in moments of
tension in relations between countries. With this paper we aim to contribute to a better understanding of the use of Twitter as a diplomatic tool by
China. From a bibliographic review and primary data collection, we concluded that, faced with a scenario of adversities, China started to perceive the
use of Twitter as a diplomatic tool aimed at instrumentalizing the defense of its interests. In the case analyzed, specifically, Chinese authorities used
Twitter to mobilize internal actors in Brazil politically and economically interested in Brazil-China bilateral relations to oppose policies that could be
disadvantageous to China.
Downloads
References
ALDEN, Chris; CHAN, Kenddrick. Twitter and Digital Diplomacy: China and COVID-19. LSE Ideas, June, 2021. Disponível em: https://www.lse.ac.uk/ideas/Assets/Documents/updates/LSE-IDEAS-Twitter-and-Digital-Diplomacy-China-and-COVID-19.pdf Acesso em 10/04/2022.
ARAÚJO, Ernesto. Sobre postagens recentes e a relação Brasil-China... 20 de mar de 2020. Twitter: @ernestofaraujo. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/ernestofaraujo/status/1240685730453524480. Acesso em 06/06/2021.
BATISTA, Henrique G. Empresários lançam estratégia para incrementar negócios com a China, em meio a tensões com 5G. O Globo, 26/11/2020. Disponível em: https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/empresarios-lancam-estrategia-para-incrementar-negocios-com-china-em-meio-tensoes-com-5g-24765622 Acesso em 10/09/2021.
BEACH, Sophie. Chinese diplomats take their “fighting spirit” to twitter, with mixed results. China Digital Times, 6/12/2019. Disponível em: https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2019/12/chinese-diplomats-take-their-fighting-spirit-to-twitter-with-mixed-results/ Acesso em 03/06/2021.
BERRINGER, Tatiana; CARNEIRO, Gabriel; SOPRIJO, Gabriel; SOUZA, Leonardo; BARROS, Larissa. Nacionalismo às avessas. In: MARINGONI, Gilberto; SCHUTTE, Giorgio R; BERRINGER, Tatiana. (Org) As bases bolsonaristas da política externa brasileira. Santo André: EdUFABC/FES, 2021 (a). Disponível em: https://editora.ufabc.edu.br/images/Livros/Bases_da_politica_externa_ bolsonarista .pdf
BHAYA, Abhishek G. China gives a nod to 'Twiplomacy,' MOFA launches Twitter account. CGTN, 12/01/2020. Disponível em: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-01-14/China-gives-a-nod-to-Twiplomacy-MOFA-launches-Twitter-account-NfiQHr2slW/index.html Acesso em 27/05/2021.
BIBIANI, Anna Clara Rodrigues S.; FERES, João. Diplomacia, conflito e imprensa. Manchetometro, 16/10/2020. Disponível em: http://manchetometro.com.br/2020/10/16/diplomacia-conflito-e-imprensa/ Acesso em 09/10/2021.
BJOLA, C.; JIANG, L. Social media and public diplomacy: A comparative analysis of the digital diplomatic strategies of the EU, U.S. and Japan in China. In C. Bjola & M. Holmes (Eds.), Digital diplomacy: Theory and practice (pp. 71–88) New York, NY: Routledge, 2015.
BORAH, Rupakjyoti. Why China’s ‘Wolf Warrior Diplomacy’ Will Backfire. Japan Forward, 13/05/2020. Disponível em: https://tinyurl.com/axm6sf4e Acesso em 03/06/2021.
BOLSONARO, Eduardo. Quem assistiu Chernobyl vai entender o q ocorreu... 18 de mar de 2020 (a). Twitter: @BolsonaroSP. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/BolsonaroSP/status/1240286560953815040 Acesso em 01/07/2021.
BOLSONARO, Eduardo. No mundo inteiro o 5G tem se tornado muito mais uma questão... 29 de jul de 2020 (c). Twitter: @BolsonaroSP. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/BolsonaroSP/status/1288484853785272326 Acesso em 01/07/2021.
BOLSONARO, Jair. A VACINA CHINESA DE JOÃO DORIA... 21 de out de 2020 (b). Twitter: @jairolsonaro. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1318909799505985537. Acesso em 01/07/2021.
BRANDT, Jessica; SCHAFER, Bret. How China’s ‘wolf warrior’ diplomats use and abuse Twitter. 28/10/2020. Disponível em: https://www.brookings.edu/techstream/how-chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomats-use-and-abuse-twitter/. Acesso em 03/06/2021.
BRASIL. (Presidência da República). Governo brasileiro assina acordo militar com EUA durante visita de Bolsonaro. 2020(a) Disponível em: https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/acompanhe-o-planalto/noticias/2020/03/governo-brasileiro-assina-acordo-militar-com-eua-durante-visita-de-bolsonaro Acesso em 10/10/2021.
BRASIL. (Ministério das Relações Exteriores). DCH II/ DCH I/ 44/ BRAS CHIN PEXT. 25/11/2020 (b).
BROMMFIELD, Emma. Perceptions of Danger: The China threat theory. Journal of Contemporary China, v.12 n.35, 265-284, 2003.
CARIELLO, Túlio. Investimentos Chineses no Brasil – Histórico, Tendências e Desafios Globais (2007-2020). Conselho Empresarial Brasil-China, 2021. Disponível em: https://www.cebc.org.br/2021/08/05/investimentos-chineses-no-brasil-historico-tendencias-e-desafios-globais-2007-2020/ Acesso em 10/10/2021.
CASTRO, Gabriel A. “Wolf Warrior”, o filme que desnuda as ambições do Partido Comunista Chinês. Gazeta do Povo, 20/08/2020. Disponível em: https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/ideias/wolf-warrior-o-filme-que-desnuda-as-ambicoes-do-partido-comunista-chines/. Acesso em 05/07/2021.
CHEUNG, Rachel; WILHELM, Benjamin. Why China’s ‘Wolf Warriors’ Won’t Back Down. World Politics Review, 7/04/2021. Disponível em <https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines/29554/china-s-wolf-warrior-diplomacy-is-here-to-stay> Acessado em 03/06/2021.
CHHABRA, Radhika. Twitter Diplomacy: A Brief Analysis. Issue Briefs And Special Reports, Jan, 2020. Disponível em <https://www.orfonline.org/research/twitter-diplomacy-a-brief-analysis-60462/> Acessado em 28/05/2021.
COLLINS, Stephen; DEWITT, Jeff; LEFEBVRE, Rebecca. Hashtag diplomacy: twitter as a tool for engaging in public diplomacy and promoting US foreign policy. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 2019. Disponivel em: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-019-00119-5 Acesso em 10/04/2022.
DAI, Yaoyao; LUQIU, Luwei R. China’s ‘wolf warrior’ diplomats like to talk tough. The Washington Post, 12/05/2021. Disponível em: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/12/chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomats-like-talk-tough/. Acesso em 15/06/2021.
DINO, Flávio. Economia brasileira vive momento de fragilidade. Um filho de... 18 de mar de 2020. Twitter: @FlavioDino. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/FlavioDino/status/1240456142079365121 Acesso em 10/10/2021.
DÓRIA, João. Lamentável e irresponsável a declaração feita pelo ... 19 de mar de 2020. Twitter: @jdoriajr. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/jdoriajr/status/1240608211310465027 Acesso em 10/10/2021.
DUNCOMBE, Constance. Twitter and the Challenges of Digital Diplomacy. In: Review of International Affairs, Volume 38, Number 2, Summer-Fall, pp. 91-100, 2018 Disponível em: https://doi.org/10.1353/sais.2018.0019 Acesso em 10/04/2022.
EMBAIXADA DA CHINA NO BRASIL. @BolsonaroSP Lamentavelmente, você é uma pessoa sem visão internacional... 18 de mar de 2020 (a). Twitter: @EmbaixadaChina. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/EmbaixadaChina/status/1240444169497260034. Acesso em 12/06/2021.
EMBAIXADA DA CHINA NO BRASIL. Manifestação do porta-voz da Embaixada da China no Brasil... 6 de abr de 2020 (b). Twitter: @EmbaixadaChina. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/EmbaixadaChina/status/1247001668832702474. Acesso em 12/06/2021.
FOWDY, Tom. There’s no ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’, only a logical reaction to Western attacks on China. 02/06/2021. Disponível em: https://www.rt.com/op-ed/525478-china-cnn-wolf-warrior-diplomacy/. Acesso em 30/06/2021.
FREDERICK, Howard. Global communication and international relations. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1993.
G1. Weintraub publica insinuações contra a China, depois apaga; embaixada cobra retratação. 06/04/2020. Disponível em: https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2020/04/06/weintraub-publica-post-com-insinuacoes-contra-a-china-depois-apaga-embaixada-repudia.ghtml. Acesso em 07/06/2021.
HUA Chunying. The vicious accusations the US flings at #Xinjiang reflect… 31 de mar de 2021. Twitter: @SpokespersonCHN. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/SpokespersonCHN/status/1377290546532642817 Acesso em 02/07/2021.
HUANG, Zhao; WANG, Rui. The New ‘Cat’ Of The Internet: China’s Panda Diplomacy On Twitter. Advances in Public Relations and Communication Management, Volume 4, p. 69-85, 2019a. Disponível em: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S2398-391420190000004006/full/html Acesso em 10/04/2022.
HUANG, Zhao; WANG, Rui. Building a Network to “Tell China Stories Well”: Chinese Diplomatic Communication Strategies on Twitter. International Journal of Communication 13, 2984–3007, 2019b. Disponível em: https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/11221/2703 Acesso em 10/04/2022.
HUANG, Zhao; WANG, Rui. Exploring China’s Digitalization of Public Diplomacy on Weibo and Twitter: A Case Study of the U.S.–China Trade War. International Journal of Communication 15, 1912–1939, 2021. Disponível em: https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/15105 Acesso em 10/04/2022.
JING, Zeng. Twitter has become a new battleground for China's wolf-warrior diplomats. The Guardian, 02/12/202. Disponível em: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/02/twitter-has-become-a-new-battleground-for-chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomats. Acesso em 30/06/2021.
JULIÃO, Henrique. Paulo Guedes: 'suspeição geopolítica' à China afeta competição no 5G brasileiro. Teletime, 7 jul. 2020. Disponível em: https://teletime.com.br/07/07/2020/paulo-guedes-suspeicao-geopolitica-a-china-afeta-competicao-no-5g-brasileiro/ Acesso em 09/10/20.
KISSINGER, Henry. Sobre a China. Rio de Janeiro: Objetiva, 2011.
LEE, Yen Nee. China’s aggressive behavior on the global stage is an ‘immense danger,’ says analyst. 28/06/2021. Disponível em: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/28/chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomacy-aggression-are-an-immense-danger-analyst.html. Acesso em 20/06/2021.
LOREZON, Giovanni. ‘Base’ do agro crítica duramente Eduardo Bolsonaro por abrir crise com China, 19/03/2020. Disponível em:https://www.moneytimes.com.br/base-do-agro-critica-duramente-eduardo-bolsonaro-por-abrir-crise-com-china/ Acesso em 10/10/2021.
OLIVEIRA, Eliane. Araújo ataca parcerias com Europa e Brics, e critica antecessores por apostarem no 'antiamericanismo'. O Globo, 12/03/2019. Disponível em: https://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/araujo-ataca-parcerias-com-europa-brics-critica-antecessores-por-apostarem-no-antiamericanismo-23516734 Acesso em 10/10/2021.
OLIVEIRA, Eliane. Agronegócio quer salvar relação com a China, após acusações de espionagem de Eduardo Bolsonaro. In: O Globo, 26/11/2020. Disponível em: https://oglobo.globo.com/economia/agronegocio-quer-salvar-relacao-com-china-apos-acusacoes-de-espionagem-de-eduardo-bolsonaro-24766813 Acesso em 10/10/2021.
MAIA, Rodrigo. Em nome da Câmara dos Deputados, peço desculpas à China e... 19 de mar de 2020. Twitter: @RodrigoMaia. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/RodrigoMaia/status/1240474698326163456 Acesso em 10/10/2021.
NICK, Stanko. Use Of Language In Diplomacy. Diplo, 2015. Disponível em: https://www.diplomacy.edu/resource/use-of-language-in-diplomacy/ Acesso em 10/04/2022.
NUNES, Vicente. Presidente da China resiste a falar com Bolsonaro. In: Correio Brasiliense, 20/03/2020. Disponível em: https://blogs.correiobraziliense.com.br/vicente/presidente-da-china-resiste-a-falar-com-bolsonaro/. Acesso em 04/06/2021.
RASHICA, Viona. Digital diplomacy: aspects, approaches and practical use. In: European Perspectives − International Scientific Journal on European Perspectives volume 10, number 1 (17), pp 21-39, April 2019. Disponível em: https://www.europeanperspectives.org/storage/24/DIGITAL-DIPLOMACY_Rashica.pdf Acesso em 10/10/2021.
REUTERS. Embaixada chinesa reage a postagens de Eduardo Bolsonaro sobre 5G e cita perturbação na relação Brasil-China. 24/11/2020. Disponível em: https://www.moneytimes.com.br/embaixada-chinesa-reage-a-postagens-de-eduardo-bolsonaro-sobre-5g-e-cita-perturbacao-na-relacao-brasil-china/. Acesso em 05/07/2021.
RIGGS, Aidan Powers; JARAMILLO, Eduardo. Is China Putting ‘Wolf Warriors’ on a Leash? The Diplomat. 22/01/2022. Disponível em: https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/is-china-putting-wolf-warriors-on-a-leash/ Acesso em: 18 abr. 2022.
RIKKONEN, Lassi; ISOTALUS, Pekka; HAUKKALA, Hiski. Places for Identification in the Blame Game: An Exploration of Rhetorical Diplomacy in a U.S.–China Twitter Clash. International Journal of Communication 16, 1260–1281, 2022. Disponível em: https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/17765 Acesso em 10/04/2022.
ROTHENBURG, Denise. Bancada do agro pede a cabeça de Weintraub. Correio Brasiliense, 08/04/2020. Disponível em: https://blogs.correiobraziliense.com.br/denise/bancada-do-agro-pede-a-cabeca-de-weintraub/ Acesso em 10/10/2021.
SCHLIEBS, Marcel; BAILEY, Hannah; BRIGHT, Jonathan; HOWARD, Philip N. China’s Public Diplomacy Operations: Understanding Engagement and Inauthentic Amplification of PRC Diplomats on Facebook and Twitter. In: Dem.Tech Working Paper, May, 2021. Disponível em https://demtech.oii.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/127/2021/05/Chinas-Public-Diplomacy-Operations-Dem.Tech-Working-Paper-2021.1-4.pdf Acesso em 10/04/2022.
SENADO FEDERAL. Ofício no 224/2020/Presid. 19/03/2020.
SPOKESPERSON MFA-CHINA. The Interim Report on Origins of COVID-19 Pandemic… 23 de jun de 2020. Twitter: @MFA_China. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/MFA_China/status/1275402953730351104. Acesso em 02/07/2021.
SOUSA, Ana Tereza L. M.; BELASQUES, Bruna; CASTRO, Bruno; CARNEIRO, Gabriel; ABRÃO, Rafael; SANTOS, Vitor H. Relações Brasil-China durante a pandemia: abalos no pragmatismo. In: AZZI, Diego; RODRIGUES, Gilberto; SOUSA, Ana Tereza L. M. (Orgs). A política externa de Bolsonaro na pandemia. São Bernardo do Campo: OPEB/FES, 2020.
SOUSA, Ana Tereza L. M.; SCHUTTE, Giorgio R; TEIXEIRA, Ana Paula; BELASQUES, Bruna; CASTRO, Bruno. Relações Brasil-China no governo Bolsonaro: da ideologia ao pragmatismo. In: MARINGONI, Gilberto; SCHUTTE, Giorgio R; BERRINGER, Tatiana. (Org) As bases bolsonaristas da política externa brasileira. Santo André: EdUFABC/FES, 2021 (a). Disponível em: https://editora.ufabc.edu.br/images/Livros/Bases_da_politica_externa_bolsonarista.pdf
SOUSA, Ana Tereza L. M.; ABRÃO, Rafael; SANTOS, Vitor H. Entre a subserviência e o pragmatismo: o Brasil perante o 5G. Oikos, Rio de Janeiro, vol. 20, n.1, 2021(b). Disponível em: http://revistaoikos.org/seer/index.php/oikos/article/view/716/353 Acesso em 10/10/2021.
STUENKEL, Oliver. China’s Diplomats Are Going on the Offensive in Brazil. In: Foreign Policy, 15/05/2020. Disponível em: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/05/15/chinas-diplomats-are-going-on-the-offensive-in-brazil/ Acesso em 10/10/2021.
SZPACENKOPF, Marta. Eduardo Bolsonaro apaga tuíte sobre 5G em que falava de 'espionagem da China'. In: O Globo, 24/11/2021. Disponível em: https://blogs.oglobo.globo.com/lauro-jardim/post/eduardo-bolsonaro-apaga-tuite-sobre-5g-em-que-falava-de-espionagem-da-china.html Acesso em 10/10/2021.
THAM, Engen; MILLER, Matthew. Exclusive: Beijing auditions foreign public relations firms to polish China brand. april 21, 2016. Disponível em: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-pr-exclusive-idUSKCN0XJ007 Acesso em 03/06/2021.
THE ECONOMIST. China’s “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy gamble. In: The Economist, May 30, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.economist.com/china/2020/05/28/chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomacy-gamble. Acesso em 13/04/2022.
TWIPLOMACY. Twiplomacy Study 2020. July 20, 2020. Disponível em: https://twiplomacy.com/blog/twiplomacy-study-2020/ Acesso em 03/06/2021.
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE. The Clean Network. 2020. Disponível em: https://2017-2021.state.gov/the-clean-network/index.html Acesso em 10/10/2021.
YAN, Xuetong. From keeping a low profile to striving for achievement. In: The Chinese Journal of International Politics, 7(2), 153-184, 2014. Disponível em: https://academic.oup.com/cjip/article/7/2/153/438673 Acesso em 10/10/2021.
YANG, Wanming. A parte chinesa repudia veementemente as suas palavras... 18 de mar de 2020 (a). Twitter: @WanmingYang. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/WanmingYang/status/1240441812105519109. Acesso em 12/06/2021.
YANG, Wanming. @BolsonaroSP Além disso, vão ferir a relação amistosa... 18 de mar de 2020 (b). Twitter: @WanmingYang. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/WanmingYang/status/1240441077875736579 Acesso em 12/06/2021
YIN, Robert K. Case study research, design and methods (applied social research methods). Thousand Oaks. California: Sage Publications, 2009.
WADE, Samuel. Western PR Firms, Scmp, And China’s Story Abroad. Apr 22, 2016. Disponível em: https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2016/04/western-pr-firms-south-china-morning-post-telling-chinas-story-abroad/ Acesso em 03/06/2021.
WIGHT, Martin. A política do poder. Brasília: Editora UNB, IPRI; São Paulo: Imprensa Oficial do Estado de SP, 2002.
WIKIACK, Júlio; COLETTA, Ricardo. China ignora pedidos de Bolsonaro por troca de embaixador no Brasil. In: FSP, 14/02/2021. Disponível em: https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/2021/02/china-ignora-pedidos-de-bolsonaro-por-troca-de-embaixador-no-brasil.shtml Acesso em 10/10/2021.
ZHAO Lijian. Chinese spokesman: To oppress Huawei, US has wracked… 1 de jun de 2019. Twitter: @zlj517. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/zlj517/status/1134919113602732032. Acesso em: 01/07/2021.
ZHAO Lijian. Soul-searching questions for Navarro: What's behind the closure of the biolab… 6 de jul de 2020 (a). Twitter: @zlj517. Disponível em: https://twitter.com/zlj517/status/1280131459429232645. Acesso em: 01/07/2021.
ZHAO Minghao. Washington's 'narrative warfare' on Beijing. 29/06/2020 (b). Disponível em: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-06-29/Washington-s-narrative-warfare-on-Beijing--RIJkyKqEdG/index.html. Acesso em 29/06/2021
ZHU, Zhiqun. Interpreting China’s ‘Wolf-Warrior Diplomacy”. The Diplomat. 15/05/2020. Disponível em: https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/interpreting-chinas-wolf-warrior-diplomacy/ Acesso em 17/04/2022.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Ana Tereza Lopes Marra de Sousa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
a. Authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right to first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, which allows its use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, as well as its transformation and creations from it, as long as the original author and source are credited. Also, the material cannot be used for commercial purposes, and if it is transformed, or used as a basis for other creations, these must be distributed under the same license as the original.
b. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
c. Authors are allowed to deposit, in the repositories accepted by Conjuntura Austral, the preprint version of the manuscripts submitted to the journal prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access)
d. Authors are permitted and encouraged to publish and distribute online (in institutional and /or thematic repositories, on their personal pages, etc.) the postprint version of the manuscripts (accepted and published), without an embargo period.
e. Conjuntura Austral: Journal of the Global South, imbued with the spirit of ensuring the protection of regional academic and scientific production in Open Access, is a signatory to the Mexico Declaration on the use of the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license to guarantee the protection of academic and scientific production in open access.
Accepted 2022-05-12
Published 2022-07-07
