From Positive to Negative Historical Statecraft: The Shifting Use of History in China’s Diplomacy
Journal: The Hague Journal of Diplomacy
Year: 2024

Abstract Typically, China has tried to use positive aspects of its history, such as its previous grandeur and its philosophical and cultural heritage, to guide its diplomatic strategic narratives – a kind of historical statecraft. However, this has largely failed to inspire international audiences. Analysis of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ regular press conferences over a twenty-year period reveals there is an observable seeping of more negative aspects of history into China’s diplomatic