China-India diplomats shake hands, but web users wage war online

China's ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, has become a lightning rod for nationalist anger online, despite official efforts to improve bilateral relations. Attempts by Xu to foster goodwill have triggered a fierce backlash from Chinese web users, who accuse him of forgetting his role and even express xenophobic sentiments.

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The ambassador seems to have forgotten his actual job

One social media user criticized Xu, stating, “The ambassador seems to have forgotten his actual job.” This user argued that the envoy's purpose should be to make Indians more friendly toward China, not the reverse. Another comment took a xenophobic turn, warning of “hundreds of thousands, even millions, of Indian ‘cockroaches’ flood[ing] into China” and “pollut[ing] the country.”

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letting hundreds of thousands, even millions, of Indian ‘cockroaches’ flood into China” and “polluting the country

These online outbursts extend beyond Xu's specific comments and reflect a broader frustration with Beijing's recent diplomatic engagement with New Delhi. The ambassador, as the public face of China in India, has become an easy target for this public anger. However, this online fury contrasts sharply with official state policy and public demand, which are moving in the opposite direction, suggesting a disconnect between online sentiment and the government's diplomatic strategy.

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China-India ties as being among the “most important” bilateral relationships in the world”, saying they had moved from a “reset and fresh start” to a “new level of development”