On April 2, the official 'The Paper' published an article by veteran diplomat and former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Fu Ying. The CCP's official mouthpiece said Fu Ying argued that China should be more sophisticated in its international diplomacy. It quoted him as saying:"To counter others' prejudices, we cannot simply criticise them and get defensive" and "We must put forth a true, three-dimensional, and comprehensive [portrait of] China to international society."

(Comment: Fu’ Yings article seems almost like a rebuke to some of China's more aggressive diplomats, including Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.)