I know we're all supposed to assume that "wolf warrior" diplomacy is just about domestic political signalling, but what if being pugilistic with "the west" is also meant to help position China as a leader of non-western states? Criticizing the west doesn't just resonate in China.

The messages aren't convincing so we assume they must be for a diff audience. Maybe it's some mixture of (1) Chinese elite & popular nationalistic audience; (2) non-western audience to display leadership; (3) elite western audience to signal punishment for stepping out of line.

The "it's mostly to please the bosses" argument has a tinge of "it's just cheap talk" to it, but forgets that there are reasons the bosses are sending the signals that they want those messages out there. I think it's more than cheap talk and needs further study.

Finally, I'd like to note that the current generation wolf has evolved to call the lamb a wolf. That's just science and you can't argue with it.

I'm late to the @DSORennie column this week but he makes similar points to the ones I make in this thread but better. https://www.economist.com/china/2021/04/03/china-is-betting-that-the-west-is-in-irreversible-decline