DIPLOMASI PUBLIK TIONGKOK DI ITALIA DALAM MENINGKATKAN NATIONAL IMAGE PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

Abstract

The emergence of the coronavirus is a serious problem for all countries in the world. The coronavirus was detected in early December 2019 in Wuhan City, Tiongkok’s. Italy is a country that has more deaths from Covid-19 than Tiongkok’s. The many accusations against Tiongkok have worsened Tiongkoknational image. To explain the phenomenon that occurred, researchers used the concept of public diplomacy according to Mark Leonard and the concept of soft power according to Joseph Nye to explain how Tiongkok’s public diplomacy efforts restored its country's image during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an effort to improve its positive image, Tiongkok’s made several public diplomacy efforts to restore Tiongkok positive image in Italy. Tiongkok’shelped Italy to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic by sending several medical experts, dozens of tons of medical equipment, and enforcing the “Mask Diplomacy” policy. Tiongkok’s public diplomacy efforts succeeded in changing the perception of the Italian people, which was previously negative, to be more positive, with many citizens starting to see China as a friendly and willing to help country.