UN celebrity diplomacy in China: activism, symbolism and national ambition online

Abstract This article examines Chinese celebrities' UN-affiliated Weibo activism in the context of China's increasing engagement United Nations, which coincides with a shrinking domestic public sphere under Xi Jinping's leadership. Our sheds light on how celebrity diplomacy is balancing contradictory expectations by UN, party-state and China. In doing so, we offer an important conceptual update western-centric literature ‘celebrity diplomacy’, focuses mostly politics instead tends to neglect digital sphere. Based combined qualitative quantitative approach, draw fresh conclusions from nine communication since 2013. research covers years marking growing self-confidence more assertive diplomatic style global affairs. Although accredited balance has become symbolic than real, as rule aligned leadership's international ambitions. At time greater activism, are sensitive policy implications cusp political spheres.