Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong's bridge-building efforts with India have sparked nationalist outrage on Chinese social media, with some accusing him of neglecting his duties and allowing excessive Indian influence.
The backlash follows recent diplomatic moves by Beijing to improve ties with New Delhi, six years after deadly border clashes in the Himalayas.
Economic and travel links between the two countries have been recovering, yet online criticism targets Xu as the public face of these overtures.
Posts have included xenophobic remarks, with one accusing Xu of “letting hundreds of thousands, even millions, of Indian ‘cockroaches’ flood into China” and “polluting the country.”
Observers note the anger reflects broader frustration with official efforts rather than Xu’s comments alone.