China recruits new foreign minister — RT World News

China’s former ambassador to the United States Qin Gang has been promoted to foreign minister, replacing longtime foreign minister Wang Yi, who held a post in the Communist Party’s political bureau in to be able to.

The Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Friday, noting that Qin, 56, will replace Wang immediately. Although the previous foreign minister was elected to the political bureau in October, it took some time to confirm his successor.

In his first statement as foreign minister, Qin said Beijing’s diplomatic approach will be based on « Chinese wisdom, Chinese initiatives and Chinese strength. »

Envoy from China to the United States since last year, Qin has gradually risen through the ranks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also serving as Deputy FM between 2018 and 2021. He began his career in government at the Bureau services from Beijing for diplomatic missions after earning a degree in international politics from the University of International Relations in 1988, then became a diplomatic attaché in charge of Western European affairs.

Since taking over as ambassador, Qin has published a number of opinion pieces in US media reflecting China’s position on a range of issues, often emphasizing friendly collaboration. In a column earlier this week seeking to elucidate « How China Sees the World » he argued that « China-US relations should not be a zero-sum game » by calling to « explore a way to get along based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. »

Wang has also had a busy career, serving as FM for the past decade after holding a litany of diplomatic posts since the 1980s, including on issues related to Japan, Taiwan, Israel and Palestine. , and more broadly to Asian affairs. In one of his final moves as foreign minister, Wang held a call with his US counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whom he warned to halt Washington’s policy. « old one-sided bullying routine » and stop attempts to suppress China’s development.

The controversial call highlighted growing tensions between Beijing and Washington as Qin takes up his new post, with US President Joe Biden continuing many of his predecessor’s most aggressive policies since taking office last year. In addition to regular transits through the disputed Taiwan Strait by US warships, Biden has presided over a simmering trade war against Chinese companies, while US lawmakers pursue direct diplomacy with Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of its sovereign territory.

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