Amid US-China Tensions, China Nears Appointment of Hardline Ambassador to the US

Deputy Minister Qin Gang of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Amid ongoing tensions between the United States and China, it has been reported that Qin Gang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, is about to assume his post as the new Chinese ambassador to the United States. Qin is known to be a hardliner, and if his appointment is realized, it is expected that China will launch a diplomatic offensive against the Biden administration's containment efforts.

On the 28th, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Qin Gang was scheduled to depart for Washington the previous day.

Qin Gang does not have direct experience with U.S. affairs, but unlike Cui Tiankai, the current Chinese ambassador to the U.S. who is considered a moderate, Qin is characterized by a strong hardline image.

Having served as a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Deputy Minister, he has shown a tough stance on issues such as the Hong Kong National Security Law and Taiwan.

As the Biden administration's policy of containing China becomes more sophisticated and pressure intensifies, there is analysis that China will strengthen its diplomatic offensive with Qin Gang’s appointment as a turning point.

In particular, the fact that Qin Gang represents the style of the younger generation of Chinese diplomats known as "wolf warrior diplomacy" lends weight to this analysis.

Yoon Sun, Senior Researcher for East Asia at the Stimson Center in Washington, recently told SCMP in an interview that Qin earned the nickname "warrior" during his time as spokesperson, adding, "If that style continues, it aligns with the current wolf warrior diplomacy."

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, avoided a direct answer when asked at a regular briefing the previous day about Qin Gang’s ambassadorial appointment, saying, "Thank you for your interest," and "We will announce related news at an appropriate time."

Hong Kong Ming Pao noted in a commentary that "It is noteworthy that Qin Gang left for the U.S. the day after the high-level Tianjin talks."

The media reported that Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, held consecutive meetings with Wang Yi, Director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Deputy Minister Xie Feng in Tianjin on the 25th and 26th, and the day after returning, Qin Gang, known as the new ambassador to the U.S., boarded a flight to America from Shanghai.

The newspaper interpreted Qin’s swift departure to the U.S. as a positive sign, asking, "Is Qin Gang preparing for a summit between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping? What explanations did Wang Yi and Xie Feng give to Deputy Secretary Sherman regarding Qin Gang’s appointment?"

Additionally, the newspaper reported that with the U.S. ambassador to China post vacant for over half a year and no successor announced, and with Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., having returned home a month ago, both countries currently lack ambassadors to each other. It added that this is the first time in 42 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China that such a situation has occurred.

Previously, Qin Gang, a career diplomat with over 30 years of service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, served as spokesperson and most recently oversaw European affairs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.