[Correspondent Diary] China's 'Wang Yi' Busy Beyond Measure

Chinese Foreign Minister Holds Talks with Senior Diplomats from 11 Countries over 11 Days
China's International Relations Intensify Following US-Alaska Meeting

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Since the 'US-China Alaska High-Level 2+2 Talks' ended without any achievements, Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister in charge of diplomacy, has been on an intense diplomatic tour. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the busiest Chinese person among 1.4 billion people.

From March 24 to 30, Wang visited five Middle Eastern countries?Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Oman, Bahrain?and Turkey. As the US and Western countries imposed sanctions over human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Wang visited Middle Eastern countries with vested interests to seek their support. He offered economic cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative (both land and maritime Silk Road) and COVID-19 vaccines as gifts.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although it is uncertain what effect the exchanged words will have according to diplomatic conventions, it is reported that Wang was not cold-shouldered during his visits to the six countries.

Wang's next destination was Fujian Province in China. He invited foreign ministers from four Southeast Asian countries?Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia?and held individual meetings. All of these countries are related to territorial claims in the South China Sea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On March 31, Wang met with Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Foreign Minister, in Nanping, Fujian Province, to discuss human and economic exchanges including vaccine passports.

The next day, April 1, Wang moved to Xiamen, Fujian Province, about 350 km away, and met with Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia's Foreign Minister. On April 2, he successively met with Teodoro Locsin, the Philippines' Foreign Minister, and Retno Marsudi, Indonesia's Foreign Minister. On April 3, he discussed the development of bilateral relations and security on the Korean Peninsula with Chung Eui-yong, South Korea's Foreign Minister.

Judging from the schedule, Wang endured a grueling itinerary meeting high-level diplomats from 11 countries over 11 days from March 24 to April 3. The fact that Wang is extremely busy indicates how urgent the situation is for China.

Although the first high-level US-China talks since President Joe Biden's inauguration on March 18 were held, the two sides only confirmed their differences. Subsequently, as major European countries imposed sanctions over human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China appears to have felt a considerable sense of crisis.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

China has repeatedly emphasized that Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and territorial claims in the South China Sea are its core interests. China’s position is that it has no intention whatsoever to concede on these core interests, no matter what happens.

Wang likely stressed China’s core interests to the high-level diplomats from the 11 countries. Although it is impossible to confirm what was exchanged between Wang and the diplomats, it is presumed that nothing outside diplomatic conventions was discussed. However, how these countries will actually respond if a real situation arises remains uncertain.