[News Figures] 'Master of Protocol' 'Wolf Diplomacy Representative'... Who is Qin Gang, China's Next Foreign Minister Nominee?

King Effectively Appoints Qin Gang, Ambassador to China, as Successor to Chinese Foreign Minister
Leading Wolf Warrior Diplomat and Former Protocol Director for President Xi... Criticism Over Lack of Diplomatic Experience

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Cho Young-shin] Qin Gang, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, has reportedly been appointed to lead the third term of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (also President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, hereafter referred to as President).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 4th treated Qin Gang's appointment as Foreign Minister as a fait accompli in an article titled "Ambassador Qin, highly loyal to President Xi, to take charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Qin Gang was listed as a member of the Central Committee at the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, making him a strong candidate for the next Foreign Minister.

Born in 1966, Qin Gang served as spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Vice Minister (Deputy Minister) before being appointed as the Chinese Ambassador to the United States in July 2021.

Qin Gang is regarded as a representative figure of "Wolf Warrior diplomacy." Shortly after his appointment as ambassador, in August last year, at a virtual meeting hosted by the US-China Relations National Committee, he stated, "The United States must stop actions that worsen the dialogue environment," and then made a non-diplomatic remark, saying, "If we cannot narrow our differences, (the US) should please shut up." This was an unfiltered display of hostility toward the United States.

SCMP also cited a letter Qin Gang recently sent to US Republican Senator Josh Hawley, highlighting his aggressive stance toward the US. Regarding the US Congress's bill on human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Qin told Senator Hawley that "the United States is going down a wrong and dangerous path," and attacked the US as "arrogant and despicable," calling the Xinjiang-related bill a "malicious political agenda."

Concerns have been raised that Qin Gang's lack of international diplomatic experience and excessive loyalty to President Xi may hinder progress in US-China relations.

Boni Lin, Senior Researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, evaluated Qin Gang as "a figure famous for Wolf Warrior diplomacy" and downplayed his achievements during his tenure as Chinese Ambassador to the US. She recalled former Ambassador Cui Tiankai, who had extensive diplomatic experience.

In fact, Qin Gang mainly gained diplomatic experience in Europe, including as Minister-Counselor in the UK. He only set foot in the US diplomatic scene after his appointment as Chinese Ambassador to the US. His lack of connections in the US diplomatic community is also a disadvantage.

While some interpret the Chinese leadership's selection of an aggressive figure as considering US-China relations, others analyze that Qin Gang caught President Xi's attention through protocol work.

From 2014 to 2017, Qin Gang served as Director of the Protocol Department (Yebin Department) of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Protocol Department is responsible for President Xi's overseas visit schedules and protocol. Across all times and cultures, nothing is more important than the protocol for the top leader. Qin Gang rose from Director of the Protocol Department to Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and then to Chinese Ambassador to the US, ultimately securing the position of Minister overseeing the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

There is a prevailing forecast that if Qin Gang focuses his diplomatic efforts solely on safeguarding President Xi, US-China relations will become even more difficult.