China, Ji Il-pa Woo Jang-hao Emerges as Leading Candidate for New Ambassador to Japan

Japan's Kyodo News "Managing Deteriorating Japan-South Korea Relations"

Newly Appointed Ambassador to Japan, Wu Zhanghao, Deputy Director-General of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The Chinese government has decided to replace Ambassador Kong Xuanyou to Japan and appoint Wu Jianghao, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (equivalent to Vice Minister), as his successor, Kyodo News reported on the 4th, citing sources from China and Japan.

Ambassador Kong is coordinating a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for his farewell greetings, and it is known that Ambassador Kong's farewell ceremony may be held within this month.

The Chinese government has requested agr?ment (host country’s consent to appointment) from the Japanese government for Deputy Director-General Wu.

Wu served at the Chinese Embassy in Japan twice, from 1993 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2008, totaling over 10 years, and is known to be classified as part of the "Japan School," a group of Japan experts within the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He served as Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Director-General of the Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has been working as Deputy Director-General since 2020.

Kyodo analyzed, "Following Ambassador Kong, the appointment of a Japan specialist aims to stabilize the bilateral relations, which have cooled due to the dispute over the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyutai Islands in Chinese)."