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China’s new foreign minister promises tough approach to ‘jackals and wolves’ in outside world – but hints softer tone may still be possible
- In his first press conference in the role, Qin Gang signals China will not back down under pressure, but shrugs off ‘Wolf Warrior’ label
- Analysts say he could take a more measured approach at times, but Beijing’s concerns about a hostile external environment may determine the tone he adopts
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Qin Gang’s reputation for being both “tough” and “measured” in different phases of his diplomatic career has left international observers wondering whether his recent appointment as China’s foreign minister is a sign of a shift in the country’s diplomacy.
On Tuesday the former ambassador to the United States gave his first press conference since taking up his new role at the “two sessions”, the country’s biggest political event of the year.
When asked if China’s “Wolf Warrior” diplomacy – named after a series of nationalistic action movies – would be “softened”, he paused briefly and gave a subtle smile before replying: “That’s an interesting question”.
“When I just arrived in the US as China’s ambassador, American media exclaimed: ‘here comes a Chinese Wolf Warrior!’, now that I am back as foreign minister, they have taken that label off me. I feel kind of lost,” Qin said, to laughter from some of the journalists present.
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China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang hits out at US on Ukraine, rate hikes and Taiwan
China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang hits out at US on Ukraine, rate hikes and Taiwan
Qin’s decision to address the question at the carefully scripted press conference was an apparent attempt to dismiss speculation that China will completely retreat from its combative diplomatic approach. He described the outside world as full of “jackals and wolves” while justifying any future tough responses.
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