Chinese foreign minister exit: no change to Wolf Warrior diplomacy as Wang Yi replaces Qin Gang, but there is hope of policy stability
- Qin Gang’s abrupt ousting means foreign diplomats will once again be dealing with someone who is seen in Europe as ‘a known quantity, but not liked very much’
- But in many parts of the world, there is a sense that personnel changes will not have a significant impact on the direction of Beijing’s policies
They said Wang Yi, Qin’s predecessor who has been parachuted back into the job, will be a familiar face that some governments may find reassuring, but he is seen as just as – if not more – confrontational.
“Wang is a known quantity, but he is not exactly liked very much [in Europe] … he is always very vocal on China’s interests,”, said Nis Grunberg, a specialist in China’s elite politics at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin.
“Qin seemed like a more polished diplomat – better at playing to national audiences, able to speak to national media. Wang Yi didn’t seem to care much [about those things].”
02:49
Big political questions linger after China abruptly replaces its foreign minister
A European business leader who frequently meets visiting Chinese officials described Wang as “aggressive and sharp”, a departure from the “charming and soft-spoken” style exemplified by veteran diplomats such as Fu Ying, the former ambassador to Britain and foreign vice-minister.
Some diplomats in the United States saw the return of Wang, who is also China’s foreign policy chief, as a sign of continuity.