Elected Chinese foreign minister in December 2022, Qin Gang made his debut before the press today with an unapologetic speech and an expeditious style in which he made it clear that China will stand up to the United States whenever it considers that Washington is attacking it.
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Qin, who took over the position from Wang Yi, appointed head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Foreign Office, answered 14 questions during a two-hour press conference in which the questions were agreed upon in advance and to which numerous permanent correspondents in the Asian country did not have access.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2018 and 2021 and Chinese ambassador to the United States between 2021 and 2022, Qin, who will turn 57 this month, also held the post of deputy director general and spokesman for Foreign Affairs between 2005 and 2010, years in which he stood out for its sharp fang and its direct and combative responses.
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The new face of Chinese diplomacy thus fits into the new generation of Chinese diplomats known as “wolf warriors”, who have chosen a much firmer and more aggressive tone compared to their predecessors.
“There is no lack of kindness and goodwill in Chinese diplomacy, but when the jackals appear, our Chinese diplomats have no choice but to face them to protect the homeland,” Qin defended during his debut on the sidelines of the annual session of the Assembly National Popular (ANP, Legislative).
Biting and scathing, he was sarcastic and stated that such a term, that of “wolf warriors”, is actually “a trap” narrative created by others: “The US media described me as a ‘wolf warrior’ when I arrived as ambassador. But now that I’m back in China they don’t call me that anymore. I feel like I’ve lost something.”
“Those who invented the term know little about China and the country’s diplomacy. It is either that or they have a hidden agenda,” added Qin, who in response to a question about Taiwan did not hesitate to bring up a copy of his country’s Constitution. to proclaim that the island “is a sacred territory of China”.
darts for washington
During his diplomatic mission in the United States, Qin saw Washington apply sanctions to Chinese companies such as Huawei, continue selling arms to Taiwan or restrict access to American chips by the Asian country.
Judging by the number of darts he threw at Washington today – “they cause crises”, “they are only trying to stumble or hurt the other side”, “their bid to contain China is reckless”, “their confrontation is malicious”, ” they won’t get away with it” – Qin’s priority will be to counter what Beijing sees as Washington’s indiscriminate attacks to curb his rise.
Not surprisingly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry recently published, with Qin already in office, a report in which it accused the US of “using multiple methods to maintain its world supremacy”, which it considered “a risk at the global level”. global”.
During his speech on Tuesday, the new face of Chinese diplomacy even recovered the teachings of the thinker Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC): “He said that you have to respond to kindness with kindness and that you have to be firm with the wicked What we cannot be is kind to the evil one. China has good will, but if there are wolves blocking the way and attacking, we will deal with them to protect ourselves.”
By contrast, Qin marked distances between politicians and the American people: “He is enthusiastic, friendly and straightforward. Everyone is looking for a happy life and a better world,” he said, referring to his dealings with dock workers, farmers and Chinese language students who met during his time as ambassador.
“Every time I think of them, I think that in Sino-US relations, the common interests and friendship of the two peoples should take precedence… rather than the domestic politics of the United States and its neo-McCarthyism,” he said.
The new foreign minister also tried today to sell the kinder face of the country, especially when it comes to seducing the “global south”: “Chinese modernization provides an important source of inspiration for the world, especially for developing countries” , he said in response to a question from a journalist invited by the Chinese government to participate in today’s appearance.
“China’s success shows that each country has the right and ability to choose its own path and firmly hold its future in its own hands. China’s modernization is dedicated to peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and It will provide opportunities. It is a new path, different from Western modernization,” he added.
JESUS RYE
EFE
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