ExclusiveChina-US trade war: Vice-President Wang Qishan ‘the firefighter’ might not be sent to front line
Wang is focusing on his job as vice-president but could have an indirect influence on the negotiations, a source says
Wang Qishan is widely considered China’s most powerful vice-president, but the man dubbed “the firefighter” for taking on tough jobs might not have the hands-on role in US trade talks that many observers had expected, according to a source who spoke to Wang recently.
Wang is reputed to be one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s most trusted and important allies. Although he retired from the country’s highest decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, in October, Xi appointed him vice-president in March and made him a member of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, which Xi heads.
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With his reputation as a skilled hand with a wealth of knowledge in trade, finance and China’s relations with the United States, Wang also had extensive contacts with American officials such as former Treasury chief Henry Paulson.
But in a private meeting in Beijing last month, Wang tried to dispel speculation that Xi had tapped him to look after China-US issues.
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According to a source at the meeting, Wang stressed that he was not closely involved in the decision making on US affairs, especially in relation to the escalating trade war.