Will China choose a Wolf Warrior or smooth diplomat to replace Cui Tiankai as its US envoy?
- Analysts say next appointment will indicate whether Beijing wants to reset US-China relations after tough diplomatic times
- Long-serving ambassador to Washington was asked to stay on for the Trump years but is well past retirement age
“Definitely Beijing needs someone who can help and promote this relationship,” said Zhiqun Zhu, chair of the international relations department at Bucknell University. “It’s been a tough few years and it looks like the two sides are willing to restart. It may be a good opportunity.”
Other ideal attributes for a Chinese ambassador at this juncture would be a diplomatic personality and someone with a sense of humour, as well as a keen understanding of American politics, analysts said. Some version of self-deprecation was likely to play much better than a hardline approach at a time of growing US wariness towards China, they added.
“No matter how often people say the US doesn’t understand China and China understands the US, I think China often misunderstands the US,” said Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.
“That said, no amount of diplomatic activities will work if China’s policies continue the way they are,” she added, citing chest-thumping in the South China Sea, around Taiwan and along China’s de facto border with India.
Foreign vice-minister Ma Zhaoxu had been well groomed for the role, according to Yun Sun, China programme director at the Stimson Centre. Ma has the appropriate rank and experience for one of Beijing’s most important diplomatic positions, which oversees a complex relationship, she said.