China’s new envoy to Singapore is not seen as the typical career diplomat

Sun Haiyan arrived in the city state on Monday and her appointment ‘could be a good signal’ for relations, observer says

She is a veteran of the International Liaison Department, which manages ties with political parties from other countries

Reading Time:2 minutes

Singapore has played a key role in facilitating China’s integration into the global and regional economies. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:12pm, 18 May 2022

China’s new ambassador to Singapore is not seen as a career diplomat, but she may help Beijing strengthen ties with the city state’s ruling party, observers say.

Sun Haiyan, who is 50, arrived in Singapore on Monday and replaces Hong Xiaoyong, 61, who left the post in March after four years in the job.

While her predecessors spent much of their careers in the foreign ministry before they took up the ambassadorship, Sun is a veteran of the Communist Party’s International Liaison Department. The unit manages relations with political parties from other countries.

Sun joined the department in 1997, working in the research office and information centre, and also as its spokeswoman. For the past four years she has headed the department’s First Bureau, which oversees ties with South Asian and Southeast Asian nations.

Sun Haiyan arrived in the city state on Monday. Photo: Chinese embassy in Singapore

Pang Zhongying, an international relations expert with Ocean University of China, said Sun’s links with the department “may help strengthen relations with [Singapore’s ruling] People’s Action Party, as Sun appears to be specialised in inter-party diplomacy”.

The department is under the party’s Central Committee, while the foreign ministry is under the State Council, China’s cabinet.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x