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China’s wolf warrior spokesman Zhao Lijian moves to border role
- Zhao’s new responsibilities will include negotiating maritime and land boundaries with neighbouring countries
- His three years with the foreign ministry’s information department were marked by controversy, including blaming the US for Covid-19
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China’s controversial foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has been named as one of three deputy directors responsible for managing China’s border issues.
Zhao, 50, was known as one of China’s most outspoken “wolf warriors” – diplomats who hawkishly defend the country’s positions and values – during his three years as an official spokesman.
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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman claims US army brought coronavirus to Wuhan
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman claims US army brought coronavirus to Wuhan
In 2020, he suggested that the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 had probably been manufactured by the United States military and brought to China during the 2019 Military World Games in Wuhan.
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Zhao repeatedly raised the claim after the Donald Trump administration blamed China for the spread of the virus around the world.
In internet posts, Zhao weighed in on allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan and also accused Japan of endangering the world by irresponsibly discharging nuclear tainted water into the Pacific.
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In his new capacity, Zhao will oversee policies relating to land and maritime boundaries, including their delimitation and demarcation.
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