What new ambassador means for China-Malaysia ties
Bai Tian to take over from Huang Huikang, whose tenure coincided with surge of Chinese investments in Malaysian projects and deepened military and political ties
Bai Tian, one of four deputy director generals in the Chinese foreign ministry’s Asian affairs department, will take over as ambassador to Malaysia from Huang Huikang, who has held the position since 2014.
Huang’s ambassadorial tenure coincided with a surge in Chinese investments in Malaysian infrastructure and real estate projects, as well as heightened ties between the two countries militaries’ and top political leaders.
Huang, a former law professor, leaves his current appointment on October 18 to take up a position with the International Law Commission, the UN’s top jurisprudence body.
Multiple sources including current and former Malaysia diplomats as well as foreign policy researchers confirmed the impending appointment of Bai Tian. An embassy spokeswoman said she had “no idea of his agenda”, when asked about the incoming ambassador’s start date.
Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, chairman of the high-level Malaysia-China Friendship Association, said the appointment “reflects the importance China attaches to its relations with Malaysia, and further consolidates the friendship and trust that have been built over the decades”.