China has appointed Qin Gang as its new foreign minister.
The 56-year-old diplomat previously served as China’s ambassador to the United States for about 1.5 years.
He is the youngest person to ever hold this position in China’s history.
Personal life
Qin Gang was born in Tianjin, China in March 1966.
He received a Bachelor’s degree in Law with a focus on international politics from the University of International Relations in 1988.
He is married and has one son.
Career
1988-1992: Chinese Secretary at the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions of the People’s Republic of China
1992-1995: Attaché and Third Secretary in the Department of Western Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1995-1999: Third Secretary and Second Secretary at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom
1999-2002: Second Secretary and Deputy Director, then Director in the Department of Western Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2002-2005: Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom
2005-2010: Deputy Director-General of the Information Department and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2010-2011: Minister at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom
2011-2014: Director-General of the Information Department and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2014-2017: Director of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This appointment saw his career take off as it provided a rare opportunity to foster closer relationships with top leaders, especially Xi Jinping, reported The China Project.
Qin assisted with the organization of conferences and events for Xi Jinping during the Group of 20 summit in Hangzhou in 2016. During the summit, Xi jokingly asked Qin if he could take a break from the packed schedule, leading to laughter and a lighter atmosphere, according to The China Project.
2017-2018: Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Protocol Department
2018-2021: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
July 2021: Ambassador to the United States. This appointment surprised many since he had very little involvement in the US affairs and was not considered as even a remote candidate in the race.
December 2022: Minister of Foreign Affairs, succeeding Wang Yi.
Qin Gang was appointed ambassador to the United States during a challenging period for China-US relations.
Despite these difficulties, he was able to achieve significant success in promoting cooperation and exchange between the two countries, as well as working towards the stability, improvement, and development of their relationship.
These efforts are believed to have contributed to his advancement to the role of foreign minister, in addition to his close relationship with Xi Jinping.
Personality
Qin Gang has been identified as a key representative of China’s “wolf warrior diplomacy,” a term used to describe the more aggressive and assertive approach taken by Chinese diplomats under the Xi Jinping administration.
Qin has gained a reputation for his sharp responses as a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
During a press briefing in February 2021, for example, a German journalist asked about China’s “wolf warrior diplomacy.”
In response, Qin adopted a strong tone and declared that countries and people who “blatantly smeared China” were “evil wolves.”
The Wall Street Journal characterized Qin as a more level-headed and professional diplomat compared to others who have engaged in Twitter fights, spread false information about COVID-19, and taunted American officials on sensitive issues.
This reputation sets Qin apart from other Chinese diplomats known for their combative approach.
Qin Gang as the foreign minister
After taking charge of the ministry, Qin Gang is putting special effort into mending relations with the US.
‘The development of China-US relations will remain an important mission of mine in my new position,’ he wrote in the Washington Post on January 4, 2023.
