Published: Less than 30 min ago
1 of 3 Photo: Stefani Reynolds/AP/TT
“Silver fox” Wang Yi has taken a major career step forward and is China’s new top diplomat since the turn of the year.
– He is a person who can bite. That is what characterizes China’s foreign policy nowadays and something that President Xi Jinping is asking for, says China expert Björn Jerdén.
In recent weeks, he has visited country after country and shaken hands with a long list of dignitaries. As recently as the other day, it became clear that Wang Yi successfully mediated between Saudi Arabia and Iran – the result was that the old arch-enemies have now resumed diplomatic relations after a seven-year freeze.
Top diplomat Wang Yi has also been to Moscow and met Russian President Vladimir Putin. At the security conference in Munich, he met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and gave a speech, in which he warned that trust between powerful countries is weak and that new security threats have been added.
– Human society, standing at a critical crossroads in history, must not repeat the path of contradiction, division and confrontation, Wang said.
It’s only been a couple of months since the experienced Chinese diplomat made the leap from foreign minister to the even higher role of head of the Communist Party’s Foreign Policy Commission. He has also been elected to the powerful Politburo, despite the fact that, at nearly 70 years old, he is too old by previous standards.
Yearlings with Xi
In state-run Chinese media, Wang Yi’s favorable appearance is often referred to with an expression that actually means “handsome uncle”. It is used to describe handsome men with gray hair, corresponding to the English “silver fox”. Wang stands out in China’s top political context, where it is common to dye his graying hair jet black.
By other countries’ diplomats, Wang Yi is usually described as charming but at the same time tough.
So who is he? Wang Yi was born into an unassuming family in Beijing in 1953, the same year as President Xi Jinping. After university studies, he was employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and married into the political elite through his marriage to Qian Wei. That meant he got Qian Jiadong as his father-in-law, one of former Premier Zhou Enlai’s most important associates and former UN ambassador in Geneva.
How much influence Wang Yi has over President Xi Jinping’s foreign policy is difficult to assess, however, as much of the country’s decision-making takes place behind closed doors. Björn Jerdén, head of the National Knowledge Center on China at the Foreign Policy Institute (UI), has not seen any real signs that Wang has had a decisive influence so far.
– But all of this indicates that Xi Jinping has confidence in him and it can lead one to believe that he already had Xi Jinping’s ear before, even if he was formally not as high-ranking then, he says.
“Quite handsome”
Xi Jinping wants diplomats with backbone and who are not afraid to stand up for China’s interests, points out Björn Jerdén.
– Wang Yi has played that role well. It is something that is used in diplomacy but also in domestic propaganda. And then I think that the fact that he carries himself well, that he is articulate and quite handsome means that he is grateful for the propaganda apparatus to highlight.
But despite the new, high-ranking position, Wang Yi’s room to act on his own is limited. He is probably skilled at presenting Xi’s agenda, a strength that is important for all top politicians in China today, Björn Jerdén points out.
– The decisive factor for their continued career and well-being is how well Xi thinks they are doing in promoting his policies.
Meetings in Europe
What impact his diplomatic work will have as the country tries to reach Europe remains to be seen. China wants to avoid Europe relying too much on the US. In recent weeks, Wang Yi has visited several European countries and met many dignitaries, although so far his message has not gone down particularly well.
– You can be as good a diplomat as you want, but in the end it’s also about having an attractive message, says Björn Jerdén.
Facts
Wang Yi
Wang Yi was born in Beijing in October 1953. During the Cultural Revolution, he is said to have worked in the countryside for several years, just like many other young people in China during that time.
He was employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after completing his studies. There he had a nail-biting career.
Wang Yi has been China’s ambassador to Japan and his area of expertise has mainly included Japan and North Korea. Since 2013, when he took office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he has worked on broader issues. Wang Yi speaks fluent Japanese and good English.
Since the turn of the year, he has been the head of the Communist Party’s Commission for Foreign Policy, which is a position that sounds higher than being foreign minister. During the party congress last autumn, he was also elected to the powerful Politburo.
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