China appointed Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday as one of its five state councilors, giving him the country’s top diplomatic post in a vote of confidence for his strong defense of China’s interests amid a host of overseas challenges. State councilors
BEIJING (Reuters) — China appointed Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday as one of its five state councilors, giving him the country’s top diplomatic post in a vote of confidence for his strong defense of China’s interests amid a host of overseas challenges.
State councilors, who report to the Cabinet, are more senior than ministers and it is unusual, though not unprecedented, for an individual to hold both positions.
Wang’s elevation was approved by China’s largely rubber stamp parliament in a vote on Monday.
Wang, 64, has been China’s foreign minister since 2013. A career diplomat and fluent Japanese speaker, he has also served as China’s ambassador in Tokyo and head of China’s policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office.
Likened to a «silver fox» by China’s state media and online admirers, due to his looks and his diplomatic wiles, Wang is regarded as suave and charming, but tough, by foreign diplomats.
Unusually friendly to the foreign media for a senior Chinese official, Wang has won plaudits in China for his tough line on issues like the disputed South China Sea and quick-witted — sometimes bad-tempered quips — to counter criticism of China.
Sources had previously told Reuters that Wang would probably become a state councilor with responsibility for diplomacy, while also keeping his job as foreign minister.
His promotion comes as relations with the United States sour over trade disputes and U. S. support for self-ruled Taiwan, and as China hopes to ensure talks with unpredictable and nuclear-capable North Korea get back on track.
