[The Epoch Times, June 3, 2022](Comprehensive report by The Epoch Times reporter Ning Haizhong) On the eve of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the personnel of the foreign affairs system began to adjust.Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of ChinaLiu JianchaoReplaced in MaySong TaoappointCentral Liaison Departmentdirector. However, the rumors that Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng was transferred from the diplomatic system has not yet been confirmed.Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, two major figures in the CCP’s diplomacyYang Jiechiand foreign ministerWang YiThe choice of his successor has also caused speculation.
According to the official website of the Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the deputy director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs CommissionLiu JianchaoReplaced in MaySong TaoasCentral Liaison DepartmentMinister, promoted to ministerial level. The Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee is the department of the CCP responsible for the so-called party diplomacy related to foreign affairs.
58-year-old Liu Jianchao is a native of Jilin Province and graduated from the English Department of Beijing Foreign Studies University. He has served as Director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador to Indonesia, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Director of the Corruption Prevention Bureau of the Communist Party of China, and Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. , Member of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee. He was previously seen as one of the favorites to be the next Chinese foreign minister.
On March 16, 2015, when Liu Jianchao, the then assistant foreign minister of the Chinese Communist Party, met with Luo Qingyuan, chairman of the Korean National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Unification Committee, he publicly praised the other party as a beautiful woman. A member of the South Korean National Assembly criticized him for “losing diplomatic etiquette”.
Song Tao, 67 years old, who left the post of Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, has been working in Fujian for a long time. He used to be the vice president of Fujian International Trust and Investment Company. Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Executive Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee.
The pro-Beijing Hong Kong media “Sing Tao Daily” analyzed that Song Tao seems to have retired, the Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Foreign AffairsWang YiIt seems that there is no competitor, and it is expected to take over in the 20th National CongressYang JiechiHe is a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee.
The analysis believes that Wang Yi, who was born in October 1953, was 69 years old by the time of the 20th National Congress and should retire. However, the international situation facing the CCP is turbulent, and it may still require Wang Yi to stay in office.
The CCP’s diplomacy has maintained a two-tier leadership structure for many years, that is, members of the Politburo or vice-premier (state councilor)/foreign minister. The current Politburo member and Director of the Foreign Affairs Office / State Councilor and Foreign Minister has the highest rank.
Hong Kong’s “Ming Pao” commented in an article last year that Yang Jiechi, who was born in 1950, would retire at the 20th National Congress if there was no accident, while Wang Yi, who was three years younger, could advance or retreat. However, the entry of the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office is a new case opened by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Whether it is specially designed for Yang Jiechi or a practice remains to be seen.
In addition, who will succeed Wang Yi’s foreign minister position also attracts attention.
It was rumored earlier that Le Yucheng, an alternate member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, was transferred to be the deputy director of the State Administration of Radio and Television, who was originally a popular candidate for the next foreign minister.
On May 28, the Central News Agency reported that Le Yucheng was ranked second to Nie Chenxi, director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and above the other three deputy directors. These have confirmed that he is the first deputy director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. However, the Epoch Times reporter verified that as of press time, Le Yucheng’s name was not on the official website of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, but on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In recent years, the CCP’s foreign affairs system has engaged in so-called “wolf diplomacy” under the instruction of “dare to fight” at the highest level, causing frequent international disputes. Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, and Foreign Ministry spokesmen Hua Chunying and Zhao Lijian are all diplomatic representatives of the “Wolf” faction.
He Chenghui, deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Security Association, said in an interview with The Epoch Times on April 17 that the legitimacy of the Communist Party’s rule had experienced a crisis of confidence, and it was only by constantly manipulating nationalism to make up for it. The wolf’s diplomatic remarks only further underscore the CCP’s inability to meet the challenges of the international situation.
Responsible editor: Gao Jing#