tirsdag 29. desember 2020

One of China's original 'wolf warriors,' Liu Xiaoming is to resign as ambassador to the UK after combative tenure

One of China's original "wolf warrior" diplomats is set to resign, ending a combative tenure dominated by controversies over Beijing's policies in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Liu Xiaoming, the current Chinese envoy to the United Kingdom, will leave his post in the near future, Tam Yiu-chung, a delegate to the National People's Congress Standing Committee confirmed to CNN. At 64, Liu is a few years off the unofficial retirement age for senior Communist Party members of 68, though well above the legal retirement age of 60. The South China Morning Post first reported Liu's plans Sunday. 

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country's embassy in the UK did not respond to a request for comment. According to Tam, Liu's replacement will be Zheng Zeguang, 57, a current vice foreign minister who previously served as a senior diplomat in the United States. Liu also worked in the US for many years before becoming ambassador to the UK in 2009, a post he has held since.