Opinion | Lu Kang, another new generation of Chinese diplomats

By Augustus K. Yeung

Introduction

As China rises, so are the nation's diplomats, especially the ambassadors who represent the "good earth" in dealing with the "beautiful country", and they are expected to build bridges, relate to people of all classes and may have to respond to crisis, etc.

Some of them have become recognized diplomatic stars or celebrities on account of their communication skills, knowledge of Western culture and English language ability, etc.

In this article, we introduce Lu Kang. Is he a "rising star" or is he only good enough for the Asian regional stage, not the Washington world stage?

Lu Kang to Become China's Ambassador to Indonesia

"Lu Kang, a rising star among the new generation of diplomats, is slated to become China's ambassador to Indonesia, according to sources familiar with the situation." Catherine Wong reports for the Post. ("Rising star to be named envoy to Jakarta." South China Morning Post. Thursday, December 16, 2021.)

The former foreign ministry spokesman recently stepped down as head of the ministry's department for North American affairs after two and a half years in the job. He is expected to take up the posting to Indonesia soon.

Lu, 53, a stern-faced diplomat with a buzz cut, became known for his terse yet firm responses to challenging questions when he was spokesman and head of the information department from 2015 to 2019.

His experience also includes a posting to the embassy in Washington and work on arms controls. He recently attended the Central Party School, the exclusive training ground for promising cadres.

How Good was Lu's English as Shown in the Interview?

In a rare interview with US broadcaster NBC in 2017 soon after Donald Trump took office, Lu was questioned about sensitive topics such as the South China Sea and the looming the war with the US. He also did the interview in English, a rare practice for home-based Chinese diplomats.

"The interview showed his firmness and flexibility. It was conducted at a very crucial time when Trump had begun a strategy of escalating pressure on China on Taiwan and other issues which, according to analysts, was calculated to maximize bargaining power in negotiations with Beijing. And Lu…delivered the unmistakable message—that the issue of Taiwan and the one-China principle was 'non-negotiable', "said a person with knowledge of the interview.

"[NBC] asked to do [the interview] in English which we knew was a departure from usual protocol. There was a bit of negotiation involved. But Lu showed flexibility and agreed," said the person.

As head of the information department, Lu was among the officials that led the foreign ministry's foray onto Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Douyin.

How is Lu's Ability to Connect to Western Audience?

But some observers have noted the new generation of diplomats like Lu generally lacks the ability to connect to a Western audience.

"Lu is among the generation of diplomats who focus more on domestic propaganda. He has not shown he is attuned to the discourse in the West or has the cultural sensitivity that will more effectively get his message across to an international audience," said a Beijing-based analyst who researches China's media image.

Lu attracted criticism when he said during a press briefing in 2017 the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong had become "a historical document that no long has any realistic meaning" in response to US and Britain's criticism of Hong Kong's weakening autonomy.

Lu's relatively low profile on social media has set him apart from other more combative diplomats of his generation. He has no personal Twitter account, nor is he active on Chinese social media.

He is known among his peers as an "old school type", which could potentially slow his career advancement, according to a source.

In October, Lu's successor Hua Chunying, 51, was elevated to assistant minister, one of the nine "principal officials" at the top of the foreign ministry.

"The ambassadorship to Indonesia is an important posting. But Lu's career trajectory has not been as smooth as Hua's. In a different time, Lu would have already been promoted to the leadership position within the ministry," said the source. ("Rising star to be named envoy to Jakarta." South China Morning Post. Thursday, December 16, 2021.)

Conclusion

It is true that Indonesia in Asia is no Washington, which is still regarded as the center of world political activities. However, as the US pivots to the Asia Pacific region, Indonesia like many other Asean members is becoming more eye-catching as far as China-watchers are concerned.

Therefore, China's new generation of diplomats in Asia will be put to the test as never before. And, more specifically, China will be battling the US over building strategic relations with the Asian countries, especially those who have territorial claims over the South China Sea.

At this stage, Lu Kang may not be able to match up to Qin Gang, a widely recognized flamboyant ambassador to Washington, but his challenges ahead provide a good opportunity for master-class diplomatic performance, the success of which would bring good will, grace and glory to the motherland.

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

Read more articles by Augustus K. Yeung:

Opinion | The controversial trial of a Harvard professor

Opinion | HK swimmer's hard road to greatness

Opinion | Stop demonizing China's peaceful development and rise