Opinion | China's new FM Qin Gang inspires hope for the new art of diplomacy

By Augustus K. Yeung

INTRODUCTION

Diplomacy is neither a modern invention nor the copy right propriety of the West. During the Warring States period (475 – 221 B.C.) Chinese inter-state diplomats had been exhibiting outstanding and heroic people skills, showcasing a great variety of individuality, ingenuity, intelligence and mastery of verbal skills.

This was the most resourceful, colorful and competitive period in Chinese history; the leaders of various states would go out of their ways to tap talents for themselves, offering extraordinary ruling powers and perks, attracting outstanding diplomats thereafter.

Mao Zedong proudly acknowledged this time frame as the period in which "hundreds of flowers blossomed".

Now into the 21st century, ambassador Qin Gang is showing eye-opening performance, for which he is duly positioned as the new Chinese foreign minister.

How Has Ambassador Qin Gang Impressed the American Public?

"It is too soon to say for sure that Qin Gang's appointment as China's new foreign minister will lead to an improvement in US-China relations, but it's possible it might. It's not that policy will change – Qin is not in a position to call the shots – but his replacement of the veteran Wang Yi represents a welcome change of tone," observed Philip J. Cunningham, a regular visitor to China since 1983, working as a TV producer, freelance writer, independent scholar and teacher.

"Diplomats are tasked to perform for their countries, and sometimes it is not the hard delivery of policy under the spotlight but the soft public relations efforts on the sidelines that bear the most fruit. This was certainly the case during Qin's tenure as China's ambassador to the US."

"He didn't achievement much in terms of improving bilateral relations…Being ambassador for less than two years, in contrast to his predecessor Cui Tiankai, who held the job for eight, Qin did not gain much access or traction in his short time in Washington."

Sometimes being snubbed can lead to years of enmity – one need only recall the refusal of John Foster Dulles to shake Zhou Enlai's outstretched hand in Geneva in 1954 and consider how that played out.

On the other hand, sometimes being snubbed can lead to looking for other ways in. To the extent that Qin got nowhere inside the Beltway…

"Even in Washington, he found outlets that were perhaps deemed below the dignity of his august predecessors, such as shooting a few baskets – and making them – in the company of the Washington Wizards before an NBA game. Further afield, he threw out the first pitch at a St Louis Cardinals baseball game and drove a tractor to harvest corn in Missouri, to much local amusement. He rode in a Tesla with Elon Musk in Fremont, California.

"In Provo, Utah, he attended a musical event of Brigham Young University's Young Ambassadors dedicated to international friendship. This event had a rich resonance because it was attended by the original cohort of the no-longer-young youth idealists who visited China in 1979 at the dawn of US-China relations. It was a PR stunt."

Qin is on Twitter…

What are the Personal Characteristics that Distinguished Qin Gang?

"Qin Gang's Twitter feed is kinder and gentler than his colleagues in Beijing. While one can detect no serious deviation from the party line that all foreign ministry personnel are expected to follow, there is a hopefulness in tone that is absent in the Twitter missives of his peers," remarked Cunningham.

"Diplomacy by its very nature requires its practitioners to act in ways that non-diplomats might find duplicitous; some diplomats are better actors than others. Zhou Enlai was by all accounts a hardened communist, but his consummate people skills left him with a soft patina and glow that even his rivals came to respect."

"By the same token, though he has taken polemical positions worthy of a wolf-warrior on numerous occasions, Qin does not come off as threatening as Zhao Lijian or as indifferent and aloof as Wang. Demeanor counts for something in diplomacy, and an upbeat personality can bestow a reputation, even if unearned, for accomplishment."

When it came time for Qin to sum up his experience in the US, he didn't dwell on any closed doors and deaf ears. "I have been deeply impressed by so many hard-working, friendly and talented American people that I met," Qin Gang said, parting on a high note.

Now that is a real diplomat talking. His words offer the slender but not inconsequential hope that US-China relations might improve in tone, and perhaps content, when he assumes titular control of China's foreign ministry. (Source: SCMP)

CONCLUSION

Taking into serious consideration President Xi Jinping's grand vision of installing tens of thousands of universities to be instituted all over China, it is important to bear in mind that individuality, ingenuity and intelligence, and most notably language skills count.

Individuality begets variety, when "variety is the spice of life"; producing diplomats out of a mode is only boring, as they only show one common face. It is one dimensional.

Ingenuity is important as it enables the individual diplomat to confront situations and find a distinct way out, which may turn out to win the hearts and minds of the host country.

Intelligence is a master skill, without which no "voila," non-stop applauses and standing ovations can be drawn in foreign postings in honor of China, a deservedly proud ancient civilization.

Foreign-languages, especially English-speaking skills are of utmost importance. Qin Gang is a case in point.

China has entered a new critical phase in which quality counts; this is a period in which the nation should not just meet but exceed expectations.

What should be China's target, mass manufacturing of goods, products, or diplomacy? Whatever it is, it must be excellence!

Apart from Zhou Enlai, Qin Gang will not be the first or the last; it is hoped that there are a pool of talented English-speaking Chinese diplomats working alongside the UN and beyond.

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.

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