“He’s not somebody seen as a part of Xi’s inside circle proper now… and definitely not somebody seen as a menace by Xi, which is why (he holds) that individual place.”
This is a “mid-level transfer” by Beijing, provides Hoo, which responds to the “expectations” of the United States of receiving a “senior-level” determine from China for Trump’s large day, and on the similar time “ it does not give Americans precisely what they need.”
“If issues do not go (nicely) … that is OK as a result of he is the vice chairman, not somebody with important affect,” Hoo stated.
“Sometimes, when Xi’s confidants have been used for high-level positions and missions, they’ve been focused by international powers to embarrass Xi personally,” stated Josef Gregory Mahoney, a politics professor at East China Normal University .
He additionally highlighted the probability of anti-China govt orders being issued after Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
“It’s very doubtless a thankless mission, a lot much less a possibility to construct good will,” Mahoney stated of the approaching inauguration.
“(It’s) higher to ship somebody who can present sufficient face however not danger shedding an excessive amount of face if unhealthy issues comply with from Trump.”
During Trump’s first time period, Han remained outspoken in conveying Beijing’s response to robust tariff proposals and commerce disputes.
Wilder in contrast Han’s function to that of his predecessor, Wang Qishan, who served as vice chairman from 2018 to 2023, typically attending abroad features when President Xi didn’t.
“Han Zheng replaces Xi in worldwide conferences he chooses to not attend – that is the function the Chinese vice chairman performs in management,” Wilder stated.
In China, the vice chairman’s function is basically ceremonial and, in response to the structure, he “assists the president in his work” and in addition “workout routines such features and powers because the president might entrust to him.”
WHY NOT CAI QI OR WANG YI?
Before Han Zheng’s affirmation, two different names had been proposed as doable envoys: Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, thought-about Xi’s closest confidant among the many present management, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, typically seen representing Beijing at world occasions and boards.
As considered one of China’s strongest officers, sitting on the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee, Cai Qi additionally serves as President Xi’s chief of workers, the primary individual to carry each positions since Wang Dongxing, who was chief of workers. Mao Zedong’s workers.
