The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, has been confirmed to be appointed as the Ambassador to Cambodia, sparking discussions. Many Chinese netizens have made connections to the former Chinese Communist Party spokesperson Zhao Lijian, who was previously accused of being “exiled to the border regions.”
The China International Development Cooperation Agency recently announced that its director, Luo Zhaohui, met with the “incoming Ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wenbin” on June 4, indirectly confirming Wang’s assignment to Cambodia.
Cambodia is recognized as a country with poor economic development and a precarious security situation. Wang Wenbin, who was suddenly dispatched from the spotlight of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the small country of Cambodia, has stirred conversations among Chinese netizens on Weibo.
Some Chinese netizens commented, “Wang Wenbin is said to speak six languages, and people thought he would be sent to a major country.” Some questioned if it was a “demotion in disguise,” while others speculated that in the context of “geostrategic competition between China and the U.S.,” Cambodia’s strategic military value might have prompted the assignment of Wang Wenbin for some other purpose.
On overseas social media platforms, Chinese netizens have made sarcastic remarks about Wang’s new assignment and compared him to another former spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, discussing internal struggles within the Chinese Communist Party:
– Li Shiping: “Sent to the border region!”
– Audrey: “It’s not exactly a demotion, but it shows that he wasn’t promoted within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, similar to Zhao Lijian. Not everyone can get promoted just by being a ‘wolf warrior.'”
– Simon Chat: “Went through so much, used all kinds of shameless tactics, but in the end, the big boss didn’t like it. But what can we say? It’s not that bad, at least it’s closer to home.”
– YS: “Slightly better than Brother Defense over there.”
– Not following the old path: “Accepting the Party’s test is like accompanying a tiger.”
– Arturo Belano: “The Ambassador to Cambodia plays an important role, as the second overseas military base is right there.”
– Zl x: “Heard it’s a lateral transfer; Cambodia is currently crucial. Just got the 99-year lease of a naval base at Ream Naval Base, allowing to bypass the Malacca Strait.”
It is understood that Chinese ambassadors (or representatives) abroad mainly fall under three levels: deputy ministerial-level, division-chief-level, and deputy division-chief level. Among them, division-chief-level ambassadors account for the vast majority, while deputy division-chief level ambassadors are mainly stationed in some small countries.
Public records show that the 53-year-old Wang Wenbin served as the Acting Division Chief of the Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2017, Ambassador to Tunisia from May 2018 to 2020, and as the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Division Chief of the Information Department since July 17, 2020, holding the rank of division-chief level. His transfer to the Ambassadorship of Cambodia this time can be considered a lateral move.