Recently, the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (referred to as the MFA) showed that Lu Kang, former Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, has been appointed as the Vice Minister of the Department of External Liaison. Lu Kang previously served as the Director of the Information Department and spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, being regarded by outside observers as a member of the Chinese Wolf Warrior team.
On May 20th, the MFA website displayed that Lu Kang has been appointed as the Vice Minister of the Department of External Liaison. Just a day before, on May 19th, the website of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia announced that on May 18th, Lu Kang, along with his wife Chen Yue, had completed their tenure and returned to China.
Established in 1951, the Department of External Liaison is responsible for the interparty diplomacy of the Chinese Communist Party. The current Minister of the Department is Liu Jianchao, with Lu Kang as one of the Vice Ministers, alongside Chen Zhou, Li Mingxiang, and Sun Haiyan.
Hailing from Taixing, Jiangsu Province, Lu Kang started working at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 1992. He held positions such as Deputy Director of the Department of International Organizations, Deputy Director of the America Department, Minister Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in the United States, Director of the Information Department, and Director of the America Department. Lu Kang was appointed as the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia in August 2021 and later assumed the role of Vice Minister of the Department of External Liaison in March of this year.
During his time as the Director of the Information Department and spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2015 to 2019, Lu Kang, along with Hua Chunying and Geng Shuang, formed the “Wolf Warrior” spokesperson team within the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lu Kang has been identified by external analysts as the senior figure within the Wolf Warrior team.
In an interview with QUB Radio, Guy St-Jacques, former Canadian Ambassador to China (from October 2012 to January 2017), referred to Lu Kang as a specialist in disinformation, stating, “I remember some of his statements because he was the spokesperson of the (Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) during the initial stage of the crisis between China and Canada, but in reality, what he said at that time was untrue and exaggerated.”
(Previously Reported: Lu Kang Claims Only Canada Detained Meng Wanzhou, Officials Criticize: Disinformation Specialist)
Lu Kang, during his tenure as the Director of the Information Department, along with Hua Chunying and Geng Shuang, comprised the “Wolf Warrior” spokesperson team of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lu Kang has been perceived by the public as the elder statesman of the Wolf Warrior team.