China's Vice President Han Zheng will attend Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, marking the first time a senior Chinese official has done so. Analysts say Han Zheng's appointment is a 'safe choice', balancing diplomatic courtesy without exposing President Xi Jinping to potential embarrassment amid Trump's unpredictable nature. This move breaks protocol as heads of state rarely attend US presidential inaugurations.
Han Zheng will represent China at Donald Trump ’s upcoming inauguration on Jan 20, marking an unprecedented senior-level attendance from Beijing.
Han fits the bill and is a “safer choice”, says Hoo Tiang Boon, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Social Sciences. “If things don't turn out ... that's fine because he's the vice president, not somebody with any significant influence,” Hoo said. “ best to send someone who can show enough face but not risk losing too much face if bad things follow from the Trump side.”
In China, the role of vice president is largely ceremonial and according to the constitution, “assists the president in his work” and also “exercises functions and powers the president may entrust to him”.Before Han Zheng’s confirmation, two other names were floated as possible envoys: Cai Qi, a Politburo Standing Committee member, seen as Xi’s closest confidant among the current leadership, and China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, often seen representing Beijing at global events and forums.
“He is the right-hand man. He runs both Xi Jinping’s personal office and his party office, which has not been done since the Mao era.” While an “extraordinary” move, it would be “almost impossible” due to diplomatic and political risks, Wilder adds. To Wilder, that would have been a “rather routine” decision as many other countries dispatch their foreign ministers to attend ceremonies of this nature.Mahoney pointed out that “if either Cai Qi or Wang Yi are sent, there should be no complaints” since both hold sufficiently high status and are recognised on the world stage.“UNPRECEDENTED” FOR XI TO ATTEND
In the Chinese leader’s case, travel months are planned in advance - ensuring meticulously negotiated agendas, protocols and positive deliverables.“The Chinese have generally been very keen on protocol in diplomatic relations,” he said. “Trump is not.” “They don’t know the Trump team. They don’t know these players. They don’t know what people would say in the immediate aftermath of meetings with Xi,” Wilder said.
Argentina’s far-right president Javier Milei, often described as an ultra-libertarian economist, is also expected to attend, according to Bloomberg. Those left off the guest list include Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her protégé Jordan Bardella.
US Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, called China “the biggest threat to the US” and said it was the “most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever faced”. While in Washington, Han may meet US officials on the sidelines to talk about policy issues - although any substantive discussions will be unlikely, experts say.
China Donald Trump Inauguration Han Zheng Xi Jinping Us-China Relations
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