Wang Wenbin
Wang Wenbin | |
|---|---|
汪文斌 | |
 Wang Wenbin at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 31, 2020 | |
| Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia | |
| Assumed office June 2024 | |
| President | Xi Jinping |
| Preceded by | Wang Wentian |
| Deputy Director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office July 2020 – May 24, 2024 | |
| Director | Hua Chunying |
| Preceded by | Geng Shuang |
| Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia | |
| In office May 2018 – June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Bian Yanhua |
| Succeeded by | Zhang Jianguo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1971 (age 53) Tongcheng, Anhui, China |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | China Foreign Affairs University (BA) |
Wang Wenbin (Chinese: 汪文斌; pinyin: Wāng Wénbīn; born April 1971) is a Chinese politician and diplomat who currently serves as the Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia.[1] He was formerly a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, deputy director of the Foreign Ministry Information Department, and currently a member of the Chinese Communist Party. He is the 32nd spokesperson since the position was established in the ministry back in 1983. He served as the Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia from 2018 to 2020, and has worked in Chinese embassies in Mauritius and Senegal.[2]
Wang is known as a wolf warrior diplomat for his defense of the Chinese government and his opposition to criticism of it.[3] As a spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry, he rejected the United States' claim that the Taiwan Strait is international waters[4] and was known for his controversial statements on the South China Sea dispute.[5][6][7]
Biography[edit]
Wang was born in Anhui, China in April 1971. He attended Nanjing Jinling High School.[8] In 1989 he entered China Foreign Affairs University, where he majored in French. After graduation, he was assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served in various diplomatic positions including deputy director and director of the Policy Research Office, political counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the Republic of Mauritius, counsellor of the Department of Policy Planning, and deputy director of the Department of Policy Planning. He was designated by 13th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in May 2018 to replace Bian Yanhua as Ambassador to Tunisia. On 17 July 2020, he was appointed the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, succeeding Geng Shuang.[2]
On May 24, 2024, on his press briefing at the foreign ministry, he ended the session with his "farewell" to the position.[3] On June 4, 2024, Wang was assigned as a Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia as confirmed by the China International Development Cooperation Agency.[1]
Official statements[edit]
In February 2021, Wang called Uyghur genocide the "lie of the century".[9][10]
In December 2022, Wang said that Beijing supported the "resolute defence of the national anthem’s dignity," in reference to Glory to Hong Kong being highly ranked on Google when searching for the national anthem of Hong Kong.[11]
In February 2023, in response to the 2023 Chinese balloon incident, Wang said that "Since last year alone, US balloons have illegally flown above China more than 10 times without any approval from Chinese authorities."[12]
South China Sea dispute[edit]
On March 2024, Wang Wenbin told Seoul's government to not interfere with the South China Sea dispute after South Korea's concerns over the collision of Chinese and Filipino coastguard vessels on Second Thomas Shoal.[7] On the same month, the Philippines expelled Chinese diplomats over an alleged leaked telephone call with a Filipino admiral about the South China Sea. As a response, Wang later made an official statement calling these actions "provocations" on the dispute.[13]
On April 1, 2024, he stated that the Philippines' policies on the South China Sea will not affect their maritime rights and China's sovereignty. This statement was made after Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered his government to strengthen the country's maritime security.[5]
Personal life[edit]
Wang is married and has a daughter.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "China taps 'wolf warrior' diplomat as Cambodia ambassador". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b Yu Xiaoqing (于潇清) (17 July 2020). 外交部新发言人汪文斌：投身外交近三十年后回归新闻司. thepaper.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ a b "China's 'wolf warrior' diplomat to take up post in Cambodia". Radio Free Asia. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "China insists it has sovereign rights over Taiwan Strait". South China Morning Post. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Philippines to boost diplomacy and defence capability as South China Sea 'countermeasures'". Reuters. 1 April 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Shepherd, Tory (18 July 2022). "'Abusing China's restraint': Beijing accuses Australia of provocation at sea". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Beijing warns South Korea to 'watch yourself' after remarks on South China Sea". South China Morning Post. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Huang Huan (黄欢); Hu Anjing (胡安静); Fan Jiexun (范杰逊) (17 July 2020). 外交部新任发言人是金陵中学校友，班主任：他做事沉稳非常自律. xhby.net (in Chinese). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Westcott, Ben; Wright, Rebecca (9 March 2021). "First independent report into Xinjiang genocide allegations claims evidence of Beijing's 'intent to destroy' Uyghur people". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Griffiths, James (17 April 2021). "From cover-up to propaganda blitz: China's attempts to control the narrative on Xinjiang". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Hong Kong may stop buying Google adverts unless national anthem row is resolved". South China Morning Post. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "China says US balloons entered airspace 'more than 10 times' since 2022". Hong Kong Free Press. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "China renews call for Philippines to stop 'provocations' over South China Sea". ABS-CBN News. 17 May 2024.
- ^ Zhou Jingwei (周经纬) (17 July 2020). 外交部新任发言人汪文斌正式亮相，华春莹这样介绍他. Beijing Daily (in Chinese). Retrieved 18 July 2020.
External links[edit]
- Wang Wenbin on the Official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China