Henry Kissinger meets with China’s defense minister in Beijing
NBCMAY 2023
Amid an economic downturn, the sudden replacement of a top official was the last thing Xi needed to maintain his unshakeable grip on power in the PRC. That Qin was promoted before more senior figures indicated that a great degree of trust was placed in the former foreign minister, with this shake-up reflecting poorly on the Chinese leader. Because the leading exporter of China's "wolf warrior" diplomacy has departed, Xi may be moving away from the aggressive style of diplomacy that has dictated his rule and indicates a diplomatic softening in Beijing.
External powers shouldn't waste time reading tea leaves. Wang Yi is a widely respected diplomat, and any wild speculation about the move is simply unfounded. Qin has retained his position as a senior politician — indicating that reports of his fall from grace have been greatly exaggerated. Despite a thirst for cloak-and-dagger stories of diplomatic intrigue by the West, it's simply business as usual in China.