China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has once again traveled to Europe in recent months. This time to Switzerland and Italy, where efforts have recently been stepped up to establish good relations.
By Marcel Grzanna
Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, is a central figure in global diplomacy and plays a key role in shaping China's foreign policy. With a career spanning both domestic and foreign policy, he has steered relations with the US, the EU, Russia and many other countries at crucial stages. His political line reflects China's strategic interests and operates in a field of tension between cooperation and confrontation. Who is Wang Yi? Wang Yi was born in Beijing in 1953 and trained at the renowned Beijing Institute of International Relations, where he specialized in Asian studies. He began his career at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, where he held various positions, including Ambassador of Japan and Vice Foreign Minister. In 2013, Wang Yi was appointed Foreign Minister, taking on one of the most important roles in the Chinese government. He is not only an experienced diplomat, but also a close confidant of President Xi Jinping. Wang's policy as China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's policy as Foreign Minister is strongly aimed at expanding and strengthening international relations while defending China's sovereignty and global interests. He is a staunch advocate of the "One China Policy" and has repeatedly emphasized that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. This position has led to tensions in the international community, particularly in relations with the USA. Wang Yi and the USA Relations between China and the USA have increasingly deteriorated in recent years, and Wang Yi has played a central role in this diplomatic dispute. At the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2023, Wang Yi had a confrontation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Wang Yi criticized the US for interfering in China's internal affairs, particularly in relation to Taiwan, and described American policy as aggressive and confrontational. Nevertheless, he emphasized that China was prepared to continue the dialogue as long as the USA showed "mutual respect". Relations with Germany and Europe Wang Yi has also been heavily involved in relations between China and Germany in recent years. Wang Yi met with both German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to discuss economic and political relations between the two countries. China and Germany are closely linked, particularly in terms of trade and investment, but there are also tensions, especially with regard to human rights and the situation in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Baerbock has repeatedly called for human rights to be respected in China, while Wang Yi insists that this is an internal Chinese matter. Wang Yi also plays an important role in relations with the EU. Meetings with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell often emphasize the need for greater economic cooperation, but here too there are differences, for example with regard to the handling of the Taiwanese issue and China's role in global trade. Wang Yi and the stance on Taiwan Wang Yi is a vehement advocate of the Chinese position on Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that should be brought back under the control of the People's Republic. The Foreign Minister of China has reiterated China's claim to Taiwan in numerous international forums, including the MSC, and warned against any form of "separatist activities". This stance is one of the main causes of tensions between China and the US and other Western countries that support Taiwan. Relations with Turkey and BRICS Wang Yi is actively working to strengthen China's relations with emerging markets, including Turkey and the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Despite geopolitical differences, there are close economic ties with Turkey, which both countries would like to expand further. The Chinese Foreign Minister has met several times with Turkish government representatives to discuss trade relations and investments. Within the BRICS bloc, Wang Yi is promoting China's goal of expanding the alliance and positioning it more strongly. He is committed to ensuring that the BRICS states play a greater role on the global stage and help to counterbalance the Western powers. Peace plan for Ukraine and relations with Russia In the context of the war in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has emphasized China's neutral stance and put forward the idea of a peace plan. Although China officially claims neutrality, Western countries have criticized China's closeness to Russia. Wang Yi has met several times with Russian government representatives, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, to discuss bilateral relations and the Ukraine conflict. China's position is that the territorial sovereignty of all countries should be respected without directly condemning Russia. This balancing act demonstrates China's complex geopolitical role in the current world order. Wang Yi and China's engagement in the Middle East and Africa Wang Yi also pursues a neutral role in the Middle East, especially in relation to Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel. He sees China as a mediator who is willing to bring conflicting parties to the table. This is also reflected in China's growing relations with Africa, where the Chinese Foreign Minister acts as an ambassador for peace. He is strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with many African states in order to expand China's influence on the continent and at the same time act as a mediator in regional conflicts. Wang Yi and investment in the South Pacific Under the leadership of Wang Yi, China has concluded important strategic agreements in the South Pacific that are intended to strengthen the country's economic and military presence in the region. These agreements are part of a comprehensive plan to expand China's power projection in Asia and beyond, which in turn has increased tensions with Western countries, particularly the US. Conclusion and outlook Wang Yi is a key figure in China's foreign policy and a central player on the international stage. His diplomatic efforts reflect China's strategic goals of expanding its global influence while defending the country's sovereignty. From relations with the US, to growing cooperation with Africa and the BRICS countries, to the tense situation in Taiwan, the Chinese foreign minister plays a key role in shaping his country's foreign policy and remains an indispensable architect in global diplomacy. The Table.Briefings editorial team reports on how things are going with Wang Yi and has all the news, analyses and background information on this topic.
