China has been promoting its Europe and Australia experts to its foreign affairs top ranks since #20thPC, seeking to aver Europe's Indo-Pacific tilt.
It's clear Europe & Australia are gonna be at the center of Chinese diplomacy. And Taiwan is responding. /1🧵
It's clear Europe & Australia are gonna be at the center of Chinese diplomacy. And Taiwan is responding. /1🧵
Personnel appts alone tell you a lot. China's new foreign minister, Qin Gang, served in China's embassy to the UK, and was Deputy FM responsible for Europe (2019-21) -- i.e. when EU-China relations was still good (CAI anyone?), and before EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy. /2
China's first deputy foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu was China's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva (2016-18), and China's ambassador to Australia (2013-16) -- i.e. when 🇦🇺🇨🇳relations was still good (even signed AUS-China FTA in 2015). /3
Today Taiwan responds by covering its bases on EU & Aus in its cabinet reshuffle.
For Europe, Taiwan appoints Tsai Ming-Yen, its recent Representative to EU (2020-22) as TW's new intelligence chief, i.e. National Security Bureau director. /4
For Europe, Taiwan appoints Tsai Ming-Yen, its recent Representative to EU (2020-22) as TW's new intelligence chief, i.e. National Security Bureau director. /4
Here's an extended interview on BBC Hardtalk in April 2022, when Tsai Ming-Yen went over the Ukraine War's lessons for Taiwan and Taiwan's approach towards Europe and China. /5
For Australia, Taiwan appoints Roy Chun Li as its new Deputy Foreign Minister.
Li is an @ANUCrawford alumnus and a WTO expert, who will likely capitalize on his Australian know-how and push forward AUS-TW trade talks on a bilateral FTA and CPTPP membership. @ANUmedia. /6
Li is an @ANUCrawford alumnus and a WTO expert, who will likely capitalize on his Australian know-how and push forward AUS-TW trade talks on a bilateral FTA and CPTPP membership. @ANUmedia. /6
In short, China is promoting Europe and AUS hands who once successfully negotiated major trade deals (CAI in 2020; 🇦🇺🇨🇳FTA in 2015), hoping they can recreate their magic & restore China's relations with them.
Taiwan is consciously playing defense thru its new cabinet line-up. /7
Taiwan is consciously playing defense thru its new cabinet line-up. /7
As US-China strategic competition becomes entrenched, the great diplomatic game's main battlefield shifts.
China seems to find repairing relations with the US' core allies & partners in Europe & Australia -- thereby diminishing US' 'position of strength' -- a renewed priority./8
China seems to find repairing relations with the US' core allies & partners in Europe & Australia -- thereby diminishing US' 'position of strength' -- a renewed priority./8
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