Xi calls on Chinese diplomats to establish ‘diplomatic iron army’

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Chinese ambassadors to establish a “diplomatic iron army” that remains steadfastly loyal to the Communist Party, reflecting China’s growing assertiveness in its foreign policy.

“Dare to be good at struggle and to become defenders of the national interest. It is necessary to... resolutely safeguard the interests of national sovereignty, security and development with a posture of readiness and a firm will to defy strong powers,” Xi told Chinese overseas envoys gathered in Beijing, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

During an annual keynote speech following the conclusion of the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference, a confidential high-level Communist Party foreign policy planning meeting that occurs every five years, Xi emphasized the importance of Party discipline to the envoys, and reiterated the word “strict” seven times, urging them to adhere to it diligently.

“It is necessary to put rules and discipline in front, strictly discipline oneself, take strict responsibility... and create a diplomatic iron army that is loyal to the Party... dares to and is good at struggle, and observes strict discipline,” Xi said during the envoys’ conference at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

Xi’s comments come in the midst of a renewed effort to enforce discipline within China’s diplomatic corps, following the removal of the previous foreign minister Qin Gang in July and the appointment of Wang Yi.

Gang’s tenure lasted only seven months, with rumors of an alleged extra-marital affair during his tenure as China’s ambassador to the United States.

“Loyalty to the Party, the country and the people is the glorious tradition of the diplomatic front,” said Xi.

“It is necessary to build a strong line of ideological defense... and be an astute person with firm political beliefs who strictly complies with rules and discipline.”

He also highlighted the need for Beijing to increase its international influence.

“We must make broad and deep friendships, and the fight to win people’s hearts must not only be carried out in temples but deeply among the masses. We must use foreign language and methods to tell the China story well,” Xi was quoted as saying, echoing a June 2021 speech in which he urged officials to create a “trustworthy, lovable and respectable” image of China.

On Friday, Beijing named its former commander of the navy, Dong Jun, as its new defense minister, replacing the disappeared ex-minister Li Shangfu.

While China is in high hopes of becoming a world-dominating power, Dong will be the public face of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and has held office at a time when the US is ramping up its efforts to compete with China by forging diplomatic ties in the Asia Pacific.

Dong, 62, who previously occupied the post of the commander of the East Sea Fleet, what is now the Eastern Theatre Command, the main force responsible for fighting over Taiwan, has now the responsibility to engage with the US and lessen the risk of an escalation of a conflict over Taiwan.

“Dong would be familiar with managing near-encounters between Chinese and US military. This is useful when he has to manage crises between both militaries,” said Li Mingjiang, international relations scholar at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

SS