On January 20, Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the United States, appeared at Donald Trump’s second inauguration, accompanying Vice-President Han Zheng.
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Beyond this brief moment in the spotlight, however, Xie has kept a lower profile during Trump’s second term, in stark contrast to his predecessors Cui Tiankai and Qin Gang, who actively engaged American audiences to counter negative perceptions of China.
At events such as the 2024 Harvard Kennedy School China Conference, despite facing pro-Tibetan protests, he maintained a composed demeanour, emphasising modernisation and cooperation rather than confronting his critics directly, a sharp contrast to Qin’s more combative approach.
Xie’s style aligns more closely with Cui, China’s longest-serving ambassador to the US, who was known for his measured, professional approach.
Cui, who served as ambassador between 2013 and 2021, adeptly navigated turbulence during the Barack Obama era and Trump’s first term, actively engaging US officials and lawmakers, media and think tanks, while forging personal ties with the Trump family.
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Highly regarded in both Beijing and Washington, Cui was viewed as a skilled communicator and an interlocutor who understood American politics.