Is China’s Vice-Foreign Minister Sun Weidong the latest to feel the weight of Xi Jinping’s axe? A statement from the State Council, China’s highest body of state power, which was carried on X said that he had been formally removed from his position and that “this adjustment is part of the State Council’s routine personnel changes.”
Manoj Kewalramani of the Takshashila Institution does not believe Sun, a former ambassador to India and Pakistan, has been dismissed. In his view, “The pattern when it comes to anti-corruption crackdowns is that we first get the announcement of an investigation before or along with information of removal.
“Also in this case, we do not see any Party discipline inspection announcement. While one cannot rule out a disciplinary probe, this announcement does not accord with the normal pattern of disciplinary action. So, I would not assume that this is an issue of a corruption probe. I think this is a reshuffle.”
Sun is 59 years of age and the retirement age for senior Chinese officials is around 63 years.
Prof Jabin Jacob of Shiv Nadar University also does not believe Sun has been dismissed. “It’s not removal, he’s waiting for his next appointment,” was his view.
Reports Suggest Possible Promotion
Korea’s online Chosun.com said that Sun had not been dismissed, quoting diplomatic sources. It reported that Sun was due for promotion. It remains to be seen whether an explanation will come up in the days ahead.
Sun has long been regarded as a central figure in China’s India policy. During his tenure as ambassador (2019–2022), he played a key role during the tense period following the Galwan Valley clash, continuing diplomatic engagement amid strained relations.
Key Role in India Policy
In a June 2020 interview, he stated that the Galwan incident occurred on China’s side of the Line of Actual Control and accused India of crossing the boundary first.
Until yesterday the Sun had been busy. He had met the ambassadors of Brunei and Malaysia and two days earlier, was in consultations with Pakistan’s envoy.
He had met India’s Ambassador Pradeep Rawat on March 5th and the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that “The two sides expressed their commitment to jointly implementing the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expanding exchanges and cooperation, properly managing differences, and promoting the sustained, sound, and steady development of China-India relations.”
Qi Yu, Ma Zhaoxu, Hua Chunying and Miao Deyu now form the vice-ministerial line up. It is not yet known who will take over Sun’s portfolio on the Korean Peninsula. On the recent trip to North Korea by Director General Wang, Vice Minister Hua Chunying accompanied the delegation.
