China goes 10 months without envoy in India ahead of key meetings

China has made no indications of appointing an Ambassador to India - among the top ten coveted posts for Chinese diplomats - even after a record ten-month gap without an envoy in New Delhi

China has made no indications of appointing an Ambassador to India even after a record 10-month gap without an envoy in New Delhi, a delay described by observers as “unusual” ahead of key possible meetings between the leaders of the two countries and the upcoming G-20 Summit in India.

Chinese envoy Sun Weidong took up a post in Beijing as Vice Foreign Minister in October 2022. Since then, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made a slew of new ambassadorial appointments, but no appointment has been made for India.

The post in India – which is among the top ten coveted posts for Chinese diplomats as the Ambassador acquires a rank of Vice Foreign Minister, as is the case for envoys to the United States, United Kingdom and Japan – hasn’t gone empty for such a long period in recent memory.

In contrast, Beijing has usually rushed to keep the post filled, as was the case ahead of Mr. Xi’s first visit to India in September 2014, when both sides cleared the paperwork in record time to ensure then envoy Le Yucheng took up his post ahead of the visit, after his predecessor Wei Wei was recalled unexpectedly, less than two years into his posting.

Despite the upcoming G-20 Summit, there has been no such urgency on this occasion and Beijing is yet to suggest any names for the post to Indian officials, even as relations enter a key period with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Xi set for possible meetings in coming weeks.

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Both leaders are expected to attend the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 22-24, and Mr. Xi is widely expected to travel to New Delhi for the G-20 Summit on September 9-10. Neither side has ruled out a bilateral meeting.