China is anticipated to appoint a new ambassador to India this month, ending an 18-month vacancy in the crucial post in New Delhi. Veteran diplomat Xu Feihong is reportedly the leading candidate for the appointment, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Since October 2022, the Chinese embassy has remained without an ambassador, marking the longest period without an envoy since 1976. This prolonged gap in ambassadorial postings reflects the strained relations between India and China due to the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
According to sources speaking on condition of anonymity, the new Chinese ambassador might assume the post before the conclusion of the Indian elections in early June. Two individuals stated that the appointment could occur as soon as mid-May.
The absence of any official statement from either the Chinese or Indian side regarding this matter has been noted. Experts have characterized the lack of a Chinese ambassador in New Delhi as a significant gap in communication channels, particularly during a period of strained bilateral relations.
Xu, approximately 60 years old, is a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign ministry committee and serves as an assistant minister of foreign affairs. His previous diplomatic roles include serving as China’s ambassador to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2013 and to Romania from 2015 to 2019. He has also undertaken diplomatic assignments in Finland, South Korea, New Zealand, and the UK, though he is not considered experienced in Indian affairs.
The previous Chinese ambassador, Sun Weidong, concluded his term on October 26, 2022, and was appointed as one of China’s three vice foreign ministers. Despite President Xi Jinping appointing new envoys to Japan and the US since then, there has been no indication whether the ambassadorial post in India would be filled.
The Chinese leadership has consistently emphasized that the military standoff, which has strained bilateral relations to their lowest point since the 1962 border war, should be addressed within the broader context of the relationship. They urge both sides to focus on enhancing ties in areas such as trade and investment.
The Indian side has firmly rejected this stance, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar affirming that bilateral relations cannot return to normal until peace and tranquility are restored on the border. Jaishankar has also accused China of damaging relations by violating agreements and protocols for border management.
Last year, President Xi Jinping opted out of attending the G20 Summit hosted by India, instead sending Premier Li Qiang as China’s representative. It is widely believed that the lack of confirmation from the Chinese side about Xi’s participation in the SCO Summit in July 2023 was a significant factor leading to the meeting being conducted virtually.
The last time there was a gap of a year or more in the posting of a Chinese ambassador in India was in 1976. Between the border war of 1962 and the normalization of relations in 1976, the embassy was headed by either a chargé d’affaires or a first secretary (for a brief period in 1972). Following Sun Weidong’s departure, the embassy has been led by chargé d’affaires Ma Jia.
The position of the Chinese envoy in India, along with those in Japan, the US, and the UK, is highly sought after by Chinese diplomats, as the ambassador in New Delhi holds a status equivalent to that of a vice foreign minister. Both Sun Weidong and his predecessor in New Delhi, Luo Zhaohui, ascended to the rank of vice foreign ministers.