“He is not somebody seen as being part of Xi’s inner circle at the present moment… and certainly not somebody viewed as a threat by Xi, that’s why he (holds) that particular position.”
It’s a “middle ground move” on Beijing’s part, Hoo adds – one that both addresses US “expectations” of receiving a “senior-level” figure from China for Trump’s big day, and at the same time “doesn’t give the Americans exactly what they want”.
“If things don’t turn out (well)… that’s fine because he’s the vice president, not somebody with any significant influence,” Hoo said.
“Sometimes, when Xi’s confidants have been used for high-level positions and missions, they have been targeted by foreign powers in order to embarrass Xi personally,” said Josef Gregory Mahoney, a professor of politics at East China Normal University.
He also pointed to the likelihood of anti-China executive orders following Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
“It’s most likely a thankless mission, much less an opportunity to create goodwill,” Mahoney said of the upcoming inauguration.
“(It’s) best to send someone who can show enough face but not risk losing too much face if bad things follow from the Trump side.”
During Trump’s first term, Han remained vocal in conveying Beijing’s response to harsh tariff proposals and trade disputes.
Wilder likened Han’s role to that of his predecessor, Wang Qishan, who served as vice president from 2018 to 2023, often attending overseas functions when President Xi did not.
“Han Zheng stands in (for Xi) at international meetings that he decides not to attend – this is the role that the Chinese vice president plays in the leadership,” Wilder said.
In China, the role of vice president is largely ceremonial and according to the constitution, “assists the president in his work” and also “exercises functions and powers the president may entrust to him”.
WHY NOT CAI QI OR WANG YI?
Before Han Zheng’s confirmation, two other names were floated as possible envoys: Cai Qi, a Politburo Standing Committee member, seen as Xi’s closest confidant among the current leadership, and China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, often seen representing Beijing at global events and forums.
As one of China’s most powerful officials sitting on the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee, Cai Qi also serves as President Xi’s chief of staff — the first person to hold both positions since Wang Dongxing, who served as Mao Zedong’s chief of staff.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/han-zheng-xi-jinping-trump-inauguration-ceremony-4864641
