Li Zhaoxing's diplomatic paradigm

Li Zhaoxing is a veteran of China's diplomatic news front. 1982 In March, at the first press conference ever held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he officially appeared as an interpreter. During his decades of diplomatic career, the most widely known is that during the whole five years from 1985 to 1990, he served as the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an assistant minister and frequently appeared in front of Chinese and foreign media. It is natural to hold such an important position in troubled times. In the face of many sharp questions raised by western journalists, Li Zhaoxing calmly responded. His wit and firmness left a deep impression on people, and he was called an iron-tongued diplomat in Kouga.

After becoming ambassador to the United States, Li Zhaoxing gave a speech at Ohio University in the United States. Another old lady asked him, "Why did you' invade' Tibet?" Li Zhaoxing changed his old style and did not directly fight back. After learning that the old lady was from Texas, he said, "Your Texas only joined the United States in 1848, and Tibet was incorporated into Chinese territory as early as the middle of 13 century. You see, your arm is a part of your body. Can you say that your body violated your arm? " The old lady was convinced with joy. Finally, she warmly embraced Li Zhaoxing and repeatedly said, "Thank you, thank you for letting me understand the truth of history."

Once, he talked with an American leader, and the other said, I am very dissatisfied with China's "invasion" of Tibet. Li Zhaoxing immediately asked him, do you know the history of Tibet? The other man shook his head. Li Zhaoxing said: "I can explain it to you, but it may be a little difficult for you to understand, because when Tibet was incorporated into Chinese territory, there was no such country as the United States."

An American professor questioned Li Zhaoxing's attitude towards the high-profile incident that the United States installed a bug on the plane bought in China. He replied, "China is a developing country. It is not easy for us to spend so much money on such a plane. I hope we can't spend less on things, but please don't' send' things to us without spending money. " Hearing this, the professor laughed and said admiringly, "Your answer can be compiled into a textbook."

Sino-US relations may be the most subtle and complicated relationship in the world today, and it is also a special state-to-state relationship that is most likely to affect the future pattern of international relations. Li Zhaoxing has been in the front line of Sino-US relations for more than a decade, whether as a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassador to the United Nations, vice foreign minister in charge of Americas and Oceania affairs or ambassador to the United States. He is not only one of the planners of Sino-American diplomacy, but also the main executor. In the eyes of different Americans, Li Zhaoxing has two images: one is a warm, elegant and poetic diplomat; The other is an aggressive fighter who won't give in.

During the period of 1999, the US-led NATO bombed the Embassy of China in Yugoslavia, and Li Zhaoxing, then ambassador to the United States, showed his toughness in this crisis. When an American reporter asked, "Can you guarantee the safety of American diplomats in Beijing and other cities in China?" Li Zhaoxing replied with a serious expression: "You have been talking about the safety of your embassy staff. I want to know why you didn't ask me about the staff of the China Embassy who was injured in Yugoslavia, and why you didn't ask me about the killing of China people in Belgrade? " Regarding the US official's statement that the embassy was bombed because of mistakes, Li Zhaoxing unequivocally asked the reporter: "How do you explain that three precision-guided missiles will attack China's embassy in China from different angles? How do you explain this fact? How can you convince the people of China that this is a "mistake"? How can you convince world public opinion of your explanation? " In this crisis, Li Zhaoxing was regarded as a "hardliner" by American media, and American newspapers described Ambassador Li as "with great sadness and anger on his face".

In this most difficult period, Li Zhaoxing only slept for an hour or two every day. In addition to negotiating with the United States, he has always kept close contact with the highest level in Beijing, and with his rich experience and superb diplomatic wisdom, he has put forward a series of strategies to deal with specific issues in bilateral relations in this extraordinary period, which has played an indispensable role in adjusting and reconstructing the future framework of relations with the United States for policy makers.

For the sake of the dignity of the motherland and the nation, Li Zhaoxing has repeatedly fought and lost in the United States. On one occasion, he attended the "Big Brother" speech of American media. When a reporter asked about the cross-strait situation, he said calmly, "I have just talked about the issue of Taiwan Province Province, and I won't repeat it." Later, he changed the subject and asked, "Can you keep the so-called missile deployment secret?" The audience was in an uproar, and the reporter who asked questions was also surprised. The ambassador to China was willing to talk about such a sensitive issue, so he replied loudly: "Of course I can keep it a secret!" " Li Zhaoxing said with a smile: "I can keep a secret!" "

200 1 1 29 is the last day of Li Zhaoxing's term in the United States. Williams, the mayor of Washington, issued a proclamation declaring this day as "Li Zhaoxing Day" in recognition of his outstanding contribution as ambassador to the United States for three years.