Beijing: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian who gained prominence as one of China's most outspoken "Wolf warrior" diplomats has been transferred to its department that manages land and sea borders, according to Ministry's website. Zhao (50) is now deputy head of Ministry's Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, website showed on Monday.

Zhao became Ministry spokesperson in 2020 after stints in China's Embassy in Pakistan, where he built large following on Twitter as well as on Chinese social media for his frequent and often combative posts, many targeted at United States. His hawkish style made him most prominent practitioner of what widely became known as "Wolf warrior" diplomacy named after popular Chinese movie franchise which marked departure from restraint that had long characterised Beijing's engagement with world.

 In controversial Twitter post in March 2020, Zhao wrote that US military might have brought Coronavirus to Chinese city of Wuhan. Zhao, who often hosted Ministry's daily media briefing has 1.9 million Twitter followers. Zhao and Ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment on his change in role.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 10 2023

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