China News Service, August 21 (Sweet Ho Luman) In early October 2020, Branstad, the then U.S. ambassador to China, returned to his hometown in Iowa with a wave of his sleeves.

This position is therefore vacant.

　　Within a few months after the U.S. President Bi came to power, he nominated a number of ambassadors to foreign countries, but the choice of ambassador to China is still uncertain.

　　Now, new candidates have finally surfaced.

On August 20, 2021 local time, Biden announced that he would nominate Nicholas Burns, a senior diplomat and Harvard University professor, as the US ambassador to China.

　　Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in 1979, there have been 12 ambassadors to China so far.

Most of them have more or less connections with China. Some have dealt with China for many years, some have lived in China, some were even born in China, and some are of Chinese descent.

　　So, what is the origin of this 65-year-old Burns, who is about to become the 13th ambassador to China?

What impact will his nomination have on Sino-US relations?

Data map: Nicholas Burns, a senior American diplomat and professor at Harvard University.

Across four U.S. governments

　　How rich is the experience of the veteran diplomat?

　　When mentioning Burns, many foreign media gave such a label: experienced "star diplomat."

　　It can be said that Sino-US relations are the most critical and important issue during Biden's tenure. What he needs is an experienced diplomat to assist him in handling Sino-US issues.

Former Senator Max Baucus of the Democratic Party of Montana, who served as the second ambassador of the Obama administration to China, said, “The Biden administration needs to appoint a person who will enable people to'wow-wow'. The world demonstrates the importance of Sino-US relations."

　　Compared with the "predecessors", Burns, who was a professional diplomat, has not many dealings with China.

According to US media analysis, if Biden nominates Burns as ambassador to China, it will break the four-term convention of having elected officials who are good at "retail politics" serve as ambassadors to China and switch to a professional diplomat with diplomatic skills. Come to this important post.

　　How rich is Burns' diplomatic experience?

　　According to reports, he previously served in the U.S. diplomatic service for 27 years, spanning four administrations from Reagan to Bush Jr.:

　　During the Reagan administration, Burns worked successively at the U.S. Embassy in Mauritania and the U.S. Embassy in Egypt. From 1985 to 1987, he served as a political officer at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem;

　　In the Bush administration, Burns served as the director of Soviet affairs;

　　Entering the Clinton administration, Burns served in the National Security Council of the White House, served as Director of Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian Affairs, spokesperson for the State Department, and was later appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Greece;

　　During George W. Bush’s era, he became the US ambassador to NATO and served as the State Department’s “No. 3 Person”-Deputy Secretary of State from 2005 to 2008.

Data map: On June 1, 2007, Burns (left) met with the then Indian Foreign Minister Mukherjee in India.

　　Competition or cooperation?

　　He views Sino-U.S. relations like this

　　Judging from his resume, Burns's familiarity with Eurasian, Middle East, Russia and other affairs is needless to say.

But as the first US ambassador to China, what is his attitude and stance on Sino-US relations?

　　First, let’s take a look at what the people around Burns say about him:

　　"If he is appointed, he will be an'effective and conspicuous' ambassador to China."

Eric Rubin, chairman of the American Association of Diplomats and former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria, who has known Burns and worked with him for more than 30 years, thinks so.

　　He said: "(Burnes) is very easy-going, he is a very outgoing and charming person. He likes to deal with people, likes to talk to the audience, especially good at dealing with students and young people. He is a very good speech. Home. So I think he (if he is the ambassador to China) will be very effective and conspicuous. I think this is exactly what we need now."

　　Another senior American diplomat who is familiar with Burns said: "He is very friendly, open, and charming, but he is definitely a tough guy. I think if he gets the nomination, this will be a factor. Because whether it is Whoever holds this position must be both tough and willing to talk."

　　When Burns was the Deputy Secretary of State of the State Council, he was directly involved in the East Asia Bureau of the State Council and other affairs related to China.

An American diplomat who worked with Burns said that Burns knows Chinese affairs very well.

　　Like many Biden officials thought, Burns also believes that Sino-US relations are "the most important and most challenging" for the United States.

　　However, according to his previous remarks, it is unclear whether he is inclined to compete or cooperate.

　　On April 16, German media pointed out in a report that Burns stated that decoupling from the Chinese economy is not a realistic option for the United States, Europe, Japan, and India.

He believes that it is necessary to cooperate with China in certain areas, such as climate change and the fight against the new crown epidemic.

　　However, Burns also said, “But I am also convinced that our relationship with China is coming to a critical point, and there is a major competition in economics, military and values.” He also said in an interview with US media in 2017, China is "openly challenging the strength of the United States in Asia."

Data map: On September 28, 2007, Burns (second from right) met with the then German Foreign Minister Steinmeier and others in New York, USA.

　　Facing challenge

　　If we use our experience with Europe to deal with our relations with China, we may go astray

　　Although Burns has extensive diplomatic experience, there are concerns in handling relations with China that his experience may be "unacceptable."

　　According to media analysis, because Burns has relatively rich diplomatic experience in dealing with Europe, he may deal with Chinese affairs in a relatively successful way in dealing with Europe.

But Europe is not China. If he simply applies the European approach to relations with China after he takes office, his understanding of China may be biased.

　　The ambassador to China has always been regarded as an "important but difficult" position, especially at a time when Sino-US relations are becoming increasingly complex.

　　Whether it is the National Security Council of the White House or the State Council, there are huge teams dedicated to China affairs.

This shows that the Biden administration attaches great importance to China.

　　In other words, as the ambassador to China, you must not only cooperate with Secretary of State Blincoln and National Security Adviser Sullivan, but also need to negotiate with Kerry, the Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Campbell, the National Security Council’s Asia Coordinator.

　　This is also a huge challenge for Burns.

　　However, analysts believe that Burns, who has served in both democratic and Republican governments and has been reused, is easier to gain cross-party support.

Data map: US President Biden.

　　Send a positive signal

　　Can the new ambassador to China ease Sino-US relations?

　　Du Dawei, who served as the special economic and financial envoy of the Treasury to China in the Obama administration, once pointed out that the Biden administration "(nominated Burns to be the U.S. ambassador to China) may be a positive signal to China that Biden is taking the two countries seriously. Interaction between".

　　Hong Kong's "Ta Kung Pao" quoted expert analysis as saying that the United States will still face severe economic difficulties in the next few years. It is objectively necessary for the Biden administration to ease relations and strengthen cooperation with China.

　　Judging from the current situation, the Biden administration tends to adopt a “selective competition” approach, that is, to instigate opposition in the military and ideological fields; to compete with China in the economic and high-tech fields; and to prevent and control the epidemic, climate change, etc. Field, start cooperation.

　　If the appointment is passed smoothly, it remains to be seen what role Burns will play in Sino-US relations in the next few years.

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