China ‘gives face’ by sending V-P to Trump’s inauguration, but it may not matter much

BEIJING - China’s decision to send Vice-President Han Zheng for Donald Trump’s inauguration in Washington next week appears to be a positive diplomatic signal, as it is a higher level of representation than usual.

On Jan 17, China’s Foreign Ministry announced that

Mr Han would be Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative

at the event, which is typically attended by foreign ambassadors and diplomats there, instead of state leaders.