Chinese Communist Party Raises Salaries for Foreign Diplomats: Expert Says it is to Prevent Them From Developing Two Minds

The Chinese economy continues to stagnate, with the Communist authorities repeatedly claiming the need to “tighten their belts.” However, there are reports indicating that the authorities have decided to give foreign diplomats stationed abroad a comprehensive salary increase of over $1000. Experts suggest that the authorities fear that with low salaries, these diplomats may be more prone to corruption or disloyalty. Despite rampant corruption within the foreign affairs system, the authorities are now wary of rocking the boat.

According to a report by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on April 19, it was revealed that this spring, Chinese diplomats stationed overseas received significant salary raises. This salary increase applied to all overseas diplomats, regardless of their location or rank, with monthly wages increasing by over $1000.

At a time when various levels of the Chinese Communist Party are calling for austerity measures, the decision to raise the monthly salary of foreign diplomats by $1000 is considered rare by outsiders.

Yan Zhensheng, a researcher at the Taiwan Research Center for International Relations, stated on April 22 that the salary increase for foreign diplomats may be related to local inflation. Additionally, due to the increased diplomatic responsibilities faced by Chinese diplomats in the USA and Europe in recent years, the authorities are aiming to boost morale by offering salary hikes.

China expert Wang He mentioned on April 22 that the salary increase for Chinese foreign diplomats may not be directly related to inflation, as global inflation peaked in 2011 and 2012 and began to decline by 2013. The timing of this salary increase by the Chinese government seems somewhat questionable.

Wang He also suggested that following the removal of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, there were concerns about stability within the foreign affairs system, prompting the authorities to increase salaries to maintain morale.

Yan Zhensheng further noted that the Chinese Communist Party may also be concerned that low salaries for diplomats could make them susceptible to corruption or disloyalty. He emphasized that many diplomats work in free countries and may develop dissent if they are dissatisfied with their treatment by the Communist Party.

An article published in the China Discipline Inspection and Supervision magazine in November last year, authored by Zhang Jiwen, the head of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team at the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, acknowledged the high risk of infiltration, subversion, and corrosion faced by foreign affairs officials. The article highlighted the integrity risks within the foreign affairs system and introduced the concept of “using foreign affairs for personal gain.”

Several years ago, the South China Morning Post reported that due to limited oversight from Beijing, Chinese overseas institutions, including embassies and Chinese-funded companies, often served as havens for corrupt officials.

In January 2020, the Central Inspection Team of the Chinese Communist Party criticized the Party Committee of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for “having integrity risks” and “violating the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulations,” while mentioning receiving reports of issues concerning some leaders. However, no further action was taken, and no one faced investigation or accountability.

In recent years, there have been numerous cases of officials falling from grace in various sectors within the Chinese Communist Party. However, within the foreign affairs system, apart from Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Kunsheng in 2015 and former Director of the Fourth Bureau of the International Liaison Department Cao Baijun in 2018 being investigated, there have been no reports of senior diplomats being implicated in corruption. Last year, Foreign Minister Qin Gang was dismissed, but the authorities have yet to disclose the details.

Yuan Hongbing remarked that Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign is not truly about combatting corruption but is primarily a power struggle.

Wang He pointed out that while there have been widespread cases of officials falling from grace across various sectors in the Chinese Communist Party, such instances are noticeably rare within the foreign affairs system, which is abnormal. He believes that Xi Jinping is aware of significant issues within the foreign affairs system. Still, after promoting Qin Gang to clean up the system, Qin Gang himself fell from grace. Wang Yi has been in charge of the Foreign Ministry for ten years, even at 70 years old, indicating a sense of caution by Xi.

“It is believed by outsiders that Liu Jianchao (Minister of the International Liaison Department) might become the Foreign Minister due to his previous experience with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and his recent visit to the US. However, he has not yet been appointed as the Foreign Minister, indicating that the waters within the foreign affairs system run deep, and Xi Jinping is hesitant to make any abrupt moves,” he stated.