Liu Xiaoming

Liu graduated from Dalian University of Foreign Languages with a major in English and undertook further studies in the United States, obtaining a master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1983.[2]

Between 2001 and 2003, Liu acted as China's ambassador in Egypt, and from 2006 to 2010 as Chinese ambassador in North Korea. In 2010 he replaced Fu Ying as Chinese ambassador in the UK.[3]

In 2014, Liu likened Japan to Lord Voldemort, the villain in the Harry Potter series, by writing in The Telegraph: "If militarism is like the haunting Voldemort of Japan, the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo is a kind of horcrux, representing the darkest parts of that nation's soul." In response, Keiichi Hayashi, the Japanese ambassador to the UK, wrote an op-ed in the same newspaper headlined: "China risks becoming Asia's Voldemort".[4]

In 2018, Liu published a signed article in The Guardian on the subject of the US-China trade war, noting that while China was still open to negotiation, the US is maintaining a position of unilateralism.[5] In early May 2018, Liu noted that the North Korean government was closely watching the details surrounding the United States withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.[6]

On 24 November 2019, a BBC reporter confronted Liu over the Xinjiang re-education camps at a press conference in London. Liu dismissed the claims as "fake news".[7] On 25 November 2019, the Financial Times published a column by Liu. He said "I am convinced that flourishing educational co-operation is an important source of strength for relations between China and the UK". He further said "Recently, however, the House of Commons foreign affairs select committee issued a report accusing China of "interfering" with academic freedom in British universities. The charge is groundless and highly misleading".[8]

On 9 September 2019, Liu warned the Government of the United Kingdom of making "irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong". Liu said "politicians were free to express their opinion – within limits".[9] On 6 February 2020, Liu claimed his embassy had received reports of anti-Chinese racism at UK universities and schools. He said "I think there are many reasons for it. Lack of understanding of the epidemic. Of course, there is also some deep-seated racism. Not only in this country, but anywhere".[10] On 27 February 2020, he said China will remain an "economic powerhouse, even after Covid-19".[11] On 4 April 2020, the Evening Standard published a column by Liu. He said "As Covid-19 continues to spread around the world and the combat against the virus is at a critical stage, some politicians in the United States and here in this country, however, are spreading lies and stigmatizing China. A lie remains a lie even though it is repeated a thousand times. But we must also get the truth out."[12] In May 2020, Liu said anti-China rhetoric is in danger of undermining international solidarity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He also said UK MPs were in a "cold war mindset".[13] On 4 July 2020, Liu told students to "leverage their strength" as the UK overtakes the US as the most popular destination for Chinese students for the first time. He urged students to practice patriotism and "serve your motherland" — activities he described as the "foundation of all endeavor and the highest ambition in life" and also encouraged them to contribute to "China-UK exchanges and cooperation" and "bridge the cultural gap".[14][15]