24 Facts About Zhao Lijian

Zhao Lijian is a Chinese civil servant who has been serving as deputy director of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China since January 2023.

Zhao Lijian has been described as a prominent wolf warrior diplomat during his tenure.

In January 2023, Zhao Lijian was removed from the office as one of the ministry's spokespeople and was appointed as deputy director of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zhao Lijian was born in Luannan County, Tangshan, Hebei in November 1972.

Zhao Lijian studied at Luannan County No 1 Middle School.

Zhao Lijian graduated from Changsha Railway College with a major in foreign language studies.

Zhao Lijian joined the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in 1996 as a section member.

Zhao Lijian was transferred abroad and served as staff member and third secretary at the Embassy of China in Pakistan from 2003 to 2009.

Zhao Lijian served as first secretary at the Embassy of China in the United States from 2009 and 2013.

Zhao Lijian returned to Beijing in 2013, and served as a first secretary and an office director at the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2015.

Zhao Lijian then served as an envoy-level attache at the Embassy of China in Pakistan in Islamabad from 2015 to 2019.

Zhao Lijian was recalled to Beijing in August 2019, and served as deputy director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from August 2019 to January 2023.

Zhao Lijian was one of the most prominent wolf warrior diplomats.

Zhao Lijian was then transferred to the ministry's Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, and has been serving as deputy director of the department since January 2023.

Zhao Lijian became well known for his frequent use of Twitter to criticize the United States, including on topics such as race relations and the United States foreign policy in the Middle East.

The Chinese Communist Party puts a high premium on information management, and Zhao Lijian used press conferences and Twitter to direct information and reach China's strategic goals.

On 5 March 2020, Zhao Lijian gave a press conference in Beijing and responded to an American TV host's demand that the Chinese should "formally apologize" for the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Zhao Lijian retweeted Americans who were accusing Republicans of racism and xenophobia.

Zhao Lijian has used media statements and Twitter to defend Beijing's treatment of the minority group.

Zhao Lijian retorted that the Pope's words had "no factual basis".

In March 2022, amidst the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zhao Lijian said during a press conference that "the US' biological laboratories in Ukraine have aroused great concern".

Zhao Lijian echoed Russian media reports saying that Russia has found out that the US was using such facilities for "bio-military plans".

In July 2022, Zhao Lijian warned that Nancy Pelosi should not travel to Taiwan, and threatened the Chinese government would be "seriously prepared" for her travel.

In December 2022, Tang posted that Zhao Lijian was COVID-19 positive, but was unable to get medication.