February 11th, 2026

USCSSO @GWU
1 day ago
3 min read

Overview

This week, we discuss the appointment of China's new ambassador to Libya and Xi Jinping's meetings with Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump

Domestic

China Appoints Libyan Ambassador Following Embassy Reopening

By Newsletter Director Lindsey Spain

China has appointed a new Libyan ambassador following the reopening of their Tripoli embassy after more than a decade.

Pictured Above: China’s Ambassador to Libya Ma Xueliang meeting with Libyan charge d’affaires Khaled al-Sayeh in Beijing on January 27 (via SCMP)

Libyan Ambassador: China has appointed a new ambassador to Libya following the November 12th, 2025 reopening of their embassy in Tripoli. The embassy was originally shuttered in 2014 due to security concerns surrounding the Libyan civil war, with China moving its diplomatic relations to Tunisia. The embassy had previously been shuttered following the 2011 civil war that capsized Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, ending nearly 40 decades of rule, and forcing China to evacuate 35,000 citizens from the country. China celebrated their embassy reopening with a quiet ceremony in November, before confirming ambassador Ma Xueliang on the 27th of January.

Strategic Motivation: Though there has been scant international coverage of the ambassadorial adjustment, this could serve as a precursor for Beijing's larger diplomatic objectives. According to ChinaMed’s Head of Research Andrea Ghiselli, the reopening of their Libyan embassy may be linked to Beijing's plans to restore its diplomatic mission in Syria later this year. Ghiselli suggests that this may be an effort by China to “reintroduce a degree of normalcy into two long-standing Mediterranean dossiers.” However, diplomatic engagement does not necessarily indicate political engagement, as China’s role in Libya, much like in Syria, has long been overstated. Prior to the beginning of the civil war, China was one of the largest importers of Libyan oil, maintaining a presence of up to 45,000 people in the country to maintain the partnership. With Beijing seeking to expand its Belt and Road Initiative across North Africa, this diplomatic step in the wake of the 2020 ceasefire treaty could prove invaluable for Chinese interests in the region.

Diplomacy

“Through Winds & Storms”: XI Concludes Digital Meetings with Putin & Trump

By Newsletter Director Jason Holman

On Wednesday Feb. 4 Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded back-to-back phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on a video-conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Feb. 4th. (via. Al-Jazeera)

Agenda: On Feb. 4 Chinese President Xi Jinping held a video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shortly after the conference Xi held a phone call with US President Donald Trump reported to have lasted 2 hours. The subjects of the phone calls were similar, with Xi discussing with both leaders subjects of diplomacy such as Iran and Taiwan and continued bilateral cooperation.

US-Relations: After a temporary peace in the US-China Trade war was negotiated between Xi and Trump in Seoul Oct. 2025, relations have continued to stabilize. For the US a large sticking point of the call were Soybeans. Trump claimed Xi agreed to increase purchases of US Soya beans from 12 million tons to 20 million. This has caused soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade to surge 3%. However, the soybean purchases have not been confirmed by China. The two leaders also discussed diplomacy. The US President pressured China to assist in isolating Iran internationally after the violent crackdown of protests in January. However for China the larger area of interest was Taiwan. With Xi warning US President Trump to handle weapons sales to Taiwan with prudence. A reaction spurred by the US’s $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan in Dec. 2025. US President Donald Trump plans to visit Beijing in April.

Russian-Relations: China being the number 1 trading partner of Russia brings strategic interest for close cooperation between the two countries, and the video-call reflected this. Putin expressed continued strong support for China’s interests in Taiwan and there was focus on increasing security ties between the two countries. Russia and China have recently agreed to have visa-free entry between citizens of the two nations across borders. They also discussed US relations, expressing they held similar views on US President Trump’s Board of Peace. Though these views were not disclosed publicly. Putin & Trump will both attend the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Shenzhen China this November.