Wang Yu-p’ing

1910

China

The Cuban source asserts that he participated in the Long March (1934-35). No record of Wang's activity during the Sino-Japanese War is available, and only fragmentary details exist regarding his career during the civil war against the Nationalists (1946-1949). The Cuban source provides information that during this period he was an engineer in the Red armies; he apparently also served as a political officer and at one point in the late 1940's he was director of the Political Department of a group army. On November 20, 1954, Wang was replaced by K’o Pai-nien in Rumania, hut on the same day was reassigned to become Peking's first ambassador to Norway. Oslo and Peking had recognized each other as early as January 1950, but it was not until October 1954 that the two nations agreed to the establishment of formal diplomatic ties. Wang arrived in Oslo on June 1, 1955 and presented his credentials a few days later to King Haakon VII. The record of Sino- Norwegian ties is generally sparse, as is illustrated by the fact that no government-to-government pact was signed between the two nations until mid-1958 (after Wang's departure), and therefore Wang was seldom in the news. The very few times he was mentioned publicly were usually in connection with receptions given by the embassy in Oslo in commemoration of a Chinese Communist holiday. After less than three years in Norway, Wang was replaced in April 1958 by Hsu I-hsin and then returned home for another assignment. In July 1958 China and Cambodia agreed to the establishment of diplomatic relations. A month later Wang was named as the first ambassador (thereby becoming the first Chinese ambassador to open three embassies). Before leaving for Phnom Penh he took part in the elaborate festivities for Cambodian Premier Norodom Sihanouk who visited Peking in August 1958. In the following month he went to Cambodia and on September 25th presented his credentials. In contrast to his previous assignments in Bucharest and Oslo, Wang's life was an intensively busy one in Phnom Penh. During his three and a half years there Sino-Cambodian relations grew increasingly close. It is difficult to say how large a role Wang played in this situation, certainly the intensification of the war in Vietnam and the political and military instability in neighboring Laos helped to bring Cambodia closer to its huge neighbor to the north. In a more specific sense, Wang was constantly in the news in connection with a heavy flow of Chinese delegations of every type to Phnom Penh, as well as with an equally large number of Cambodian groups that visited China. During his tenure as envoy to Cambodia, he returned to China at least twice. His return in December 1960 in the company of Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk was particularly important, because during this visit Sihanouk signed the Sino-Cambodian Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Non-aggression. A little over a year later, on the eve of his departure, Wang was decorated with a medal signifying his “friendly cooperation.” A few days later, on February 9, 1962, he left for home, having been replaced by Ch'en Shu-liang. Following his return to China Wang was not apparently given a specific assignment, but he did remain within the Foreign Ministry as a counsellor. In this capacity he accompanied Liu Shao-ch'i on a friendship visit to Cambodia in May 1963. (Prior to this leg of his trip, Liu had been in Indonesia and Burma, and after his visit to Cambodia he went to North Vietnam. Wang, however, only accompanied Liu during the Cambodian portion of the trip.) Aside from this one trip, nothing else was heard of Wang from his February 1962 departure from Cambodia until December 1963 when a Cuban newspaper announced that he had been named to succeed Shen Chien as the ambassador to Cuba, therefore Wang was one of the very few Chinese diplomats to have served in four different nations. His appointment was made official in January 1964 and he arrived in Havana in May 1964, presenting his credentials on May 21. Sino- Cuban relations have been rather active during his stay in that country, and thus Wang receives considerable coverage in the national press. Aside from the normal receptions and other diplomatic functions, he was reported as the signatory on August 11, 1964, of a protocol on economic cooperation. His assignment in Havana must be considered an appointment of more than average significance. Cuba is the only nation in the Western Hemisphere with which Peking maintains diplomatic relations. Furthermore, the Castro regime is probably considered a key prize in the contest for allegiance being waged by the Chinese and Soviet Communists in their ideological dispute, and doubtless one of Wang’s assignments is to win the Cubans for the Chinese “camp.” In September 1964 Wang was elected as a deputy from his native Shantung to the Third NPC, which held its first session in December 1964-January 1965. This must be regarded as an exception, because the general practice has been that those who serve abroad do not also serve in the Congress.

Wang Yu-p’ing

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Diplomat CCP member

Background

Nothing is known about his background.

Education

He was educated locally.

Career

The Cuban source asserts that he participated in the Long March (1934-35). No record of Wang's activity during the Sino-Japanese War is available, and only fragmentary details exist regarding his career during the civil war against the Nationalists (1946-1949). The Cuban source provides information that during this period he was an engineer in the Red armies; he apparently also served as a political officer and at one point in the late 1940's he was director of the Political Department of a group army.

On November 20, 1954, Wang was replaced by K’o Pai-nien in Rumania, hut on the same day was reassigned to become Peking's first ambassador to Norway. Oslo and Peking had recognized each other as early as January 1950, but it was not until October 1954 that the two nations agreed to the establishment of formal diplomatic ties. Wang arrived in Oslo on June 1, 1955 and presented his credentials a few days later to King Haakon VII. The record of Sino- Norwegian ties is generally sparse, as is illustrated by the fact that no government-to-government pact was signed between the two nations until mid-1958 (after Wang's departure), and therefore Wang was seldom in the news. The very few times he was mentioned publicly were usually in connection with receptions given by the embassy in Oslo in commemoration of a Chinese Communist holiday. After less than three years in Norway, Wang was replaced in April 1958 by Hsu I-hsin and then returned home for another assignment.

In July 1958 China and Cambodia agreed to the establishment of diplomatic relations. A month later Wang was named as the first ambassador (thereby becoming the first Chinese ambassador to open three embassies). Before leaving for Phnom Penh he took part in the elaborate festivities for Cambodian Premier Norodom Sihanouk who visited Peking in August 1958. In the following month he went to Cambodia and on September 25th presented his credentials. In contrast to his previous assignments in Bucharest and Oslo, Wang's life was an intensively busy one in Phnom Penh. During his three and a half years there Sino-Cambodian relations grew increasingly close. It is difficult to say how large a role Wang played in this situation, certainly the intensification of the war in Vietnam and the political and military instability in neighboring Laos helped to bring Cambodia closer to its huge neighbor to the north.

In a more specific sense, Wang was constantly in the news in connection with a heavy flow of Chinese delegations of every type to Phnom Penh, as well as with an equally large number of Cambodian groups that visited China. During his tenure as envoy to Cambodia, he returned to China at least twice. His return in December 1960 in the company of Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk was particularly important, because during this visit Sihanouk signed the Sino-Cambodian Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Non-aggression. A little over a year later, on the eve of his departure, Wang was decorated with a medal signifying his “friendly cooperation.” A few days later, on February 9, 1962, he left for home, having been replaced by Ch'en Shu-liang.

Following his return to China Wang was not apparently given a specific assignment, but he did remain within the Foreign Ministry as a counsellor. In this capacity he accompanied Liu Shao-ch'i on a friendship visit to Cambodia in May 1963. (Prior to this leg of his trip, Liu had been in Indonesia and Burma, and after his visit to Cambodia he went to North Vietnam. Wang, however, only accompanied Liu during the Cambodian portion of the trip.) Aside from this one trip, nothing else was heard of Wang from his February 1962 departure from Cambodia until December 1963 when a Cuban newspaper announced that he had been named to succeed Shen Chien as the ambassador to Cuba, therefore Wang was one of the very few Chinese diplomats to have served in four different nations. His appointment was made official in January 1964 and he arrived in Havana in May 1964, presenting his credentials on May 21. Sino- Cuban relations have been rather active during his stay in that country, and thus Wang receives considerable coverage in the national press. Aside from the normal receptions and other diplomatic functions, he was reported as the signatory on August 11, 1964, of a protocol on economic cooperation. His assignment in Havana must be considered an appointment of more than average significance. Cuba is the only nation in the Western Hemisphere with which Peking maintains diplomatic relations. Furthermore, the Castro regime is probably considered a key prize in the contest for allegiance being waged by the Chinese and Soviet Communists in their ideological dispute, and doubtless one of Wang’s assignments is to win the Cubans for the Chinese “camp.”

In September 1964 Wang was elected as a deputy from his native Shantung to the Third NPC, which held its first session in December 1964-January 1965. This must be regarded as an exception, because the general practice has been that those who serve abroad do not also serve in the Congress.

Politics

When the PRC was established on October 1, 1949, the other Communist nations immediately accorded it recognition. However, it was some months before Peking dispatched ambassadors to most of these nations. Thus, although Sino-Rumanian relations were established in October 1949, it was not until June 1950 that Wang (officially described as a general) was appointed, in August he presented his credentials in Bucharest. During his four years in Bucharest he negotiated and then signed on June 9, 1953, the 1953 plan for the implementation of the Si no-Rumanian Cultural Cooperation Agreement, and on April 19, 1954, also in Bucharest, he signed the annual trade pact covering the year 1954. He also witnessed the signing of various agreements in Bucharest and Peking and presumably played some role in the negotiations. For example, he was present in October 1953 when a visiting Chinese official signed a protocol on scientific and technical cooperation, and back in Peking, he witnessed the signing of a cultural pact between the two nations in May 1954.

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Wang Yu-p’ing

Background

Education

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Politics

Born

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Career

1946

November 20, 1954

July, 1958

1964