Former UN envoy named Taiwan Affairs deputy head

China’s former ambassador to the UN, whom netizens dubbed as a member of “China’s super band of outspoken diplomats,” has accepted a new role as deputy head of the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, the Taiwan policy-making body.

Liu Jieyi served as China’s ambassador to the United Nations from August 2013 until last month.

Liu is listed as one of the deputy heads of the Taiwan Affairs Office on its website.

The former ambassador was appointed a week before the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), expected to be held on October 18 in Beijing.

His appointment has sparked lively discussions on the Internet, enjoying the respect of Chinese netizens who praised him for “daring to speak out” or being “outspoken” for his tough remarks as Chinese ambassador to the UN.

In March, Liu slammed the US and the UK for their “total hypocrisy” in handling of the Syrian crisis at a UN Security Council meeting, following vetoes by China and Russia that blocked the adoption of a draft resolution on Syria.

Chinese netizens placed Liu among “dare-to-voice-out diplomats,” and called them “the super band of the outspoken,” which includes Fu Ying, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and current and former spokespersons such as Hua Chunying, Lu Kang, Geng Shuang and Hong Lei.