China replaced its envoy to India weeks before President Xi Jinping's visit

NEW DELHI: The Chinese government, in a surprise move, replaced its envoy to India weeks before President Xi Jingping arrived on his first-ever visit.

The new Chinese ambassador, Lu Yucheng, who joined work a little over 10 days ago, replaced Wei Wei who was in office for barely a year and half. Li Yucheng presented his credentials to President Pranab Mukherjee last week.

Sources called it a very unusual move, particularly before a summit. In general, ambassadors are changed after big-ticket visits because it is believed their experience counts during high-profile events.

Lu is a Russia expert, and has served as ambassador to Kazakhstan. No reason was given for the change announced by the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) on Tuesday. Only two changes have been made -- ambassadors to Chile and India have been changed.

There are two possibilities behind this surprise decision -- first, that Xi's government wants to inject new life to India-China ties and is deploying someone who more accurately reflects his priorities with India.

Second, that the Chinese government was unhappy with the previous incumbent to necessitate a precipitate change just before a head of state visit. Xi has launched a massive global campaign to clean up China's officialdom, though there's nothing to suggest Wei Wei's removal has anything to do with it.