The US ambassador who made a splash in Vietnam by making a rap video is getting a promotion – as the top diplomat for Asia under President Joe Biden. Daniel Kritenbrink, a career diplomat who speaks Chinese and Japanese, was nominated by Biden to be the assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, a White House statement said. Kritenbrink became an Internet sensation last month during Tet, the Lunar New Year that is Vietnam’s most important annual celebration, as he put out his own rap video to send his greetings. In a performance that combined both astute diplomatic messaging and a healthy touch of irony, Kritenbrink appeared strolling the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in his suit accompanied by Vietnamese music stars. Despite his sense of humour, Kritenbrink has a serious background, previously serving as the No.2 at the US embassy in Beijing and as the top White House aide on Asia policy under former president Barack Obama.

Source: The Star March 27, 2021 04:18 UTC