Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang removed from office

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has been removed from his post.

As the state broadcaster CCTV reported, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress voted in favor of it at a meeting on Tuesday. His predecessor Wang Yi is to take over the post again.

There had previously been speculation as to the minister’s whereabouts, as he had not been seen in public for over a month. The last photo of Qin Gang shows him smiling at the side of the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko at the end of June. Since then there has been no trace of Qin Gang, although he actually has to fulfill important obligations.

It is still unclear why he disappeared – there was speculation about illnesses, affairs and possible investigations against him. The case is not only causing irritation among more and more Chinese, representatives of other countries are also wondering how they should react to the disappearance.

Rapid career under Xi

Qin Gang, who had a meteoric career under head of state and party leader Xi Jinping and has been foreign minister since March, is supposed to represent China as a major power worldwide. Are get well wishes appropriate? Or would it be better to wait until the fog has lifted, Western diplomats ask themselves.

The speculation was further fueled by an announcement on Monday evening. The Standing Committee of the People’s Congress should therefore meet at short notice this Tuesday. One of the two items on the agenda should therefore deal with personnel decisions. However, it was unclear whether it would actually be about Qin Gang.

At the beginning of July, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was one of the first international politicians to feel that something was wrong. Just days before a planned meeting with Qin Gang in Beijing, the Chinese suddenly canceled. He also did not take part in a summit meeting of the foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian community of states ASEAN. Instead, China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, who is above the foreign minister in the hierarchy of power and who had previously held the office, traveled to the country.

Top diplomat representing at Brics meetings

Wang Yi recently represented Qin Gang at a number of meetings, including this week at a meeting of the Brics countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in Johannesburg. When asked why Qin Gang did not attend the ASEAN meeting, a spokesman for Beijing’s foreign ministry said it was not possible for “health reasons.”

The case of the foreign minister arouses great interest. However, disappearances of senior officials, celebrities and business people are not uncommon in China. It often turns out later that they were involved in investigations or other controversies.

One of the most well-known cases in recent years is that of former Chinese Interpol chief Meng Hongwei, who disappeared in 2018 while on a trip to his native China. Two years later, a Chinese court sentenced him to a long prison term for accepting bribes.

For a month there was wild speculation about the disappearance of the Chinese foreign minister. Now he is out of office.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has not appeared publicly for a month, has been removed from office. As the state broadcaster CCTV reported, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress voted in favor of it at a meeting on Tuesday. His predecessor Wang Yi is to take over the post again. At first there was no justification for the step.

In recent weeks there has been wild speculation about the fate of the Qing Gang. The 57-year-old had his last public appointment in Beijing on June 25. He hasn’t been seen since then. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, who is above Qin Gang in the hierarchy, had deputized for the foreign minister on several occasions.

Lots of speculation

Initially, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said when asked that Qin Gang was unable to attend for health reasons. However, there was also speculation about a possible extramarital affair. When asked about this, a State Department spokeswoman said she had “no information” about it.

Disappearances of senior officials, celebrities and businessmen are a common occurrence in China. It often turns out later that they were involved in investigations or other controversies.

One of the most well-known cases in recent years is the former Chinese Interpol boss Meng Hongwei, who disappeared on a trip to China in 2018. Two years later, a Chinese court sentenced him to a long prison term for accepting bribes.

Qin Gang was only appointed foreign minister in March after a meteoric rise under state and party leader Xi Jinping.

Foreign Minister Qin Gang impeached

China is changing its foreign minister: Qin Gang, the incumbent who has “disappeared” for weeks, has been officially dismissed. Speculations about the possible background continue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has been relieved of his post. The Chinese state media report. The politician had not appeared in public for weeks.

As the state broadcaster CCTV reported, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress voted to remove the foreign minister. Accordingly, Wang Yi should take over the office again. He had held the post before Qin Gang. A reason for the change was not announced.

Qin Gang, 57, assumed the position in December 2022. Previously, he was Ambassador to the United States and Deputy Foreign Minister of China.

speculation about whereabouts

Qin Gang last appeared at an official meeting on June 25, when he met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko in Beijing. Subsequent appointments, such as a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell or participation in the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, were cancelled. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Qin Gang could not attend due to health reasons.

However, speculation has been going on for weeks, especially on the Internet, about other possible reasons for the “disappearance” of the now-sacked foreign minister, including rumors of an affair between the married politician and a television presenter.

Not an isolated case in China

Disappearances of senior officials, celebrities and businessmen are a common occurrence in China. It often turns out later that they were involved in investigations or other controversies.

One of the most well-known cases in recent years is the former Chinese Interpol boss Meng Hongwei, who disappeared on a trip to China in 2018. Two years later, a Chinese court sentenced him to a long prison term for accepting bribes.

In 2021, the case of the Chinese ex-tennis player Peng Shuai caused a sensation worldwide: In November, the former world number one in doubles published an article on the Internet that was interpreted as an allegation of sexual assault by a high-ranking communist party official. The post was deleted, and Peng Shuai was not heard from in public for the time being – until she distanced herself from this interpretation of her post in December.