Beijing: China has announced a sudden change in its foreign ministry, replacing Qin Gang, who had been missing from public view for over a month, with his predecessor Wang Yi.
Qin Gang, 57, was appointed as China’s foreign minister in December 2022, becoming one of the youngest and fastest-rising diplomats in the country’s history. He was considered a close aide of President Xi Jinping and had previously served as China’s ambassador to the US.
However, Qin’s last public appearance was on June 25, when he met with his counterparts from Russia, India, and Pakistan in Beijing. Since then, he has been absent from major diplomatic events, such as the ASEAN summit in Indonesia and the G20 meeting in Italy, sparking speculation and rumors about his whereabouts and health.
The foreign ministry initially cited unspecified health problems as the reason for Qin’s absence but did not provide any further details or updates. Some reports suggested that Qin might have been involved in a political scandal or an extramarital affair, while others speculated that he might have fallen out of favor with Xi or the Communist Party.
On Tuesday, China’s top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as the new foreign minister, while removing Qin from the post. Wang Yi, 68, is a veteran diplomat who had served as foreign minister from 2013 to 2022, before becoming the party’s foreign affairs chief. He is known for his hardline stance on issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang.
The state media did not give any explanation for the abrupt personnel change but said that President Xi had signed the decree authorizing it. It is unclear what will happen to Qin or whether he will be given another position in the government.
The move comes amid rising tensions between China and the US, as well as other countries over trade, human rights, and security issues. Analysts say that Wang Yi’s return to the foreign ministry could signal a more assertive and confrontational approach by China on the global stage.
