China has reportedly ousted its outspoken foreign minister Qin Gang from office after he has been missing for a month.
Qin, who was among the Chinese officials to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his pivotal visit to Beijing in June, has been replaced by his predecessor, Wang Yi.
In an announcement on Tuesday evening, state media gave no reason for Qin’s removal. The move comes after he dropped out of sight almost one month ago amid speculation over his personal affairs and political rivalries, according to the Associated Press.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2023. (LEAH MILLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The ministry has provided no information about Qin’s status in keeping with the ruling Communist Party’s standard approach to personnel matters within a highly opaque political system where the media and free speech are severely restricted.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang gives a speech as he attends a news conference after talks with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra on May 23, 2023 in Beijing, China. (Thomas Peter-Pool/Getty Images)
The ministry made no comment at its daily briefing on Tuesday.
Chinese foreign affairs Minister Wang Yi speaks during the 2023 Munich Security Conference (MSC) on February 18, 2023 in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images)
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The move comes amid a foreign backlash against China’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy, of which Qin was a chief proponent.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
