China: Xi Jinping removes Qin Gang as Foreign Minister; appoints Wang Yi

China’s foreign minister Qin Gang, who had been missing from the public eye for over a month, was replaced by Wang Yi by the country’s Parliament on July 25, 2023, reported state media Xinhua. Wang Yi had previously served as the country’s foreign minister for nearly ten months.

The voting for the same was held adopted at the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) on July 25, 2023, as per Xinhua, the official state news agency of the People’s Republic of China.

President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision, the state media reported. China’s top legislature also appointed Pan Gong Sheng as the country’s central bank governor.

Qin was last seen in public on June 25, when he met his counterparts from Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. His planned meetings since then have either been cancelled, or top diplomat Wang has gone in Qin’s place, The Washington Post reported.

Wang had represented China at diplomatic summits in Jakarta and Johannesburg in place of Qin. The US publication stated that Qin’s removal preceded weeks of silence during which Qin’s own ministry refused to provide any information regarding his whereabouts; there has been wild speculation about everything from significant political or personal missteps to a serious sickness.

A week before Qin vanished, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met him in Beijing, and they made an agreement that the Chinese foreign minister would reciprocate by travelling to Washington, according to the Washington Post.

Considered Chinese President Xi Jinping’s close aide, Qin had swiftly gained prominence as the spokesperson for the foreign ministry and chief protocol officer, planning many of Xi’s abroad trips, according to The Washington Post.

He was appointed Chinese ambassador to the United States in July 2021. However, he served in that capacity for only about 18 months before being given the promotion to foreign minister in December. He is one of the youngest authorities in that position at 57 years old.

Who is Qin Gang

Qin Gang was born in the year 1966, and he rose from the ranks of his appointment as a staff member of the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions in 1988. He has held positions at the Chinese Embassy in Britain and was also appointed as the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson for over two terms.

In 2021, he was appointed as an ambassador to the United States of America for a short period, with a promotion to Minister for Foreign Affairs in December 2022. It is alleged that his proximity with Chinese President Xi Jinping has led to his promotion and rise in the ranks

The reason behind his disappearance

In early July, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said that the main reason behind his disappearance was due to a “physical condition” One of the most widely shared stories said regarding his disappearance was that Qin was being investigated over an alleged extramarital affair and when asked on July 24, 2023, the foreign minister spokesperson Mao Ning said that she was not aware of the matter.

The Western Media reports have stated that Qin has some health issues and will soon make an appearance. His name is being searched by users more than that of Chinese celebrities.

Examples of other eminent people who have disappeared

Qin Gang is not the only person and figure who has disappeared. There are many people that have met the same fate, and this includes actress Fan Bingbing, Jack Ma, the owner of Alibaba, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai and the Prime Minister of Singapore, named Lee Hsien Loong, who is reportedly missing, especially after meeting Xi Jinping in 2012.