China replaces ‘missing’ foreign minister a month after Qin Gang disappeared from public view
Where is Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang? Rumours swirl as lawmaker remains ‘missing’ for nearly a month Qin - considered to be a close aide of President Xi - had been in the midst of a meteoric rise to power when he ‘disappeared’ last month. A former envoy to the United States he took over the ministry in December - one of China's youngest foreign ministers.
He was twice foreign ministry spokesman and served as chief protocol officer from 2014-2018, overseeing many of Xi's contacts with foreign leaders. He had headed to Washington as ambassador in July 2021, after a period of unusual public vitriol between US and Chinese officials.
It is not the first time there has been an unexplained absence of officials in China. Industry minister Xiao Yaqing disappeared from public view for nearly a month last year before it was revealed he was being investigated for corruption.
The lack of explanation has also fueled a groundswell of largely unsubstantiated claims about his whereabouts. Some speculate that he has fallen foul of the leadership and there are even rumours of an affair with a well-known television presenter.
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