Mystery Surrounds Removal of China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang
BEIJING, Aug 1 – Speculation is rife surrounding the sudden removal of China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, as questions about his disappearance and the erasure of his presence from official records continue. The saga, which unfolded after China’s top legislature convened a special meeting last week to remove Qin, has left many wondering about the motives behind the decision and its implications for President Xi Jinping.
Shortly after the removal, photos and mentions of Qin began disappearing from the foreign ministry’s website. Although some information resurfaced a few days later, Qin’s name is conspicuously absent from the list of “former ministers,” and a search for his name yields the response, “Sorry, Qin Gang is not found.” Furthermore, Qin has not been seen in public for over a month.
Initially, the foreign ministry cited health reasons for Qin’s absence, but this explanation was later removed from official transcripts. The lack of transparency surrounding Qin’s removal has only fueled speculation about the true reasons behind his departure and how it reflects on President Xi Jinping.
China named veteran diplomat Wang Yi as Qin’s replacement, but provided little additional information about the change. When asked about the transparency surrounding Qin’s removal, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded by stating that Beijing would release information in due course and opposed “malicious hype.” The ministry has evaded more than 25 questions regarding Qin in recent press briefings.
Analysts find Qin’s unusually long absence and unexplained removal from office peculiar. Many believe that if the rationale were simply health-related, the state could have appointed a temporary deputy instead of officially removing him. His abrupt departure raises suspicions that go beyond health issues.
China has a history of officials disappearing and being erased from collective memory. Industry minister Xiao Yaqing vanished for almost a month last year before being revealed to be under investigation for corruption. In 2016, the foreign ministry removed all online traces of its former chief protocol officer, Zhang Kunsheng, who was found guilty of corruption and abuse of power.
However, in Qin’s case, the situation is not as clear-cut. Despite being removed as foreign minister, he retains his other title of State Councillor, a cabinet member with a higher ranking. This fact, combined with the continued presence of Qin’s portrait in the Chinese embassy in Washington, has led some analysts to question the true nature of his removal.
Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign and efforts to enforce party discipline have raised the stakes for officials implicated in wrongdoing. Qin’s rapid rise through the ranks, attributed in part to his proximity to the president, makes his removal all the more significant. The selection process for Xi’s third term in office was unprecedented, with the president personally meeting with potential candidates and making decisions under his “direct leadership.” The recent turn of events exposes the vulnerability of Xi’s leadership style and raises questions about the inner workings of China’s political landscape.
As speculation continues to swirl, many are eagerly awaiting the truth behind Qin Gang’s removal. While the true reasons may take months or even years to emerge, this episode sheds light on the opaque nature of Chinese politics and the potential consequences for those in power.
Reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Editing by John Geddie and Lincoln Feast.