Updated 13:42 | Published at 1:12 p.m
Qin Gang may leave his post as China’s foreign minister, Chinese state media reports. He has previously been seen as a confidant of dictator Xi Jinping, who, however, is now said to have signed a presidential order to have Qin Gang removed.
Qin Gang, 57, has not been seen in public since June 25 when he met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. Two weeks later, he did not attend the ASEAN Summit. His absence has led to speculation about his whereabouts, but from the official side no word has come so far.
“Qin Gang has had to leave his post as foreign minister,” writes regime-loyal Nya Kina on Tuesday.
The report says nothing about why he was deposed.
Qin Gang was appointed foreign minister in December 2022. He is considered a “wolf warrior”, an epithet for Chinese diplomats who have become known for fierce outbursts against countries perceived as hostile.
Among other things, he has previously said that China’s reputation has deteriorated because the West has refused to accept China’s political system and its economic success. Qin has directed an extra round of criticism towards the media in Europe and the USA.
Now he is succeeded by Wang Yi, who was also his representative.
“China’s top legislature has voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister when it convened for a meeting on Tuesday,” writes New China.
Wang Yi previously served as China’s foreign minister from 2013 until Qin Gang took over in 2022, but as a member of the powerful Politburo stood above Qin Gang in the diplomatic corps hierarchy.